General
Information
So
how
much
money
do
accountants
make?
Accountancy
will
certainly
provide
a
salary
that
will
ensure
an
excellent
quality
of
living…
It
is
not
uncommon
for
an
accountant
with
a
number
of
years
experience
to
be
making
a
six-figure
income.
Starting
salaries
range
from
$30
-
40,000,
which
will,
then
increase
dramatically
with
experience
and
expertise.
One
half
of
all
accountants
earned
between
$34,290
and
$56,190
a
year
in
2000.
The
highest
10
percent
earned
more
than
$73,770
a
year.
Earnings
of
accountants
depend
on
how
long
they
have
been
working.
Where
Do
Accountants
Work?
All
businesses
employ
accountants
who
help
the
manager's
plan
and
control
the
business,
and
who
report
to
the
owners
how
well
the
business
is
doing.
Because
they
understand
their
companies
so
well,
many
of
these
accountants
rise
up
through
the
ranks
and
end
up
running
the
companies
as
top
managers
and
presidents.
Government
agencies
hire
accountants
to
keep
track
of
the
money
they
collect
and
spend.
Even
the
FBI.
(In
fact,
the
FBI
hires
a
LOT
of
accountants
to
help
them
track
down
criminals
who
"launder
money".
The
money
trail
is
often
one
of
the
FBI's
most
important
investigative
leads.)
Other
accountants
work
as
professional
CPAs.
These
accountants
are
like
doctors
and
lawyers;
people
and
businesses
pay
these
independent
accountants
a
fee
to
help
them
with
their
accounting,
tax,
computer
system,
and
business
advice
needs.
When
companies
report
their
profits
to
their
owners,
they
hire
CPAs
to
certify
that
the
reports
are
truthful
and
fair.
Some
CPAs
specialize
in
things
like
personal
financial
planning
or
even
forensic
accounting
(tracking
down
"while
collar
criminals").
