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The differences between tax associates and accountants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a tax associate has an average salary of $62,466, which is higher than the $54,890 average annual salary of an accountant.
The top three skills for a tax associate include strong customer service, CPA and tax planning. The most important skills for an accountant are reconciliations, general ledger accounts, and account reconciliations.
| Tax Associate | Accountant | |
| Yearly salary | $62,466 | $54,890 |
| Hourly rate | $30.03 | $26.39 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 42,019 | 60,073 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
Tax associates are responsible for helping businesses and individuals with state and federal income tax preparation and compliance. These professionals often work for accounting firms and financial services companies. They perform varied tasks that include reviewing income statements, financial records, and expenditures, interviewing clients about income and expenses, and minimizing their clients' tax liability. Tax associates also conduct research on tax issues and assist with tax audits, advise clients on compensation and tax information, and maintain accurate and current client records.
An accountant is an individual whose primary task is to prepare, keep, examine, and interpret financial records. Most accountants are in charge of a wide scope of finance-related tasks, either for private individuals or for large-scale businesses and organizations they are employed with. They make sure that financial statements and records are accurate and comply with laws and regulations. They also compute for taxes, prepare tax returns, and ensure being paid properly and on time. As they keep track and record the flow of money, they can offer guidance on how to reduce costs, enhance revenue, and help in profit maximization.
Tax associates and accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tax Associate | Accountant | |
| Average salary | $62,466 | $54,890 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $95,000 | Between $41,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Las Vegas, NV | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | New York |
| Best paying company | Ropes & Gray | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a tax associate and an accountant in terms of educational background:
| Tax Associate | Accountant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between tax associates' and accountants' demographics:
| Tax Associate | Accountant | |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.4% Female, 63.6% | Male, 38.2% Female, 61.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 10.2% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 15.0% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 7% |