What to Do With an Accounting Degree
2 min read
What Can I Do With a Major in Accounting?
Accounting programs do an excellent job of preparing students for a career as an accountant or an auditor. In fact, more than fifty-five percent of all students who graduate college with a bachelor’s in accounting go on to work in one of those two occupations. Another twenty percent of graduates work in management and other supervisory positions.
Many accounting majors also go on to work in other types of occupations as well. For example, some work as insurance clerks, financial analysts, financial advisors, and real estate brokers. Many also end up working in sales-related positions.
Regardless of the exact nature of their work, nearly all accounting graduates use their financial and mathematical training in some capacity on the job, and they are incredibly valuable skills to have. In fact, just about every company in every industry needs to hire people with the skills and abilities that accounting majors have.
The average salary for an accounting major is $63,500, which is about seventeen percent higher than the average salary for all college graduates combined. Depending on your experience, the position you’re in, and the company that you work for, you may earn significantly more or less than the average. Generally speaking, people earn much more money late in their careers than they do early in their careers.
Career Options for Accounting Majors
Below is a list of some of the most common occupations for people with an undergraduate degree in accounting. This is by no means a comprehensive list, as people with accounting degrees go into many fields and do many different things. However, it should give you a good idea of the occupations that would be available to you with a degree in this field.
| Occupation | Median Salary | Median Hourly | Current jobs | Outlook | Required Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | $61,690 | $29.66 | 1,290,640 | Good | Bachelor’s degree |
| Actuary | $87,650 | $42.14 | 19,730 | Good | Bachelor’s degree |
| Auditor | $61,690 | $29.66 | 1,290,640 | Good | Bachelor’s degree |
| Budget Analyst | $68,200 | $32.76 | 67,210 | Normal | Bachelor’s degree |
| College Professor | $62,050 | $29.83 | 1,756,000 | Good | Graduate Degree |
| Cost Estimator | $57,860 | $27.82 | 217,760 | Good | Bachelor’s degree |
| Elementary School Teacher | $51,660 | $24.84 | 1,549,520 | Good | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Financial Analyst | $74,350 | $35.75 | 250,630 | Good | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Financial Examiner | $74,940 | $36.03 | 27,020 | Good | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Financial Manager | $103,910 | $49.96 | 539,250 | Good | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Health Services Manager | $84,270 | $40.51 | 283,470 | Good | Bachelor’s degree |
| High School Teacher | $53,230 | $25.59 | 1,109,500 | Good | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $46,770 | $22.49 | 434,770 | Good | Bachelor’s degree |
| Insurance Underwriter | $60,670 | $29.17 | 102,950 | Normal | Bachelor’s degree |
| Kindergarten Teacher | $48,800 | $23.46 | 179,520 | Normal | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Logistician | $70,800 | $34.04 | 100,380 | Good | Bachelor’s degree |
| Loan Officer | $60,660 | $29.16 | 327,840 | Normal | Master’s Degree |
| Middle School Teacher | $51,960 | $24.98 | 659,460 | Good | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $64,750 | $31.13 | 208,420 | Good | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Real Estate Appraiser | $48,500 | $23.32 | 92,360 | Normal | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Real Estate Broker | $54,910 | $26.40 | 123,390 | Normal | Bachelor’s degree |
| Sales Manager | $98,350 | $47.28 | 346,860 | Good | Bachelor’s degree |
