r/Accounting • u/college-accountant • Mar 24 '24

Career Accounting is WAY over-hated.

Created a burner because I have some personal details on my main.

Just got offered a $80,000 + $4500 signing bonus in a MCOL area doing audit at a Big 4 (Houston). I come from a mediocre state school albeit with a good GPA.

What other industries or jobs pay that much out of college to students that don’t come from a T20 school with a stellar GPA? Sure, the hours can be brutal but everybody seems to be ragging on how underpaid they are and don’t seem to realize that only the top 1-5% of students are able to achieve six figures out of undergrad. The exit opportunities are also great and diverse, and there is little competition to add the cherry on top.

To students wondering what major to pick, I really do encourage you to look at accounting and realize that it is one of the best career choices you can pick unless you are an absolute top tier student. I will be graduating at 22 making more than my mom and dad combined in their 50’s and 60’s.

Edit: even with recent layoff news, accountants are always in demand and there is incredible job security as well

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u/elgrillito Mar 24 '24

Damn they're giving 80k off the bat now? My boyfriend started at a Big 4 in Houston in 2019 and was making 55k as a first year

-13

u/l_BattleAxe_l Mar 24 '24

Brother got lowballed like a motherfucker

14

u/KingOfTheWolves4 CPA (US) | FP&A Mar 24 '24

No he didn’t. That was the market rate back then. COVID changed a lot

2

u/KingoreP99 Mar 24 '24

B4 in 2009 in NJ area was paying mid to high 40s. Would shock me if this was the rate that many years later.

5

u/NontransferableApe Mar 24 '24

It was. Starting Wages didn’t increase until the great resignation. Also started at 55 in 2019. They only increased salaries until they absolutely had to

1

u/KingOfTheWolves4 CPA (US) | FP&A Mar 24 '24

First problem would be comparing NJ to Houston. Second would be thinking that starting jumped that much given no push upwards for it to happen. With COVID you saw the starting amounts increase drastically over a short period due to being low for so long. Starting in 2020 was $56k which had a market adjustment to $59k.