What Can You Do With an Accounting Degree? 12 Careers Beyond the CPA Track

TL;DR

• An accounting degree qualifies you for careers in auditing, tax, forensic accounting, financial planning, management consulting, government investigation, and data analytics, with median salaries ranging from $60,000 to $161,700+.

• This guide covers 12 career paths that hire accounting graduates, what each role pays, and which ones don't require a CPA license.

• You'll learn why accounting is one of the most versatile business degrees, with career options in every industry from Big Four firms to the FBI.

• A CPA boosts your earning potential by 10-15%, but most of these careers don't require one to get started.

Externships are short, remote professional experience programs where you work on real projects with real companies. An Externship in financial planning and analysis with Attronica, deal sourcing with HP Tech Ventures, or operational strategy with Amazon gives you resume-ready project experience before you graduate. Explore all Externships.

Why Is an Accounting Degree One of the Most Employable Majors?

Look, accounting gets a reputation for being dry. Spreadsheets, tax returns, number crunching. But if you're wondering what you can do with an accounting degree, the real answer is probably going to surprise you. It goes way beyond sitting in a cubicle during tax season.

Accounting is consistently one of the most employable undergraduate majors out there. And honestly? It's not hard to see why.

The Skills That Make Accountants Hireable Everywhere

Here's the thing. Accounting doesn't just teach you how to balance books. It trains you in financial analysis, regulatory compliance, attention to detail, and systems thinking. Those skills? Every company needs them, not just accounting firms.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are roughly 124,200 openings projected each year for accountants and auditors through 2034. And that figure doesn't even count the dozens of neighboring roles like financial analyst, consultant, or data analyst that actively recruit accounting grads.

Compared to a finance degree, accounting gives you a more structured credential path through the CPA. But even without the CPA, you're walking into interviews with skills that transfer across industries. That matters.

What Jobs Can You Get With an Accounting Degree?

Here are 12 career paths open to accounting graduates, from the traditional to the genuinely unexpected.

Public Accountant (Audit / Tax)

This is the path most people picture. You join a Big Four firm (Deloitte, PwC, EY, or KPMG) or a regional firm. You work your way from staff accountant to senior, then manager, then maybe partner if you stick around long enough.

The BLS reports a median salary of $81,680 for accountants and auditors, with 5% projected growth through 2034. A CPA is preferred at most firms, but it's not always required at the entry level.

Tax Accountant / Tax Advisor

Tax specialists live for January through April. But the good ones stay busy all year doing tax planning and advisory work. You can land at a private firm, a corporate tax department, or a boutique advisory shop.

Pay falls under the same BLS category ($81,680 median), though experienced tax advisors with niche expertise can earn well above that number. Some tax pros go for the Enrolled Agent (EA) credential instead of the CPA, which is a totally valid route.

Forensic Accountant

OK, this is where accounting gets fun. Forensic accountants investigate fraud, support litigation, and sometimes serve as expert witnesses in court. The FBI, SEC, and Big Four firms all hire forensic accountants. (Yes, really.)

Salaries are a bit harder to pin down here since the BLS doesn't break out forensic accounting as its own category. PayScale puts the median between $85,000 and $110,000, and the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential is your ticket into this world.

Financial Analyst / FP&A

Financial analysts handle corporate budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis. The BLS reports a median salary of $101,350 with 6% projected growth. Your accounting background is genuinely an advantage over finance-only graduates here, because you understand how the numbers get built from the source.

Want hands-on experience before you apply? An Externship in financial planning and analysis with Attronica lets you build real FP&A skills on your resume while you're still in school.

Management Accountant / Cost Accountant

Unlike public accountants who serve outside clients, management accountants work inside companies. They help leaders make better decisions using financial data. You'll find these roles in manufacturing, healthcare, and tech. The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is the credential to know here, and it's faster and cheaper than a CPA.

Internal Auditor

Internal auditors focus on risk management, compliance, and process improvement from inside the organization. Every large company needs an internal audit team. The work is less client-facing than public accounting, which is a plus for some people. The Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) certification is the standard for this path.

Government Accountant / FBI Agent

Honestly, this one catches people off guard. The FBI actively recruits accounting majors to investigate financial crimes. Beyond the FBI, the IRS, GAO, and state agencies all hire government accountants.

The pay follows BLS medians for the accountant category. But government roles come with job security, pension benefits, and a day-to-day that's genuinely different from private sector work.

Controller / CFO Track

This is the long game. The path typically runs controller to VP of finance to CFO, and it usually requires a CPA plus 10 to 15 years of experience. But the payoff? It's significant.

The BLS reports a median salary of $161,700 for financial managers. And CFO compensation at public companies runs considerably higher than that.

Management Consultant

Accounting grads bring financial modeling skills and industry knowledge that consulting firms really value. Big Four firms actively promote people from audit and tax into advisory and consulting roles, so you don't always need to switch companies to make the jump.

The BLS median for management analysts is $101,190, with 9% projected growth. If consulting sounds interesting, our management degree career guide covers the full landscape of that path.

Data Analyst / Business Intelligence

Accounting grads already know Excel, basic SQL concepts, and how financial data is structured. Add Python or Tableau to that foundation and you're a competitive candidate for data roles. The BLS median for data scientists is $112,590, with a striking 34% projected growth through 2034.

That growth rate is hard to ignore. Check out our data analyst guide for practical steps to make this transition.

Real Estate / Commercial Banking

Underwriting, credit analysis, and loan structuring all depend on the ability to read and interpret financial statements. Accounting graduates have that skill from day one. The career trajectory overlaps with the financial analyst category ($101,350 median according to BLS), and a lot of banks specifically prefer accounting degrees for credit analyst positions.

Startup Finance / Fractional CFO

This is the entrepreneurial path. Startups need someone who can handle the books, prep for fundraising, and build financial projections. But they often can't afford a full-time CFO.

Accounting grads with an entrepreneurial streak fill that gap as fractional CFOs or startup finance leads. There's no clean BLS category for this role since it's still emerging. Yet the fractional CFO market keeps growing.

Which Accounting Careers Pay the Most?

Here's how the 12 career paths stack up on salary, growth, and credential requirements:

Salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024. Growth projections cover 2024-2034.

Well, one caveat: these are medians, so your actual number will depend on your city, your firm, and your negotiation skills. Take them as useful benchmarks, not guarantees.

Do You Need a CPA to Succeed With an Accounting Degree?

Not necessarily. The CPA is the gold standard credential in accounting, sure. But it's not the only path to a strong career.

CPA vs Non-CPA Career Paths

Here's a quick breakdown:

CPA Required or Strongly Preferred: Public accounting (Big Four), controller/CFO track, signing audit opinions.

CPA Helpful but Not Required: Tax advisory, forensic accounting, management consulting.

CPA Not Needed: Financial analyst, data analyst, internal auditor (CIA instead), management accountant (CMA instead), government accounting, startup finance, real estate/banking.

So is the CPA worth the effort? It does come with a salary premium. According to the AICPA, CPA holders earn roughly 10-15% more than non-CPA accountants in comparable roles. But the 150-credit-hour education requirement and the exam itself are a real time and money commitment. For some career paths that investment makes total sense. For others, not so much.

Other Certifications Worth Considering

If the CPA isn't your path, these alternatives carry real weight:

• CMA (Certified Management Accountant): Best for corporate finance and FP&A roles.

• CIA (Certified Internal Auditor): The standard for internal audit careers.

• CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner): Your way into forensic accounting.

• EA (Enrolled Agent): Tax-focused credential, faster than CPA.

Each of these is more affordable and faster to earn than a CPA. Students from more than 100 different majors participate in hands-on professional experience programs to build the applied skills that complement these credentials.

Is an Accounting Degree Worth It in 2026?

The ROI Compared to Other Business Degrees

Accounting has one of the highest employment rates of any major within six months of graduation. Starting salaries sit between $55,000 and $65,000 at entry level, with Big Four starting offers reaching $60,000 to $72,000 in major cities. And the CPA premium makes the long-term ROI pretty strong.

Here's what's interesting, though. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5% growth for accountants through 2034, and that's just the core accounting category. Factor in adjacent roles like financial analyst (6% growth), management consultant (9% growth), and data scientist (34% growth), and the total opportunity for accounting grads is expanding in ways the headline number doesn't capture.

94% of students rated their Externship experience positively, which suggests that getting hands-on professional experience before graduation makes a real, measurable difference in career outcomes.

How to Stand Out as an Accounting Graduate

Three Moves Beyond the GPA

A solid GPA gets your resume past the initial screen. That's about all it does.

Here's what actually separates candidates who get multiple offers from the ones who don't:

1. Get real financial analysis experience before you graduate. An Externship in deal sourcing with HP Tech Ventures or operational strategy with Amazon gives you a project you can talk about in interviews, not just coursework to list.

2. Pass at least one section of the CPA exam before job interviews. Even if you haven't finished the full exam, showing progress signals commitment. It gives you a talking point that sets you apart from other candidates.

3. Learn one data tool beyond Excel. SQL, Tableau, or Power BI will differentiate you from candidates who only know spreadsheets. Big Four recruiters increasingly look for these skills alongside traditional accounting knowledge.

If you're looking for your first professional experience without traditional experience requirements, remote Externships are designed for exactly that situation.

FAQ

What is the highest-paying job with an accounting degree?

The controller and CFO track offers the highest long-term earning potential. Financial managers earn a median of $161,700 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For earlier-career roles, financial analysts and management consultants both reach median salaries near $101,000 within five to seven years.

Can you get a good accounting job without a CPA?

Yes. Financial analysts, management accountants, internal auditors, data analysts, and government accountants all hire accounting graduates without CPA licensure. The CPA matters most for public accounting firms and the controller-to-CFO track. Alternative certifications like the CMA and CIA serve other paths well.

Is an accounting degree better than a finance degree?

They serve different purposes. Accounting focuses on recording, reporting, and compliance. Finance focuses on investment decisions and capital allocation. Accounting offers a clearer credential path through the CPA, while finance offers more flexibility in banking and corporate strategy. For a deeper comparison, see our economics degree career guide.

How much do accounting majors make right out of college?

Entry-level accounting positions typically pay $55,000 to $65,000 depending on location and firm size. Big Four starting salaries in major cities range from $60,000 to $72,000 for audit and tax associates. Government accounting roles start around $50,000 to $60,000 with stronger benefits packages.

Is accounting being replaced by AI and automation?

Routine bookkeeping and data entry are getting automated, but accounting careers focused on analysis, judgment, and advisory work are growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5% growth for accountants through 2034. Forensic accounting, FP&A, and consulting roles require human judgment that AI can't replicate.

Do you need a master's degree in accounting to advance?

Not necessarily. The 150-credit-hour CPA requirement means many students complete a master's in accounting or extra undergraduate credits. But for non-CPA career paths like data analytics, consulting, or government accounting, a bachelor's degree with relevant hands-on experience is typically sufficient to advance.