Accountants have salaries that range from $34,000 to $59,000, according to 2010 figures from PayScale.com. Where you fall within or outside of this range as an accountant varies based on several factors, including your level of experience and education. Along with a decent salary, many accountants also receive some type of benefit package that may include health insurance and a 401k, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Experience
- Accountants with less than a year of experience have some of the lowest salaries, reporting a range of $34,200 to $44,700. Those with one to four years of experience have a slightly higher salary range of $36,000 to $48,900, while those with five to nine years of experience earn even more, with a salary range of $39,200 to $53,400, according to PayScale.com. Accountants with the most experience, 20-plus years, report some of the highest salaries, with a range of $40,200 to $56,700.
Education
- Accountants generally receive some type of degree. Those with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in accounting report a salary range of $38,600 to $50,400, while those with a Bachelor of Arts (BA/AB) in accounting report an almost identical range of $39,000 to $50,400, as of July 2010. According to PayScale, accountants with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in accounting have a salary range of $36,600 to $51,600, and those with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) have a salary range of $39,900 to $54,500.
Employer Type
- Accountants work for several different types of companies. Those working for general companies report a salary range of $38,400 to $51,700, while those working for nonprofit organizations have a salary range of $34,100 to $47,500. Accountants may also work for the government. Those working for the federal government have higher salaries than those working in state and local governments. Accountants on the federal level report a salary range of $41,700 to $61,100, while those working on the state level have salaries that generally fall between $35,600 and $50,900, according to PayScale.
Industry
- Accountants working specifically in accounting or auditing firms have some of the highest reported salaries, with a range of $42,700 to $50,000, as of July 2010. Those working in manufacturing and distribution report a salary range of $42,000 to $49,700, while those working in financial services report a salary range of $40,600 to $48,700. Accountants may also work in health care. Those that do report that their salaries generally fall between $39,000 and $47,100, according to PayScale.
Location
- Location also plays a role in an accountant’s salary potential. Those working in California have some of the highest salaries, which generally fall between $41,500 and $58,700. New York accountants also have higher salaries, with a range of $40,100 to $56,600, according to PayScale. As of June 2010, Illinois accountants report a salary range of $39,500 to $53,300, while Texan accountants have a salary range of $37,400 to $50,900.
Read more: Accountant Salary Information | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_6717739_accountant-salary-information.html#ixzz1giIVW2pJ
