Chartered accountant is one of the occupations in the USA that are in high demand. USA is popular for paying high salaries to its employees and being a CA in the US you can earn quite well if you have the right experience. Moreover, the CA Salary in USA depends largely on various factors like the kind of company you work for, location, job profile and more. Now let’s know about CA salary distribution in the US.
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A newly qualified CA can earn a starting salary of around USD 66,000 to USD 146,000 per year. However, as they gain more experience and build a strong reputation within the industry, they can earn upwards of USD 200,000 or more per year. There are some factors that may influence chartered accountant salary in US including their education level, and the industry in which they work for. Overall, a career as a chartered accountant can be highly rewarding both financially and professionally. Let’s move ahead with the blog and discuss the salary offered to CAs based on their experience.
The level of experience is the most vital factor in determining a CA Salary in US. Naturally, the more experience you have, the higher your wage will increase as organizations hire you in higher-level roles. In the table below, there are the average salaries offered to chartered accountants in the USA based on their experience.
| Experience Levels with Number of Years | Average Annual Salary (In USD) |
|---|---|
| Entry-level 0-2 years |
USD 50,000 to USD 70,000 |
| Early-level 2-5 years |
USD 70,000 to USD 95,000 |
| Mid-level 5-10 years |
USD 95,400 to USD 110,000 |
| Experienced Level 10-15 years |
USD 110,000 to USD 122,000 |
| Senior-level 15-20 years |
USD 120,000 to USD 130,000 |
| Executive Level More than 20 years |
Over USD 130,000 |
These are the average annual salaries offered to chartered accountants in the USA based on experience level. Now let’s discuss about the salary offered to CAs based on their educational qualification.
A degree or certification course plays a huge role in getting a certain salary as a CA in the USA. Generally, people with higher educational qualifications tend to get good salaries comparatively. Below is the classification of the CA Salary in US according to their educational qualification.
| Education Level | Average Annual Salary (In USD) |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting | USD 45,000 to USD 129,000 |
| Master’s Degree in Accounting | USD 50,000 to USD 150,000 |
| Certificate or Diploma in Accounting or Finance | USD 30,000 to USD USD 65,000 |
However, candidates with PhD degrees tend to take high positions in companies, such as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Tax Officer, resulting in a salary above USD 150,000 per year. Thus, these are the chartered accountant salary in US based on educational qualifications. Moving ahead with the blog, let’s discuss some advantages of Chartered Accountants in the USA.
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Chartered accountants are needed all over the world with high demand as they are necessary for the economy. In this section, we are going to talk about some advantages of chartered accountants in the United States.
These are some of the advantages that Chartered accountants have in the USA where they can get a number of opportunities. So, now let us dive deep into this blog and understand the certification programmes in the US that can increase your pay as a CA.
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Make a Call Now!!Salaries might also depend on the certification courses CAs hold in the USA. They can negotiate higher salaries based on their knowledge, skill set and expertise they have. The table below shows CA Salary in USA based on the certifications.
| Certification | Average Salary Range Per Year | Hike in Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Public Accountant (CPA) | USD 80,000 to USD 90,000 | +8.05% |
| Certified Management Accountant (CMA) | USD 95,000 to USD 100,000 | +9.63% |
| Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) | USD 80,000 to USD 90,000 | +48.58% |
| Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) | USD 105,000 to USD 110,000 | +43.99% |
| Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) | USD 82,000 to USD 87,000 | +72.89% |
| Certified Financial Planner (CFP) | USD 90,000 to USD 100,000 | +64.36% |
| Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM) | USD 96,000 to USD 160,000 | +64.36% |
| Enrolled Agent (EA) | USD 75,000 to USD 80,000 | +55.05% |
These are some of the certification programmes that can significantly impact the salary range they can expect. Now let’s discuss some of the leading recruiters in the USA for Chartered Accountants.
Accounting services in the USA have earned a revenue of $33 billion as per the newest stats. Various companies in the United States look for candidates with Chartered Accountant degrees. Here, in this section of the blog, we’ll discuss the top firms and the average salary of CA in USA in these companies.
