How to become a Accountant in United States

What does a Accountant do?

Accountants prepare, examine, and maintain financial records for individuals and organizations. They ensure that financial statements are accurate, taxes are paid on time, and financial operations comply with applicable laws and regulations.

Typical duties

  • Prepare and examine financial statements, ensuring accuracy and compliance with reporting standards.
  • Manage accounts payable and receivable, and reconcile bank statements.
  • Prepare tax returns and ensure timely payment of tax obligations.
  • Analyze financial data and provide recommendations to improve profitability and reduce costs.
  • Maintain general ledger entries and perform month-end and year-end closing procedures.
  • Conduct internal audits and assist with external audit processes.
  • Advise management on financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting.
  • Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal financial regulations.

Key skills

Knowledge

accounting department processes financial department processes accounting entries financial analysis accounting economics corporate law accounting techniques financial management insolvency law

Skills

obtain financial information arrange audit present reports develop audit plan observe confidentiality prepare financial auditing reports inspect tax returns interpret financial statements conduct financial audits control financial resources
Adobe Acrobat Alteryx software Epic Systems Google Docs Google Sheets IBM SPSS Statistics Intuit QuickBooks MEDITECH software Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel

Career progression

accountant

Salary by experience

Entry Level (P25) $58,903 /year
Mid Level (P50) $68,224 /year
Senior Level (P75) $76,800 /year

448 job listings analyzed

Accountant salary

Average salary $68,482
Min $47,500
Max $98,000

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Current job openings

There are 3,240,719 job listings for Accountant in United States

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Related roles

Broader roles

Labor market in United States

Unemployment rate 4.2% (2025)
Population 340.110.988

World Bank (CC BY 4.0)

Frequently asked questions

How many job openings are there for Accountant in United States?

There are currently 3,240,719 job openings for Accountant in United States.

How much does a Accountant earn in United States?

The average annual salary for Accountant in United States is 68.482 USD, ranging from 47.500 to 98.000 USD.

Sources: ESCO (European Commission), O*NET (US DOL), Wikipedia (CC-BY-SA)

Data updated: August 2026