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Job outlook for senior accounting technicians in the United States
Senior accounting technician job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected senior accounting technician job growth rate is -5% from 2018-2028.
About -77,200 new jobs for senior accounting technicians are projected over the next decade.
Senior accounting technician salaries have increased 10% for senior accounting technicians in the last 5 years.
There are over 17,455 senior accounting technicians currently employed in the United States.
There are 25,286 active senior accounting technician job openings in the US.
The average senior accounting technician salary is $55,796.
Are senior accounting technician jobs in demand?
Senior accounting technician job and salary trends over time
Senior accounting technician jobs over time
Senior accounting technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,455 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 16,698 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 17,493 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 17,698 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 17,720 | 0.01% |
Average senior accounting technician salary over time
Senior accounting technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $55,796 | $26.82 | +2.9% |
| 2024 | $54,243 | $26.08 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $52,941 | $25.45 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $51,625 | $24.82 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $50,507 | $24.28 | +3.1% |
Senior accounting technician jobs by state
Most common states for senior accounting technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 107 | 15% |
| 2 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 188 | 14% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 104 | 14% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 127 | 13% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 793 | 12% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 605 | 11% |
| 7 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 333 | 11% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 144 | 11% |
| 9 | Vermont | 623,657 | 66 | 11% |
| 10 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 571 | 10% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 184 | 10% |
| 12 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 105 | 10% |
| 13 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,128 | 9% |
| 14 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 551 | 9% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 329 | 9% |
| 16 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 648 | 8% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 500 | 8% |
| 18 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 311 | 8% |
| 19 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 247 | 8% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 87 | 8% |
Most common cities for senior accounting technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfort | 1 | 4% | $47,629 |
| 2 | Annapolis | 1 | 3% | $79,792 |
| 3 | Los Altos | 1 | 3% | $105,563 |
| 4 | Concord | 1 | 2% | $63,289 |
| 5 | Hartford | 1 | 1% | $72,198 |
| 6 | Lansing | 1 | 1% | $56,207 |
| 7 | Little Rock | 1 | 1% | $47,984 |
| 8 | Springfield | 1 | 1% | $49,634 |
| 9 | Tallahassee | 1 | 1% | $51,046 |
| 10 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $57,881 |
| 11 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $50,846 |
| 12 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $68,455 |
| 13 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $51,390 |
| 14 | Fayetteville | 1 | 0% | $53,673 |
| 15 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $55,874 |
| 16 | Irvine | 1 | 0% | $88,497 |
| 17 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $90,727 |
| 18 | Montgomery | 1 | 0% | $45,639 |
| 19 | Phoenix | 1 | 0% | $63,075 |
| 20 | Sacramento | 1 | 0% | $104,870 |
Senior Accounting Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior accounting technician experts
Muhlenberg College
Eastern Oregon University
Indiana University Northwest
Eastern Illinois University
Misericordia University
Pacific Lutheran University
University of Arkansas
The University of Scranton
University of Maine Orono
Florida Atlantic University
Centenary University
Case Western Reserve University
Austin Peay State University
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Rochester Institute of Technology
Iona College
DePaul University
University of Texas at El Paso
Florida International University
California State University San Marcos
What Senior Accounting Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ermira Mazziotta MBA, CPA, CFE: Understand and know how to utilize technology. Learn as much as possible.
Dr. Mohamed Abualhaija
Associate Professor of AccountingEastern Oregon University
Business/Commerce
What will help Senior Accounting Technicians 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.
Jaclyn Barkow
Clinical Assistant Professor of AccountingIndiana University Northwest
Accounting Department
What experience really stands out on Senior Accounting Technician resumes?
Jaclyn Barkow: From employers I have spoken with in the past, the experience that stands out is having some type of internship. While it does not have to be in the precise area of the employer's industry, my observations have been that employers like to see that they have some type of hands-on experience. In addition, employers also speak highly of being involved on campus, in various clubs, and positive community involvement.
Dr. Nicholas Robinson
Director of AccountancyEastern Illinois University
EIU School of Business
What skills will help Senior Accounting Technicians earn the most?
Dr. Nicholas Robinson: Management and sales. If you can rise above your peers as a manager, you will make more. If you can drive sales, you will make more. If you enter an accounting firm and have the ability to not just do the work but can efficiently manage a team to do the work, you will be promoted to that position. Similarly, if you can attract more clients to the firm, you will become far more valuable to the firm. Your ability to create new revenue will be rewarded.
Working for a business as an internal accountant likely would not present the opportunity to drive new business. Promotion and raises will be determined by your ability to lead a team.
Charles Makar
Instructor of BusinessMisericordia University
Business Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Senior Accounting Technicians?
Charles Makar: Ability to write and understand journal entries; prepare and interpret financial statements; prepare tax returns; understand job-order costing, process costing, and activity-based costing; working knowledge of GAAP and GAAS.
What soft skills should all Senior Accounting Technicians possess?
Charles Makar: Communications skills (oral and written).
What skills will help Senior Accounting Technicians earn the most?
Charles Makar: Auditing and tax preparation skills.
Abby Xin Liu Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorPacific Lutheran University
School of Business
What soft skills should all Senior Accounting Technicians possess?
Abby Xin Liu Ph.D.: People skills or communication skills.
Kris Allee Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Doyle Z. Williams Chair in Professional AccountingUniversity of Arkansas
Accounting Department
What skills will help Senior Accounting Technicians earn the most?
Kris Allee Ph.D.: Certainly, passing the CPA exam is a must, as it is considered a necessary condition for advancement. Passing the exam also helps certify the minimum level of skills the person may possess. Financial analysis skills are also highly valued and hard to find in the average staff accountant. These skills traditionally would include computing, quantitative analysis, and understanding forecasting techniques and limitations. Finally, communication skills and the ability to effectively manage expectations and projects are what make an accountant indispensable and valuable to a firm.
Dr. Douglas Boyle
Chair & Professor, Director, Doctorate in Business Administration Program , Director, Nonprofit Leadership ProgramThe University of Scranton
Accounting Department
What skills stand out on Senior Accounting Technician resumes?
Dr. Douglas Boyle: Accounting is a very technical profession, so any credential that shows you have an advanced level of knowledge makes a candidate stand out. Accountants have many opportunities to pursue credentials. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is the only accounting credential that is a license from the state. If you hold a CPA, the AICPA offers six specialty credentials to consider pursuing, including Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP), Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), Personal Financial Specialist (PFS), and Certified in Entity and Intangible Valuations (CEIV). Three other organizations to consider that do not require a CPA to pursue are the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). The IMA offers two credentials, the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis (CSCA). The IIA offers six credentialling opportunities, the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA), Qualification in Internal Audit Leadership (QIAL), Certified Process Safety Auditor (CPSA), and Certified Professional Environmental Auditor (CPEA). Last, the ACFE offers the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). These opportunities enable accountants to specialize in several areas and provide opportunities to stand out. Our research shows that in addition to technical skills, soft skills are very important as you move to higher levels of a firm or organization.
Dr. Henri Akono Ph.D.
Associate Professor of AccountingUniversity of Maine Orono
Maine Business School
What hard/technical skills are most important for Senior Accounting Technicians?
Dr. Henri Akono Ph.D.: -In today's environment, with greater usage of data big and small by companies, accountants are expected to have a better understanding of accounting analytics and a greater ability to analyze and identify patterns in data. Therefore, accounting analytics is a very important skill for accountants today.
-Just knowing excel is not enough. Being able to use software like excel QuickBooks for accounting/controllership/audit/tax-related decisions is a plus.
-In addition, being able to use visualization software like Tableau or Power BI is also a plus.
-Some type of analytics certification (Excel, general analytics, etc.) is a plus.
-However, this does not substitute for accounting-related knowledge and understanding.
What skills will help Senior Accounting Technicians earn the most?
Dr. Henri Akono Ph.D.: -Most accounting jobs pay really well, and there is demand.
-So, having knowledge and understanding of accounting analytics is definitely very important, but companies still operate and have a need for traditional accountants.
In summary:
Accountants need to demonstrate knowledge of their area of interest, ability to solve problems in their area of interest, ability to use analytics for accounting-related purposes and decisions, ability to communicate both orally and in writing, ability to work and contribute to team success, commitment to meeting deadlines, and ability to perform tasks under pressure or time constraints.
What skills stand out on Senior Accounting Technician resumes?
Dr. George Young: Skills pertaining to software, especially software used to analyze data for reasonableness, classification non-conformity, other errors, and fraud, will always be eye-catching to employers. Students should also not overlook participation in activities that represent a contribution to the greater good. Activities like Habitat for Humanity and the local Helping Hands organizations not only convey the willingness to benefit others but also conveys the skill of getting along with others while working on a common goal.
What skills will help Senior Accounting Technicians earn the most?
Dr. George Young: There are several skills that will help you earn the most. One skill is the ability to incorporate changes to the accounting and business landscape (the first step is to keep current with accounting, auditing, and tax standards, as well as learn new types of software that are developed). Another skill is the ability to interact well with others; we do not achieve success by ourselves. Still another skill is the ability to look for opportunities in every situation - even those that do not appear to contain opportunities. If you do not feel you have these skills now, never fear - these are skills that you can acquire and improve!
Frank Longo
Assistant Professor of BusinessCentenary University
Business Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Senior Accounting Technicians?
Frank Longo: Proficiency with emerging technology is an attention-getter. We should note that the Certified Public Accountants Exam will contain three sections by 2024, including Data Analytics, Tax Compliance and Planning, and Information System and Controls. A basic knowledge will be required in each of these, and the CPA candidate will identify one area of the above for more detailed testing. This change in knowledge requirements reflects the skills employers see as most important to hire. Using technology in any of these areas can move a candidate to the top of the hiring list. We should emphasize that the job candidate does not need to be an expert in each area, but the ability to effectively use technology in one area is important. Employers are looking for the ability to use technology in information security, business processes, information systems, IT audits, data analytics, and tax planning but not all of them.
Keep in mind that successful firms performed audits, prepared tax returns, advised clients on data security, and much more during the pandemic, and they often did so remotely. This can be expected to continue into the future.
What skills will help Senior Accounting Technicians earn the most?
Frank Longo: Accountants are generally very well compensated in each of the areas we have discussed. The ability to combine critical soft skills, problem solving and teamwork, with almost any hard skill, including data analytics and information technology, will typically lead to higher pay. Having a CPA license or Certified Management Accountant designation can add to earnings potential. Many accountants do well financially without having either.
The bottom line or key take-a-way is that critical technological skills are required along with a personality that enables you to explain and discuss that technology to better work with teams and solve problems.
What soft skills should all Senior Accounting Technicians possess?
Frank Longo: The skills listed above in question number one are soft skills. They are the skills that truly differentiate the candidate. All candidates are expected to possess hard skills such as excel proficiency. It is the soft skills that get the job done. The ability to solve problems and to lead a team are the top requirements. Recent studies conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers consistently arrived at this conclusion, as did a recent Centenary University survey that included New Jersey and New York employers. These skills can be demonstrated through work experience, internships, and extra-curricular activities, including clubs and sports, which can serve as examples.
Thomas King
Department Chair, Director, Master of Accountancy Program, Professor, AccountancyCase Western Reserve University
Accountancy Department
What skills stand out on Senior Accounting Technician resumes?
Thomas King: Evidence that someone is smart is a fast learner and works well with others.
What soft skills should all Senior Accounting Technicians possess?
Thomas King: The ability to develop working relationships with a wide range of colleagues who have diverse skills.
What skills will help Senior Accounting Technicians earn the most?
Thomas King: The ability to lead others to bring about intended change.
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 Senior Accounting Technician 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.
What skills will help Senior Accounting Technicians earn the most?
Dr. Jennifer Thayer: All the skills mentioned above are necessary to be a high earner. However, one of the most important factors for top earnings is negotiating your salary when starting with an employer. Too often, applicants will accept an offer without any negotiation to secure employment. There are resources available for job seekers to improve their salary negotiation skills, as most employers anticipate a negotiation from the first offer.
What technical skills for a Senior Accounting Technician stand out to employers?
Zev Fried Ph.D.: For accountants, the same skills that were always needed such as proficiency with numbers, use of different types of computer software, and problem identification and solving are still needed. Emerging from the pandemic, there are also added skills such as the ability to work remotely and collaborate and share your work that will be important to employers.
How have salaries changed over time for Senior Accounting Technicians?
Qian Song Ph.D.: Salaries vary according to the region, employers, and positions. Salaries seem to be relatively stable with a slight increase for inflation. However, salaries are higher for graduates with data analytics certifications or advanced data analytics skills.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Accounting Technician job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Andrew Griffith: With or without the pandemic, the most dominant trend in the accounting field is the need to continually upgrade one's skills and knowledge base. For several years, accounting has found ways to incorporate technology to automate routine tasks. The pandemic has been a catalyst to accelerate this evolution. This means that those who do not stay current will find their employment opportunities diminishing as their time in the workforce progresses. Those who can develop the skills and knowledge to be and remain at the front of their field's trends will have the most employment opportunities during their time in the workforce.
