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Job outlook for accountant helpers in the United States
Are accountant helper jobs in demand?
Accountant helper job and salary trends over time
Accountant helper jobs over time
Accountant helper job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 210 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 203 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 203 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 200 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 197 | 0.00% |
Average accountant helper salary over time
Accountant helper salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $48,629 | $23.38 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $47,300 | $22.74 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $46,606 | $22.41 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $45,846 | $22.04 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $45,052 | $21.66 | +1.4% |
Accountant helper jobs by state
Most common states for accountant helpers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 122 | 18% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 541 | 8% |
| 3 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 442 | 8% |
| 4 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 843 | 7% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 410 | 7% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 375 | 7% |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 92 | 7% |
| 8 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 78 | 7% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 66 | 7% |
| 10 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 506 | 6% |
| 11 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 208 | 6% |
| 12 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 201 | 6% |
| 13 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 77 | 6% |
| 14 | Alaska | 739,795 | 45 | 6% |
| 15 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,984 | 5% |
| 16 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 978 | 5% |
| 17 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 530 | 5% |
| 18 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 347 | 5% |
| 19 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 226 | 5% |
| 20 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 95 | 5% |
Accountant Helper job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of accountant helper experts
Eastern Oregon University
Misericordia University
Pacific Lutheran University
University of Maine Orono
Austin Peay State University
School of Business and Management | Azusa Pacific University
Amber Lawson CPA
Assistant Professor of Practice in AccountingWhat general advice would you give to an Accountant Helper?
Amber Lawson CPA: Graduates beginning their careers in accounting need to continue to be willing to learn and easy to teach. The technical skills that are taught in the classroom are incredibly important and crucial to passing the CPA exam, but much of the necessary knowledge to succeed in the industry will come from on-the-job, in-the-moment training, so learning doesn't stop when you exit the classroom! I would also emphasize, given the importance of the license, that recent graduates should position themselves to take and pass all sections of the Certified Public Accountant ("CPA") exam as soon as possible. This may mean that the first year of your career is spent juggling both working and studying for the exam, but statistics and anecdotal evidence alike support the notion that the sooner you push towards accomplishing this goal, the more likely you are to achieve it!
What Accountant Helper skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Amber Lawson CPA: First and foremost, meeting the necessary requirements for your CPA license is crucial for maximizing your salary potential in any field of accounting. Becoming a CPA not only elevates your earning potential within your starting position, but also creates mobility should you choose to shift your career path. The license signals that you are truly a professional and is a recognizable badge of excellence and the effort you expended to achieve it. Additionally, regardless of where you start your accounting career, become an expert. Whether that is within a particular industry or in regards to a particular methodology, learn whatever you can. Again, this allows you to not only elevate yourself in your existing role, but gives you more value (in tandem with your CPA license) as a professional should you choose to change.
Dr. Mohamed Abualhaija
Associate Professor of AccountingEastern Oregon University
Business/Commerce
What will help Accountant Helpers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Mohamed Abualhaija: Soft skills like teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, communication, and flexibility are also essential for launching a successful career after earning an accounting, business, or commerce degree. While teamwork entails collaboration, consideration for the views of others, and conflict resolution, effective communication entails the clear expression of ideas and attentive listening. Problem-solving skills require critical thinking and creativity to address complicated situations, but leadership traits require initiative, motivation, and accountability. Adaptability is essential in managing the dynamic corporate world, which necessitates flexibility, readiness to change, and resilience. In order to succeed in a variety of business settings and stand out in the competitive job market, it is imperative that these soft skills be developed through real-world experiences, feedback, and ongoing education.
Charles Makar
Instructor of BusinessMisericordia University
Business Department
What soft skills should all Accountant Helpers possess?
Charles Makar: Communications skills (oral and written).
Abby Xin Liu Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorPacific Lutheran University
School of Business
What skills will help Accountant Helpers earn the most?
Abby Xin Liu Ph.D.: Generally, having professional licenses is related to a higher salary level.
Dr. Henri Akono Ph.D.
Associate Professor of AccountingUniversity of Maine Orono
Maine Business School
What soft skills should all Accountant Helpers possess?
Dr. Henri Akono Ph.D.: -Teamwork
-Ability to work in teams (team-oriented)
-Interact with teammates
-Contribute to the team's work
-Keep the team on track
-Working remotely
-Communication (both written and oral)
-Written communication
-Memos
-Short papers
-Emails
-Oral communication
-PowerPoint presentations
-Use and quality of visual aids
-Making presentation videos using software such as zoom or Kaltura
-Others
-Time management
-Working under pressure
-Ability to complete the work within deadlines
-Self-motivation
-Attention to details
-Goal-oriented
-Understand firm strategy and objectives to the extent possible.
Dr. Jennifer Thayer
Assistant Professor of Accounting, Socrates Award for Excellence in Teaching Recipient, Clarksville Chamber of Commerce APSU Distinguished Faculty Award for Community Service Recipient, Accounting Society at Austin Peay AdvisorAustin Peay State University
College of Business
What skills stand out on Accountant Helper resumes?
Dr. Jennifer Thayer: Several skills help applicants stand out when submitting their resumes, which goes beyond just the normal "accounting knowledge." Individuals should include any type of practical application via internships, volunteer work, or work experience. When including these experiences, be sure to highlight the type of work that was completed, such as preparing tax returns, analyzing transactions for audits, preparing financial reports, etc. In addition, including skills such as proficiency or certifications in specific software is also helpful. For example, Microsoft Excel or QuickBooks knowledge/certifications. Also, including any experience with data analytics and using programs such as Power BI or Tableau would be very beneficial.
John Thornton Ph.D.
Professor of AccountingSchool of Business and Management | Azusa Pacific University
School of Accounting
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Accountant Helpers to find work opportunities?
John Thornton Ph.D.: CPA firms and corporations are still hiring accounting professionals. The disruption will be temporary, and much of the work will bounce back. But the long-term trend of global outsourcing of professional services, including accounting, has been dramatically accelerated. More than ever, graduates need to focus on setting themselves above the competition through professional certifications, such as the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and the like. Graduates need to think beyond simple data collection and move to data analytics. Critical thinking skills, coupled with strong technical competencies, will win the day. One colossal growth area in accounting will be forensic and investigative accounting. With the increase in online everything, the protection of financial information will face ever-increasing pressures. Cybercrime is on the rise. So to demand innovative ways to stop fraud and white-collar crime. One impressive credential in this area is the Certified Forensic Accountant (CFE).