Accounting Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Accounting major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.

Within Business, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.

Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.

As part of Business, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$41,829

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$66,134

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$88,879

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 3.8%

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$1,673,160

Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections

OccupationMedian WageTotal JobsGrowth RateEducation
Financial Managers
SOC: 11-3031
Occupation: Financial Managers
$161,700
818,620
N/A
N/A
Accountants and Auditors
SOC: 13-2011
Occupation: Accountants and Auditors
$81,680
1,448,290
N/A
N/A
Budget Analysts
SOC: 13-2031
Occupation: Budget Analysts
$87,930
47,170
N/A
N/A
Credit Analysts
SOC: 13-2041
Occupation: Credit Analysts
$80,970
67,370
N/A
N/A
Financial and Investment Analysts
SOC: 13-2051
Occupation: Financial and Investment Analysts
$101,350
340,580
N/A
N/A
Financial Risk Specialists
SOC: 13-2054
Occupation: Financial Risk Specialists
$106,000
56,320
N/A
N/A

Historical Career Trends (2020-2024)

Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

16.0%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$49,2101,455,770
2023$47,4401,501,910
2022$45,8601,550,750
2021$45,5601,509,370
2020$42,4101,443,940

Colleges offering Accounting

Shasta College

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$8k

Earnings

$75k

Fairfield University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$48k

Earnings

$77k

University of San Francisco

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$45k

Earnings

$75k

Foothill College

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$10k

Earnings

$74k

University of Southern California

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$42k

Earnings

$78k