# Accountants and Auditors

> Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/accountants-and-auditors
- SOC code: 13-2011.00
- Career family: Business and finance
- Median annual pay: $83,680 (10th percentile $56,020, 90th percentile $144,090)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +5.0%
- Openings a year: 115,300
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CEI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 2 |
| Investigative (I) | 43 |
| Artistic (A) | 1 |
| Social (S) | 19 |
| Enterprising (E) | 48 |
| Conventional (C) | 100 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 91/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 90/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 81/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 79/100)
- Processing Information (importance 79/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 78/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 78/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 78/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 77/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 73/100)

## Skills

Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Writing, Mathematics, Speaking, Active Learning, Monitoring

## Knowledge

Economics and Accounting, English Language, Mathematics, Law and Government, Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service, Administrative, Computers and Electronics, Personnel and Human Resources, Communications and Media

## Also called

Account Auditor, Accountant, Accounting Auditor, Accounting Consultant, Accounting Methods Analyst, Accounting Officer, Accounting Systems Analyst, Audit Partner, Auditor, Auditor in Charge

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Accounting and Related Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5203) (CIP 5203, 1,951 colleges)
- [Security Science and Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4304) (CIP 4304, 513 colleges)
- [Taxation](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5216) (CIP 5216, 125 colleges)
- Accounting and Computer Science (CIP 3016, 17 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Georgetown University-DC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgetown-university-dc-1068) | Accounting and Related Services | not reported | $141,931 | $16,035 |
| [Bucknell University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bucknell-university-331) | Accounting and Related Services | $87,150 | $130,990 | $25,350 |
| [Santa Clara University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/santa-clara-university-2371) | Accounting and Related Services | $88,383 | $130,087 | $16,249 |
| [Boston College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/boston-college-285) | Accounting and Related Services | $85,089 | $126,461 | $19,000 |
| [Lehigh University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lehigh-university-1472) | Accounting and Related Services | $83,966 | $125,874 | $19,000 |
| [Villanova University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/villanova-university-3127) | Accounting and Related Services | $83,193 | $120,207 | $24,187 |
| [American University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/american-university-69) | Accounting and Related Services | not reported | $119,020 | not reported |
| [Washington and Lee University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-and-lee-university-3167) | Accounting and Related Services | not reported | $118,946 | $19,500 |

## Related careers

- [Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/bookkeeping-accounting-and-auditing-clerks): $50,670 median pay
- [Financial Examiners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/financial-examiners): $94,160 median pay
- [Treasurers and Controllers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/treasurers-and-controllers): $166,570 median pay
- [Tax Preparers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tax-preparers): $54,920 median pay
- [Financial Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/financial-managers): $166,570 median pay
- [Budget Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/budget-analysts): $91,640 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.