Accountants and Auditors in Pennsylvania
Considering working as an Accountants and Auditors in Pennsylvania? Below are the key facts. Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data. Excludes “Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents” (13-2081).
What do Accountants and Auditors Make in Pennsylvania?
The accountants and auditors working in Pennsylvania, the typical annual salary is $77,330 per year (or roughly $37.18/hour).Pay can range from $48,850 at the 10th percentile to $128,300 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,850 | $23.49 |
| 25th percentile | $60,780 | $29.22 |
| Median (50th) | $77,330 | $37.18 |
| 75th percentile | $99,140 | $47.66 |
| 90th percentile | $128,300 | $61.68 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Pennsylvania relative to the national average — is 0.96.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, accountants and auditors earn a median of $79,222 per year ($38.09/hour), below the Pennsylvania median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 376,858 accountants and auditors across the United States. In Pennsylvania alone, about 54,440 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 15,370 accountants and auditors.
Top Pennsylvania Metros for Accountants and Auditors
The largest metro-area employers of accountants and auditors in Pennsylvania.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 29,180 | $84,080 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 10,510 | $75,550 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 3,310 | $74,640 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 2,610 | $77,230 |
| Lancaster, PA | 1,950 | $73,640 |
| Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | 1,560 | $67,530 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 1,360 | $74,490 |
| Reading, PA | 1,290 | $75,700 |
| Erie, PA | 910 | $64,840 |
| State College, PA | 460 | $63,480 |
| Altoona, PA | 440 | $63,240 |
| Johnstown, PA | 410 | $63,840 |
| Chambersburg, PA | 380 | $66,090 |
| Williamsport, PA | 320 | $64,990 |
| Lebanon, PA | 300 | $71,550 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 190 | $70,550 |
Top States for Accountants and Auditors Employment
View the states that employ the most accountants and auditors work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 173,370 |
| New York | 111,860 |
| Texas | 109,530 |
| Florida | 90,880 |
| Illinois | 54,690 |
| Pennsylvania | 54,440 |
| Ohio | 51,840 |
| Virginia | 50,220 |
| North Carolina | 46,420 |
| Massachusetts | 45,520 |
| Georgia | 45,000 |
| Michigan | 43,910 |
| New Jersey | 43,540 |
| Washington | 37,400 |
| Colorado | 35,580 |
| Minnesota | 30,400 |
| Tennessee | 26,890 |
| Arizona | 26,030 |
| Maryland | 25,630 |
| Alabama | 25,420 |
Highest-Paying States for Accountants and Auditors
Where accountants and auditors earn the most: accountants and auditors.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $103,030 |
| New York | $101,780 |
| New Jersey | $101,340 |
| Massachusetts | $96,580 |
| California | $96,360 |
| Washington | $96,180 |
| Rhode Island | $90,040 |
| Colorado | $90,030 |
| Connecticut | $89,630 |
| Maryland | $84,890 |
Skills
Top accountants and auditors skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for accountants and auditors, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Accountants and Auditors typically:
- Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.
- Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes in operations and financial activities.
- Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.
- Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
- Supervise auditing of establishments, and determine scope of investigation required.
- Confer with company officials about financial and regulatory matters.
- Examine and evaluate financial and information systems, recommending controls to ensure system reliability and data integrity.
- Inspect cash on hand, notes receivable and payable, negotiable securities, and canceled checks to confirm records are accurate.
- Examine records and interview workers to ensure recording of transactions and compliance with laws and regulations.
- Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.
- Prepare adjusting journal entries.
- Review accounts for discrepancies and reconcile differences.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Working with Computers
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Processing Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Alteryx software, Epic Systems, Google Docs, Google Sheets In-demand technologies: Accounting software
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
- Accounting
- Taxation
- Accounting & Computer Science
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Related Careers
Related occupations to accountants and auditors include:
- Financial Managers
- Treasurers and Controllers
- Management Analysts
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
- Budget Analysts
- Credit Analysts
Also Known As
Account Auditor, Accountant, Accounting Associate, Accounting Auditor, Accounting Consultant, Accounting Methods Analyst, Accounting Officer, Accounting Systems Analyst, Asset Analyst, Audit Associate, Audit Partner, Auditor, Auditor-In-Charge, Bank Accountant, Budget Accountant.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 13-2011.00