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The differences between regional accountants and certified public accountants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a regional accountant and a certified public accountant. Additionally, a certified public accountant has an average salary of $76,693, which is higher than the $61,848 average annual salary of a regional accountant.
The top three skills for a regional accountant include reconciliations, payroll and balance sheet accounts. The most important skills for a certified public accountant are CPA, customer service, and IRS.
| Regional Accountant | Certified Public Accountant | |
| Yearly salary | $61,848 | $76,693 |
| Hourly rate | $29.73 | $36.87 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 56,406 | 78,792 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Regional accountants work on the preparation of accounts and tax returns, payroll administration, and auditing financial information. They utilize financial statements, account reconciliations, and balance sheets to assist with their accounting work. Regional accountants must have good communication skills, be highly analytical, and take leadership over the accounts in their assigned region.
A certified public accountant (CPA) acts as an advisor to small businesses and chief financial officers to Fortune 500 companies. They typically work for both small and large public accounting firms. They offer advice on many issues, such as accounting and taxation. They aid businesses and individuals to plan and achieve their financial goals. There are several requirements to become a CPA, including having a degree in accounting, passing the CPA examination, and obtaining a CPA license to practice.
Regional accountants and certified public accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Regional Accountant | Certified Public Accountant | |
| Average salary | $61,848 | $76,693 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $79,000 | Between $49,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | - | Applied Materials |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a regional accountant and a certified public accountant in terms of educational background:
| Regional Accountant | Certified Public Accountant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between regional accountants' and certified public accountants' demographics:
| Regional Accountant | Certified Public Accountant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.0% Female, 58.0% | Male, 43.2% Female, 56.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 12.2% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 12.4% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |