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Last day and it feels so great!!
Where da audit staff at?
busy season theme song

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There is solid money in accounting. It's reliable.
True, but depending what you do you’re never stuck and can always explore other accounting jobs until you eventually plateau. Also can add additional education and specialties and work up management ranks with hefty stock comp. I believe 30% of F500 CEOs are CPAs
It’s all what we do with our talents, but overall the profession is challenging.
I read an article that you are losing money unless you switch jobs every 2-3 years so I think it might be more about not getting sucked in to staying at one firm or company for so long that you miss pay increases
This and staying long enough to vest properly.
Accounting has a lot better earning potential than many majors out there. Even many engineers with MBAs could top out at $200K. I went to a top 10 undergrad and many of my friends are making less than me (I’m 15 years out), even though I changed careers. They have great careers. I think a lot of people are jaded. We are in the top % of earners.
OP was feeling down about the earning potential of a career in accounting vs other careers (presumably with a different education). That is why I was making this comparison.
I guess some things to think about are what is good money to you? Almost guaranteed to hit 100k+ which a lot of people will never see in their lifetime. Also, what other career that earns more would satisfy you? Are you interested in comp sci, engineering, etc? It’s easy to find what you don’t like but finding what you do like is tougher.
Not sure what there is to be down about. Some professions like IB are going to have an even higher ceiling, but I don’t think being a big 4 partner pulling in 750k+ is anything to scoff at. Lot higher ceiling than many other professions.
remember too that virtually all who post here are only to complain - so of course it's all negative
In public accounting I did a lot of 401k audits in the "slow" season. Experienced accountants (CPA, 10+ years, not AP clerks) make no less than 120k in a moderate COL city. Even at simple small companies.
Chief
Some accountants do really well some really badly. Its what you make of it. If you are mediocre accountant you'd be mediocre in anything else too. So go put and make your career what you want it to be
Chief
Tpu do have a good point. What I meant was that our profession is definitely not one of worst. And has high earning potential. But there are a lot of people who won't achieve that because they are simply not that good. So its not about what profession you chose but more about what you make of it.
Most people on here to complain about their jobs or the low salary in the first 2-4 years. The comments are skewed by people who leave before things get better. Earning potential is pretty good if you stay around past that and are a top performer. If you are on PPMD track (and that is your career aspiration), life’s pretty good.