<p>Jello, you are mistaken. The starting salary is in the mid-forty thousands (BLS). </p>
<p>That is pretty close to the median wage in this country, not too shabby. I don’t know why anyone would be complaining. </p>
<p>I don’t think anyone realistically sees accounting as leading to anything other than your typical middle-class lifestyle. Considering the economic turmoil in this country, it is better than many others will get.</p>
<p>The B4 is much more than just “4 companies” as it represents a large slice of the entry level accounting jobs worldwide each year. Even regional and small firms pay similar. 50k is the basic starting point and then it fluctuates from there based on region of the country.</p>
<p>Staff are not eligible for OT (unless the PWC v. California lawsuit is upheld which would throw the entire industry–along with law, healthcare, and a variety of other industries–into trouble) but they do typically “eat” hours. Working about 50 hours a week is probably about the average in the B4 with up to 60-80 during busy season for audit or tax. There is high turnover solely due to the amount of work required in the big 4. Regional and smaller firms typically do not require as long of hours.</p>
<p>Corporate accounting/internal audit are not as prestigious but they pay a little less than 50k but require much less OT. 45 hour weeks are about the norm.</p>
<p>Most who enter accounting as a staff auditor use it as a catapult into a better career down the road. Learning from the basics of f/s is a good entry point and the B4 gives good name recognition. Even other accounting jobs can be good experience that can be used in a variety of other business fields. </p>
<p>Jello in the definition of a ■■■■■ and it will be soon enough that he or she says something that will get him or her banned from this site.</p>
<p>Goose - when I worked in public accounting (in the Big 8!) all of the firms paid OT or comp time to staff accountants. The legal requirement to pay OT did not depend upon whether you earned a salary or were paid by the hour. OT requirements were based upon whether your position was considered management or not, i.e., whether you determined your own duties or were directed by someone else. Entry level staff up to senior accountants were paid OT. If this has changed then the law would have had to be changed (certainly possible). We were not expected to work 50hrs per week average but you could certainly work 60-80, or even more, during a busy time. A lot may have changed in the compensation since I was hired.</p>
<p>Jello, my mother is a bookkeeper in the rural Midwest and clears 34k a year after taxes…Stop ■■■■■■■■.</p>
<p>your/you’re. </p>
<p>If you don’t know the difference, you’re not ready to write to clients, so you’re not ready for any professional services position.</p>
<p>Are most accountants successful? For entry level is 50k+, how long does it take to reach 100k+? Is it easy to rank up to manager? partner? If so, how long does it take for each?</p>
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<p>How do you define success? Every person has different goals in life, but most accountants have a stable living if that is your questions. </p>
<p>How fast one reaches $100k (if ever) is determined by a variety of factors and what direction a person takes his or her career. </p>
<p>Manager in the Big 4 is ~5 years and is not difficult to make as long as someone in committed to public accounting</p>
<p>Partner is very difficult to make. It takes 12+ years to reach.</p>
<p>Honestly, I like money. I’m not gonna lie. I’m interested in science but nothing beyond that. I’m good at math. Idk what direction to go but my dad told me if I like money, go with business. So I thought of accounting because my brother is an accountant as well. </p>
<p>Manager takes ~5 years in Big 4? How many managers does one building need? Lmfaoo</p>
<p>Anyways, are managers able to hit 100k+ in 5 years in big 4? What about mid-sized firms? Small sized?</p>
<p>I posted this link before, probably about two years ago, but here again with the latest data (2009-2010).</p>
<p>I find the graduate survey of CalPoly is very informative when gauging the accounting major’s placement and salary. For those that not familiar with this Calif. school, it is considered the best CSU campus, on par with mid-tier UC. The business progrom is AACSB accreditated, but doesn’t have Accounting accreditation.</p>
<p>Scroll down to choose “accounting” under business for major and “undergraduate” for show. It details the number of full time/part time/no response number, position, employer, salary.
<a href=“https://www.careers.calpoly.edu/search.php?yr=2009%20-%202010[/url]”>https://www.careers.calpoly.edu/search.php?yr=2009%20-%202010</a></p>
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<p>After reading that I think you may be better off in Engineering. Chemical and Petroleum Engineering are very lucrative right now. </p>
<p>The chances of you getting anything beyond your typical middle-class professional salary ($50-70k) as an accountant are rather slim. There are so many accounting graduates right now. Those fields of engineering have entry salaries around $100k.</p>
<p>I thought of Chemical Engineering but I looked at the courses on youtube. No…it was completely different from the chemistry that I like. </p>
<p>I thought of Computer Science but I’m afraid that jobs might be outsourced to India and China. What do you think?</p>
<p>Engineering starting salary of $100k? That seems like a rather high estimate…</p>
<p>Whoops, that’s what I get for posting at 3 am. Petroleum has a starting salary around 83k and chemical is around 65k (<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm[/url]”>http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm</a>).</p>
<p>Bray93 - engineering, computer science and accounting are all quite different. But, you can make a lot of money in any of these fields. You can easily find accounting jobs 120K+ in any city. If you are a CPA partner or consultant with equity then you would be looking at $200-500k or more (the exact compensation will vary depending upon a lot of different factors). If you are not good at engineering, computer science or dealing with people then your compensation will be limited regardless of which field you pursue. IMO - it’s best to go with the field that interests you the most as it will increase the probability of financial success later in life.</p>
<p>I like business. I like science. I’m good at math. I’m thinking of doing BS in Computer Science at City College[CUNY] and get an MBA in Management in Baruch College. However, would I be able to find jobs with a BS degree from City?</p>
<p>Anyone? o.O</p>
<p>Computer science is a hot field. I wouldn’t see why you would have a lot of trouble finding jobs especially in NYC.</p>
<p>I heard that jobs are being outsourced to India and China :/</p>