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The differences between tax analysts and general accountants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a tax analyst, becoming a general accountant takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a tax analyst has an average salary of $61,745, which is higher than the $55,043 average annual salary of a general accountant.
The top three skills for a tax analyst include tax audits, reconciliations and tax compliance. The most important skills for a general accountant are financial data, reconciliations, and cash handling.
| Tax Analyst | General Accountant | |
| Yearly salary | $61,745 | $55,043 |
| Hourly rate | $29.69 | $26.46 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 56,223 | 87,663 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A tax analyst specializes in managing and filing tax forms and tax returns, all while devising strategies to reduce tax payments legally. A tax analyst may work as a member of a company or independently. Moreover, in a company setting, the responsibilities of a tax analyst revolve around coordinating with different departments to obtain all necessary documentation and financial information, maintaining accurate and extensive records of all transactions, and resolving any issues or concerns. Furthermore, it is essential to remain updated with all the tax laws, all while adhering to the policies and regulations of the company.
A general accountant is responsible for evaluating account statements, conducting data analysis with financial transactions, and generating reports on revenues, expenses, and sales forecasting. These accountants manage discrepancies on the company and clients' profiles, including bank reconciliations and processing of account receivables and payables. They also handle the release of invoices and petty cash, analyzing balance sheets, and updating accurate financial information on the database. A general accountant must have excellent analytical skills, as well as extensive knowledge of the accounting principles and disciplines.
Tax analysts and general accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tax Analyst | General Accountant | |
| Average salary | $61,745 | $55,043 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $87,000 | Between $40,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Maine | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a tax analyst and a general accountant in terms of educational background:
| Tax Analyst | General Accountant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between tax analysts' and general accountants' demographics:
| Tax Analyst | General Accountant | |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1% | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.1% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 11.1% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 13.7% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 7% |