Discover if being a staff accountant is the right job for you. Learn about the job duties, the potential salaries and the projected growth of the profession.
If you're thinking of becoming an accountant, the role of a staff accountant is often one of the most common entry points into the field. Staff accountants handle a variety of essential financial tasks that help organizations maintain accurate records and support day-to-day operations.
From preparing financial statements to assisting with audits and managing general ledger entries, staff accountants play a key role in keeping finances organized and compliant. Understanding the job description, duties, and salary expectations can help you decide whether this career path aligns with your goals.
Career Information at a Glance
Staff accountants are hired by businesses to do bookkeeping, organize financial records and perform the calculations required to file taxes. A bachelor's degree in accounting is generally required to land a job in the business, and some employers prefer candidates who are working on becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Check out the table that follows for more facts about this career.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Required</b></td><td>Bachelor's degree</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Education Field of Study</b></td><td>Accounting</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Key Skills</b></td><td>Math, detail-oriented, analytical</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Licensure Preferred</b></td><td>Working toward becoming a CPA</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Job Growth (2020-2030)</b></td><td>7% (for all accountants and auditors)*</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)</b></td><td>$73,560 (for all accountants and auditors)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatDoStaffAccountantsDo">What Do Staff Accountants Do?</h3><p>Staff accountants perform a wide range of duties related to financial records and taxation. Some staff accountants work under a CPA, helping them with organizing financial documents, staying compliant with government regulations and preparing tax returns for clients. Others work for companies, usually under a senior accountant, doing things like payroll, receivables and financial statements.
</p><h3 id="section---HowDoYouBecomeAStaffAccountant">How Do You Become a Staff Accountant?</h3><p>Staff accountant is an entry-level position in the accounting profession, so many start out in this role. Most employers will look for candidates who hold at least a bachelor's degree in accounting, though sometimes bookkeepers and clerks can work their way up to a staff accountant position by showing they have the necessary skills. Other employers may be pickier, preferring applicants who are working toward becoming a CPA (more on this below).
</p><h3 id="section---DoYouNeedAnyCertification">Do You Need Any Certification?</h3><p>Staff accountants don't necessarily need to be CPAs, though many choose to pursue certification because it enhances their knowledge and marketability in the industry. Some of the requirements to become a CPA vary from state to state, but every state requires accountants to complete 150 hours of coursework -- that's 30 hours more than a typical bachelor's degree. There are schools out there that offer a 5-year track that ends in a bachelor's and a master's degree (and satisfies the 150-hour requirement).
</p><p>Accountants must pass the Uniform CPA Examination, a test overseen by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), to become certified. The test includes four different parts that can be completed one at a time.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatKindOfSalaryDoStaffAccountantsEarn">What Kind of Salary Do Staff Accountants Earn?</h3><p>The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) gives a median annual salary for all accountants and auditors of $73,560 in May 2020, but this figure includes more than just staff accountants, so it may be skewed a little higher. <i>PayScale.com</i> uses self-reported salaries from people who work in the business, and its estimates say that an entry-level staff accountant's median salary in 2021 was $48,725.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatSTheProjectedEmploymentGrowthInTheField">What's the Projected Employment Growth in the Field?</h3><p>According to the BLS, employment for all accountants and auditors is expected to grow by 7% between 2020 and 2030 to 1,392,200. By comparison, the average growth for all occupations is 7%. Applicants who are CPAs or hold a master's degree in business administration (MBA) will have the best job prospects.</p>
