Accounting
Business & Management · federal classification: Accounting and Related Services
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $42,946 | $35,258 to $48,665 | 107 | 79% |
| Associate's Degree | $48,810 | $45,333 to $53,717 | 234 | 97% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $72,368 | $64,177 to $83,075 | 841 | 100% |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | $84,386 | $79,962 to $84,386 | 21 | 100% |
| Master's Degree | $92,662 | $82,979 to $103,554 | 374 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +3% (2024 to 2034), about 451,900 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $49,210 | -5.8% | 170,000 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $81,680 | +4.6% | 124,200 |
| Financial Managers | $161,700 | +14.8% | 74,600 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $101,350 | +5.7% | 25,100 |
| Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks | $55,290 | -16.7% | 13,000 |
| Tax Preparers | $50,560 | +4.5% | 10,400 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.