As I often tell my students, the days of simply having one degree and being done for life are long gone. Assuming the trends in educational attainment across the nation continue as they have since 1991, a bachelor's degree is no longer sufficient for those in the workforce. In every field, one will need at least one master's degree to remain viable in the workforce during the next 30 or more years. In fact, I've noticed a trend in the workforce where people have multiple master's degrees and some even have multiple research and professional doctorate degrees, albeit a much smaller percentage of the workforce than those that have not gone beyond the master's degree level.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Accounting Technicians?
Delvin Grant: Yes. I strongly believe coronavirus will have a lasting impact on new graduates. A increasing paradigm shift is taking place as we speak, as some IT-related jobs can be done remotely. I expect the shift to continue until a steady state condition is achieved, when companies feel they have the right mix of remote and face-to-face employment. Some companies may resist the trend, valuing face-to-face over remote working. Face-to-face satisfies a human need to socialize and, in some cultures, much business is done by face-to-face. There is evidence of a paradigm shift as many IT employees work remotely, due to the pandemic. Some companies have realized the shift is here to stay and others take a wait and see attitude. It is hard not to recognize the shift as there are cost saving from office rent, office space, heating, cooling, computing cost, travel costs, etc. The impact will vary by profession. IT and other professions are a natural fit for remote working while others are not. For example, a chemist working in a lab environment cannot work from home as his lab is the only place to mix and experiment with chemicals and chemistry.
What's a good job out of college for Senior Accounting Technicians?
Delvin Grant: To answer this question, I am assuming a COVID-19 environment. We know most jobs can be carried out in a face-to-face mode, but if this is not possible in a COVID environment, then it is difficult to consider those jobs as good jobs. Therefore, a good job is one that can be easily carried out in a COVID environment so MIS, IT, Computer Science, and similar professions that fit a remote working mode are excellent jobs.
What's a good job out of college for Senior Accounting Technicians?
David Folsom Ph.D.: Jobs in public accounting are excellent for new graduates. All of these firms (international, national, or local firms) generally provide assistance and incentives for new hires to become CPAs. Many positions in these firms allow new hires to see numerous different business situations that are valuable in the future. Many "industry" companies covet accountants who have public accounting experience for managerial or even executive positions. New graduates taking such positions will be exposed to a variety of business models and generally quickly create valuable contacts across many different industries.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Accounting Technician job market given the pandemic?
Jose Aldrich: -Rapid increase in quality of technology based solutions allowing for robust remote working and business interaction, will support working more from home where the business can adapt and has the technology solutions to support the new working environment. This trend will impact commercial real estate, primarily office space. Some companies may seek to reduce office space.
-Budgets for business travel, large meetings and in-person business meetings may decrease and budgets for remote technology may increase. Business travel industry may need to adapt to the reduced business travel as remote technology solutions continue to evolve.
-E-commerce is on the rise and will continue to increase as consumers become more comfortable with online purchasing (groceries, clothes and household items, etc). Shift from physical stores to virtual stores for a larger percentage of sales will lower cost of entry and give rise to new businesses to support the trend.
-Social norms have adapted to the new pandemic environment and may not fully return to pre-pandemic levels. Face masks, social distancing, handshaking, etc. may become the norm for some time and taper slowly with some habits continuing.
What soft skills should all Senior Accounting Technicians possess?
Jose Aldrich: -Strong relationship building skills. Trusted relationships with peers, bosses and clients/customers are key.
-Analytical abilities. A lot of the work will involve interpreting data and using business analytics.
-Effective decision making. Identifying business risks and courage to take calculated risks in business.
-Leadership skills
-Ability to speak up at meetings.
-Organizational skills
What's a good job out of college for Senior Accounting Technicians?
Jolynn Zhou Ph.D.: The answer to this question really is highly subjective. Different students may give you different answers. Typically younger, fresh-out-of-college students prefer public accounting because they get to learn a lot in a relatively short period of time and it is good for career advancement. Students with families may prefer private accounting because of the work-life balance and the predictable work hours. Government jobs can be attractive too because of the benefits. Ultimately it is up to the student to determine what type of job is best for themselves.
What technical skills for a Senior Accounting Technician stand out to employers?
Jolynn Zhou Ph.D.: This may be surprising to some business school students, but Excel skill is very important and highly valued by employers. In recent years, data analytics is becoming more and more important. Many business schools and accounting programs are beginning of offer this course.