1 Deloitte
Deloitte has an annual revenue of $59 billion. They have their headquarters in New York City and offer services such as audit and tax services, risk consulting and financial advisory services.
2 Pwc
Pricewaterhouse Coopers better known as PwC ranking on second when it comes to largest tax services practice carried out in the USA. They hire around 328,000 specialists and offer services such as forensics, data protection, risk management, and more.
3 Ernst & Young
EY has been one of the top accounting firms in the United States. EY recently split its audit and consulting units into two separate companies. Moreover, Ernst & Young is the go-to company for asset management.
4 KPMG
This is a New York accounting firm and has branches in more than 150 countries. It is known to help manage over 78% of all US public audits. They offer services such as cloud-based, record-to-report- technologies to apply controls throughout accounting cycles.
5 McGladrey
It is the fifth largest accounting firm outside of New York. They carry out activities such as tax planning, audits and financial statement preparation. Their top clients include non-profit agencies and financial institutions.
These are some of the few companies which offer higher salaries to CA in the USA. In the next section, we will be discussing some top highest paying states for chartered accountants in the USA.
Also Read: How to Get a High MBA Salary in USA?
The states that pay CA full form (Chartered Accountant) in terms of salary in the USA are mostly on the East Coast. To gain a better understanding, you can look below in the table, top highest-paying states for CAs in the United States.
| Top Paying States in the USA for CAs | Average Salary Range Per Year |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $110,240 |
| New York | $105,790 |
| New Jersey | $97,950 |
| California | $92,840 |
| Massachusetts | $92,310 |
| Washington, D.C. | $98,000 |
The above-given states have a high demand for Chartered Accountants in the USA. But along with the states, there are also top highest-paying cities for CAs in the United States of America. Let’s have a look on those cities.
Some cities in the USA have exceptional salaries for CA. Thus, here are the top cities which have a huge demand for Chartered Accountants in the USA.
| Top Paying Cities in the USA for CAs | Average Salary Range Per Year |
|---|---|
| Miami, Florida | $53,706 |
| Chicago, Illinois | $55,657 |
| Phoenix, Arizona | $56,104 |
| Austin, Texas | $56,189 |
| Dallas, Texas | $63,463 |
| Atlanta, Georgia | $57,423 |
| Los Angeles, California | $54,266 |
| Seattle, Washington | $71,000 |
| Denver, Colorado | $65,000 |
| San Diego, California | $69,000 |
These are the top cities in the US with their average salaries offered to CAs. Let’s now understand the difference between CA in India and CA in the USA.
The primary difference between an Indian Chartered Accountant (CA) and an American Certified Public Accountant (CPA) lies in the regular frameworks and the qualifications required. Let’s get in-depth through the table to understand the difference between Indian CA and American CA.
| Indian CA | American CA |
|---|---|
| In India, a Chartered Accountant (CA) is a professional designation offered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). | In America, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a professional designation granted in the US by each of the 50 states’ boards of accountancy |
| CA takes 4 years to complete | CPA takes an average of one year to complete |
| CA comprises three levels CPT, IPCC and final |
CPA is a single-level exam comprising four sections |
| 3 years of Internship experience is a must for CA | One year post-qualification experience in order to obtain a license |
| Indian CA is mostly recognized in India and the Middle East | CPA US has job opportunities across the globe not limited to the US |
| Average Salary of an Indian CA per month is 90.4k Rupees | The salary of CA in US per month is $21,333 |
CA and CPA are great career enhancements for both students as well as professionals. Moreover, these were some of the vital differences between studying Indian CA and American CA. Now let’s move ahead with the blog and understand how can an Indian CA practice in the USA
Chartered Accountancy (CA) is India’s well-known degree and stands out as the most prestigious career for students. However, it is not recognized internationally. But, the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) course is widely recognized around the world for people who want to pursue a career in accounting on an international level. Also, the Indian CA salary in US is $1,33,619 per year. Moreover, in this section, we will discuss the steps for those who wish to make their way from an Indian CA to a CPA course in the US.
1 Evaluating Degrees- One must assess all of their degrees, certificates, and post-qualification courses with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). They should ensure that they don’t miss out on any opportunities to earn the required credit hours. For example- a B.Com. combined with a CA would be sufficient to earn the required 120 credit points.
2 The Application Process- If a person wishes to take one or more portions of the exam, they must submit an application along with the necessary documentation and payment. After this, the board of accountancy or agent will contact the person when their application has been evaluated.
3 Stay Updated on NTS (Notice to Schedule)- After the application has been processed then the candidate will receive a Notice to Schedule from NASBA. That means they have been confirmed to be eligible to take one or more parts of the CPA examination.
4 Choosing a State- For the purpose of evaluating one’s credentials, one must first choose a state. Each state has its own set of evaluation standards.
5 Give Four Exams- You have to take four exams that are Audit, Regulations, Accounting, and BEC (Costing + FM)
6 Get Trained with a CPA- A one-year training period is required for practising CPAs, just as it is for CA articleship.
7 Applying for a Visa- No condition prevents anyone from obtaining a visa to take CPA tests. It should be remembered that tests can be taken when on a tourist visa. As a result, there is no link between a CPA and a US Visa. Thus, before taking the exams, one should figure this out in greater depth.
The Indian CA and American CPA vary on different factors such as salary of CA in US per month is $21,333, whereas in India the salary of a CA per month is 90.4k rupees. Thus, the above-given steps are the complete guide to how you can practice CPA in the United States. Moving ahead with the blog, let’s discuss the projected salary of CA in the USA vs India.
According to Payscale, an average CA salary in India is around Rs 6,99,728 per year whereas in the USA it starts from $35000 per year. Moreover, the salary of Indian CA in USA per year is $1,33,619. In addition, this section will let you know the basic differences between the salaries of CA in India and the USA based on the professions.
| Profession | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Accountant |
|
| Chartered Accountant |
|
| Finance Manager |
|
| Financial Analyst |
|
| Senior Accountant |
|
| Account Manager |
|
| Assistance Finance Manager |
|
| Tax Associate |
|
The above table tells you the average salary in India and USA according to the different professions. In addition, the salary of CA in USA in rupees is 69,21,174.63 per year. Now let’s discuss similar job roles you can carry out as a CA in United States.
With a degree in chartered accountancy and finance, there are many other roles that you can explore. The similar job roles, along with their salaries, are as follows:
| Profession | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Staff Accountant | $55,945 Per year |
| Financial Accountant | $63,635 Per year |
| Tax Accountant | $65,254 Per year |
| Accounts Payable Clerk | $18.18 Per hour |
| Bookkeeper | $19.30 Per hour |
| Financial Analyst | $48k- $82k |
These are some of the corresponding job roles with their average salary you can perform in USA. Let’s now explore the top government sector jobs of a chartered accountant in the United States.
Private firms are not the only companies in the USA where CAs and their roles are concentrated. You can also aim for government sector jobs in the US. Now let’s have a look at some government sector jobs.
| Government Sector Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| US Department of Homeland Security | $98,896 |
| Enterprise Products | $90,648 |
| United States Department of Defence | $96,639 |
| US Department of Agriculture | $91,119 |
| Liberty Mutual Insurance | $90,742 |
These are some of the top-paying jobs for CA in the government sector in the USA along with salaries offered.
Also Read: How to Get USA Scholarships for Indian Students?
Finally, chartered accountants in the USA play a vital role in maintaining the financial integrity of businesses and organisations. However, CA salary in USA is influenced by various factors, including location, experience, industry, and company size. It’s important to remember that these figures are subject to change based on economic and industry dynamics. With a CA degree, individuals can easily find career opportunities such as internal auditor, tax consultant and many more. And if you are facing any difficulty in pursuing CA in the US, we are here to make it all worthwhile. Thus, study in USA by contacting our consultants at Gradding.com.
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