Did You Know?
Before the Oscars begin, only two accountants know every winner. They memorize the results in case the envelopes go missing, then carry matching briefcases to the show by separate routes.
The Numbers Behind the Career
The median salary for accountants and auditors in the U.S. in 2025 was $83,680.
About 115,300 accountant and auditor job openings are projected each year over the next decade.
There were about 1,595,200 accountants and auditors in the U.S. in 2025.
Where This Career Is Headed
Over the next decade, artificial intelligence is expected to take over much of the routine work in accounting, such as entering data, matching transactions, and drafting basic reports. That shift should free accountants to spend more of their time on analysis, advising, and the judgment calls that software cannot make on its own. The people side of the profession is changing too. After several years of fewer accounting graduates, enrollment in accounting programs has started to climb again, while a large share of experienced CPAs are expected to retire in the coming years. New areas like sustainability reporting, digital assets, and cybersecurity are also creating fresh specialties for the next generation of accountants.
As AI handles repetitive tasks, accountants will be able to focus on more meaningful work, like advising business owners, planning for the future, and solving complex problems.
Retirements among experienced CPAs, combined with steady hiring of new graduates by accounting firms, should keep doors open for students entering the field.
Growing specialties such as forensic accounting, data analytics, sustainability reporting, and digital asset accounting will open new paths for accountants who love to keep learning.
Education & Certification
Most accountants and auditors need at least a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field, such as finance or business. Many go on to become Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). Any accountant who files a report with the Securities and Exchange Commission must be a licensed CPA, and the license is often expected for leadership roles. To earn a CPA license, candidates pass a four-part national exam, meet their state's education requirements, and complete supervised work experience. For many years, every state required 150 college credit hours, about one extra year beyond a bachelor's degree. Most states have now passed laws adding a second path that accepts a bachelor's degree plus two years of work experience, while the 150-hour path remains available, so requirements depend on the state. Not every accountant needs a CPA license. Other credentials, such as the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) or Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), help accountants specialize, and some people begin as bookkeepers or with a two-year associate degree and keep building from there.
To Prepare...
Take math every year of high school, including algebra and statistics, and add business, economics, or accounting electives if your school offers them.
Build strong computer skills, especially with spreadsheet programs like Excel or Google Sheets, and practice clear reading and writing, since accountants explain their work every day.
Explore student organizations like FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), dual-enrollment accounting classes at a local community college, or summer business programs to get a head start.
Spotlight: Explore the Life of a Accountant
Kushim and the First Accounting Records
Learn More
Mary T. Washington Wylie
Learn More