Money · 1 of 5
What accountants make
Median
$83,680
Starting out
$56,020
Controller or partner
$144,090
The national median is $83,680 a year, and the bottom tenth start near $56,020. The wage survey counts accountants and auditors together, so the figure covers both. Passing the CPA (certified public accountant) exam is the single biggest pay jump in this field.