[lastsection4mee]

As a second year I’ve been thinking what kind of percentage raise I will get as my career progresses. This is just some basic calculations I did.

1st yr $58,000

2nd year $60,900 5%

senior 1 $66,381 9%

senior 2 $71,691 8%

senior 3 $77,426 8%

manager $88,265 14%

manager 2 $94,444 7%

manager 3 $100,110 6%

Yes i do work in a major metro area. But regardless of the salary, what does everyone think about the percentages? Reasonable?

Please include any adjustments, recalcs, opinions if you want. I’d be interested to see what everyone has to say. These are just based on research, talking with people, and me looking into my crystal ball. Obviously some jumps may occur do to moving firms, and such. But lets just keep this simple.

[jeff]

Seems aggressive to me, but I don't come from a large firm background.

I worked at a publicly traded utility and lets say a job class paid $55k-$72k … the goal was to move people toward the “mid-point” of the range. It was almost like the high point didn't exist in reality.

My point is – the handbook or salary guide might say the range is X … but what they are actually paying might be completely different.

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[Anonymous]

If you're talking Big 4, or similar, in a major city, then I think those could be reasonable based on my own experience. That's assuming the economy doesn't tank again, of course. I was lucky enough to start the year most companies didn't give raises….

[SeePeeAyy]

If you're talking big 4 those seem pretty low to be honest. My team has gotten 10-14% increases consistently for a couple years now. Realistically around 75k for 3-4th year IMO.

This gives some solid averages as well

[Anonymous]

Wow, I'm doing pretty freaking well. 😀

[kts1010]

I don't work in public put man those salaries would be nice. I started at 42K at a large fortune 500 company and have got 5% raises the last two years so I am just over 46K now. I work doing tax returns for the company but I don't have my CPA yet, I don't know if I will even get a raise for getting it or not. I am pretty sure I don't want to stay in taxes though, I want to move into the financial analyst position so hopefully this winter if I can figure out a way to get through these last two sections I will start looking for a position that pays a little more in that field.

AUD - 08/20/12 - 82
REG - 10/30/12 - 82
FAR - 01/05/13 - 80
BEC - 04/15/13 - 84

[Anonymous]

To give you an idea of what my progression has looked like for my first couple of years in the Big 4 (in a large market):

First year $55k base + $5k (CPA bonus) + ~$2k in random bonuses = $62k

Second year $64.5k base + ~$2k in random bonuses = $66.5k

Third year (current) $73.5k base + estimating $1.5k in random bonuses = $75k

These raises are probably slightly more than the average since I have been highly rated so far.

[Anonymous]

@cpa ftw – Would you mind telling us what city you work in? You're making now what I am making 2 years later than you. I was just curious what city you were in if you didn't mind sharing.

I think a lot of people forget to incorporate where they live when they start thinking about compensation. There can be BIG differences in pay level depending on where your home office is.

[Anonymous]

@ k917 – Chicago

[Anonymous]

Suburb of Houston, Texas. Graduated in May 2007 and then went to work for one of the largest locally owned public accounting firms in the Houston area in their tax department:

2007 – 1st year: Base – $45,000 and bonus of $2,500

2008 – 2nd year: Base – $49,000 and bonus of $2,500

2009 – 3rd year: Base – $52,000 and bonus of $3,000

2010 – 4th year: Base – $55,000 and bonus of $5,000

2011 – 5th year: Base – $77,000 and bonus of $11,000 (I left and joined a small firm in the suburbs of Houston – about an 8 person firm)

2012 – 6th year: Base – $90,000 and bonus of $7,500 (not as good a year revenue wise because we downsized staff/clients)

2013 – 7th year: Base – $95,000 for the upcoming year; won't get bonus until after busy season.

[Anonymous]

Ebatinga, I am quite impressed looking at your salary progress. well, I am also in suburb Houston, currently working as a staff accountant in a small company for 4 years and making about 42K ; actively studying for CPA exam and looking to get in some public accounting… graduated in May 2007 ..tough time to find job; I should have done CPA way that time..but better later than never..I started now and hopefully will finish the journey within 2013…

About the jobs, I tried with some recruiters with my 4 years of experience but its not working out well. I would like to ask to the experienced fellows out there,, how do I best approach for jobs? appreciate any comments.

[Anonymous]

CPA2012…You can do the CPA!

I graduated in May 2007 from Houston Baptist! Where did you graduate from? Anyway, I didn't pass my exam until February 2010. I got married and had two kids between May 07 until the time I passed. I passed 1 section right after I graduated (don't remember what section, but I think it was auditing), but then didn't pass BEC and FAR, so I got discouraged and stopped (I saved REG for last because I was in tax and figured I would pass that one with no problem).

I realized I needed to pass in order to move up….plus, my wife was/is a stay at home mom, so I was the only source of income and we wanted to buy a house (we were living rent free in one of her family's house, but it was a terrible neighborhood, so we needed to get out ASAP – like gunshots at night bad…lol). So, I basically just sucked it up and did what I had to do.

In terms of finding the job I am currently at…believe it or not, I found it on Craigslist. To make it even more interesting, I wasn't on Craigslist looking for a job, I was actually looking for a used double stroller for my kids (we had to buy everything used at the time since we stashed cash away to buy a house).

You can look on Craiglist, although I say I was pretty darn lucky finding where I'm at. Do you have any public accounting experience? My old firm is actually looking to hire ASAP and I know another CPA in the Stafford area looking for someone?

Is there on this forum I can send you my contact information without blasting it to everyone who visits this site?

[Anonymous]

thanks for quick response, Ebatinga. well I really don't have any public accounting experience..just general accounting experience in a small business company..graduated from Ohio ..just moved here in Houston in late 2008 after I landed in this job..since then I am stuck in this company..can you please email me your email/contact info — nemosub13@gmail.com..really appreciate your time..

[Mkzara]

That's interesting information guys, definitely gives me something to think about

My career so far in midsize public accounting firm in NY

1st year – 56k – $0 bonus

2nd year – $61k (bonuses are after busy season)

I asked a 3rd year what he made after he quit and he said $65k.

And a senior was making $78k. That's about 5 years into her career.

First year managers are making about 90ish. (7-9 years into career)

Senior managers at the first year are making 120ish. (9-11 years into career)

FAR - 7/28/12 - 88
AUD - 8/25/12 - 96
REG - 11/12 - 85
BEC - 1/2/13

[2B.CPA]

[bump]

I thought I'd bump this post to see how much people's raises went during their first 1-5 years in public accounting firm?

I think it would be nice if everyone listed as below to make better comparison. (I just started recently, so i have no data Sorry!)

Size of firm:

Location:

Salary increases:

[leglock]

bump up

[Author]

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