Starting Salary for Entry Level at Accounting Firm in Los Angeles

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  • #203532
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Hello,

    I graduated with a science degree for my undergraduate and I have decided to pursue an accounting certificate. I am planning to complete the accounting certificate by the end of this year and is planning to sit in the CPA exam once I’ve completed the educational requirements.

    I had an interview with a small local CPA firm, and their starting salary for an entry level is 36K at probation and afterwards will be around 40K. They have full insurance coverage and overtime pay. But their PTO days are very little.

    I am just curious on the average salary of an entry level at a CPA firm in Los Angeles area since I am still very new to the accounting field. One of my friend who is working in a CPA firm in N Cal told me that 36K-40K for entry level in a firm is too low.

    What do you guys think?

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  • #785987
    jbergmann1
    Participant

    That is about what I got when I started, but I live in the Dallas, TX area. That sounds too low when considering the COLA. I would look at other firms, if at all possible.

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    #785988
    CPA2BEE
    Participant

    For a small firm that 35-40k/year starting out isn't uncommon, but I'd say its the lower end of the average. Small firms in LA/OC will probably start you out anywhere from 30-50k per year, larger firms in the are probably closer to 45-60k per year to start.

    But, if you get lucky with the right firm and work hard, you won't stay at that pay for long. In 2014 I started at a small firm in OC in that same pay range you described, and two years later my salary has increased almost 50% and I am up for another raise once I finish this last exam. Talk to the people and see what kind of growth opportunity they have, you can sometimes make big jumps in a small firm especially in the early years.

    My main advice for you would be either look for work at a larger firm if you want more money to start with, or find a small firm that you can excel quickly in.

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    #785989
    CPA2BEE
    Participant

    Also, if your friend from Nor Cal is working in San Fran, then I would disregard the comments about pay. The cost of living in SF is unreal and their entry level jobs are like 70k per year.

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    #785990
    acamp
    Participant

    That seems REALLY low, regardless of the size of the firm giving the cost of living in LA.

    I'd guess new hires in your area at a Big4 would start around $55K. At Deloitte we get 25 days of PTO per year and firm holidays. This year there are 12 firm holidays 🙂

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    #785991
    MaLoTu
    Participant

    In the NorCal Bay Area, you would be looking at 60-65k starting at competitive firms, I think Big4 is around 58k. I cannot imagine LA being in the 30k range. If you have to take this job as a survival type job then do it, but I am guessing that is way below market. Use glass door and try to run some comps for your area. I would expect no less than 45k on the low end.

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    #785992
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Thanks for all the responses and inputs!
    I was wondering what's the average for an entry level accountant at a firm in SoCal.
    It is very difficult to get an accounting position with a higher paycheck since my accounting education level and experiences is very little compare to other candidates. I have half a year of experience as accounting clerk and a year of experience as purchasing assistant. I'm thinking if that's why the offer was only 36K. It is pretty much how much I get paid as a purchasing assistant.

    #785993
    MaLoTu
    Participant

    I see that entry level is about 52-57k… Using BDO and Armanino as a reference point.

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    #785994
    nigercpa
    Participant

    I was about to post this. I am in a similar situation. I just started at a small firm with 10 employees in a state in the mid west region, with an average cost of living. And I am being paid exactly 36k and will be on probation for three months after which it be reviewed to 40k depending on performance. There is no benefit , insurance bonus or 401k . But my case is different in that I have a CPA and have worked in an accounting environment though outside the USA. Plus I've been out of job for a while. It was extremely difficult to get back into accounting and I was just ready to accept any work so long it's accounting. I've always wanted to work in public accounting and this opportunity made way for me, it took me 6 months of serious search to get this job, so I am thankful. Aside from audit the company does everything from financial reporting , compilation, tax filing for individual and companies and also sales tax. Payroll and financial planning. So is really going to be a great experience for me and I see it as that. I know I am way underpaid but I am counting on the experience I will gain

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    #785995
    Track55
    Participant

    In So Cal, tiny firms pay in the 40's, the mid-level are in the 50's, and the big 4 are in the 60's for starting pay.

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    #785996
    fuzyfro89
    Participant

    Under 40k is low, but mostly the mid and large firms will be in the 50k+ range.

    Small firms tend to offer different things (work life balance, more varied work, different firm culture, etc.), and you have to decide if that's what you want and if you are willing to make that tradeoff.

    Second, think about your medium term career. Do you want to stay in public, jump into corporate in a few years, work in a large/mid/small accounting firm or a large/mid/small company?

    #785997
    itsanaccrualworld
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    60k with 25 days of PTO for middle market, not 100% sure about big 4

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    #785998
    hasy
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    Did not read the posts above, but I'm in SoCal as well. That's WAY too low. My starting salary was at least 55-60k. Even if at a small firm IN LA, you need to be hitting AT least in the 50s range.

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    #785999
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Big 4 and other national firms won't hire you unless you are CPA ready. OP is not. It doesn't seem like most of these salary comparisons are equivalent.

    #786000
    TheGoodCPA
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    Try to get in a Big 4 firm in LA they pay 59k starting. The cost of living in LA is way too high to be underpaid. Also why would you go for accounting if you have a science degree?

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    #786001
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Although I am fascinated by science but it is not what I would like to do as a career. I had an opportunity to learn more about accounting after obtaining a Bachelor of Science and found it quite interesting. Personally, I like math and I like numbers and general calculations. My personalities are detail-oriented, punctual, and trustworthy. I was also looking towards a more financial stable career. So, I thought accounting might be a good match.

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