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Senior Accountant

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The following article discusses the career of Senior Accountant highlighting what they do, the work environment, how to become, training and certification, education, job and salary outlook.

What We Do

As a senior accountant, you will be responsible for the maintenance of the general ledger. You will also interpret financial statements and records and report on them to management. You do this by analyzing data that is also used to prepare a budget forecast. Record keeping, particularly on liabilities, assets, loss and profit and tax liability, will also fall within your remit. Finally, you must investigate any issues in variance of budget.

Work Environment

Senior accountants usually work in offices during regular business hours.

How to Become

While becoming a senior accountant is mainly down to experience and proving your ability, you must also have excellent leadership qualities, as you will transcend the role of a regular accountant.

Training & Certification Requirements

To become a senior account, you must hold a master’s degree with an accounting specialization. In very rare occasions, you may grow into the position from a bachelor’s degree, but most businesses will want you to enroll in a master’s at that point.

Education Requirements

Master’s

Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is to be an 11% rise in demand for all accountants and auditors between 2014 and 2024, which is faster than the national average.

National Salary

The national average salary estimate for Senior Accountant was $70,142. This number is estimated from over 79,926 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $36.53 and monthly of $5,845.

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$34,000

$119,000

Salary Distribution

Salary by State

The following section lists Senior Accountant salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, Connecticut had the largest quoted salary of $77,122 while Wyoming had the smallest quoted salary of $45,612.

Alaska – $53,000Rank: 49th
The average salary ranks 49th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state.

Alabama – $60,820 (▼13% Below national average)Rank: 12th
The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Accounting Career Network, CyberCoders, ITAC Solutions, and Vaco, LLC.

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$23,000

$116,000

Salary Distribution
Arkansas – $57,338 (▼18% Below national average)Rank: 13th
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Senior Accountant need for reputable established company, Transportation Company Looking for a Senior Accounting, Great Opportunity, and 360 Recruiting LLC.

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$29,000

$89,000

Salary Distribution
Arizona – $66,972 (●Meets national average)Rank: 44th
The average salary ranks 44th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Southwest Accounting Resources, Inc., Southwest Accounting Resources, Inc, Vaco, LLC, and Randstad Professionals.

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$34,000

$109,000

Salary Distribution
California – $76,647 (▲9% Above national average)Rank: 7th
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Execuforce LLC, San Mateo County Transit District, Parker+Lynch, and NelsonJobs.

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$38,000

$125,000

Salary Distribution
Colorado – $67,557 (●Meets national average)Rank: 36th
The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Trimble & Associates Inc, Volt, Capitol Search Consultants, LLC, and Trimble Associates.

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$34,000

$107,000

Salary Distribution
Connecticut – $77,122 (▲10% Above national average)Rank: 4th
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TER Consulting,LLC, ALC Staffing Associates, Pascale & LaMorte, and Elite Placement Group.

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$38,000

$130,000

Salary Distribution
DC – $74,792 (▲7% Above national average)Rank: 1st
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Financial Services Organization, Capital Search Group, AA Temps/Ardelle Financial, and Nonprofit Association.

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$37,000

$126,000

Salary Distribution
Delaware – $70,609 (●Meets national average)Rank: 37th
The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kforce Finance and Accounting, Parker and Lynch, Tech Talenta, and Laurus Accounting & Finance.

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$31,000

$125,000

Salary Distribution
Florida – $65,320 (▼7% Below national average)Rank: 28th
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Enterprise Sourcing Solutions, Leeds Professional Resources, South Florida Recruiters, and Steven Douglas Associates.

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$33,000

$105,000

Salary Distribution
Georgia – $65,057 (▼7% Below national average)Rank: 5th
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like SNI Financial, First Pro, Inc, ExecuSource, and Lucas Group.

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$30,000

$113,000

Salary Distribution
Hawaii – $55,935 (▼20% Below national average)Rank: 52nd
The average salary ranks 52nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Remedy Intelligent Staffing, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Staffing Partners, and Express Employment Professionals.

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$28,000

$89,000

Salary Distribution
Iowa – $62,425 (▼11% Below national average)Rank: 19th
The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Katch, LLC, Accounting Career Network, Aureus Group, and Palmer Group.

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$31,000

$98,000

Salary Distribution
Idaho – $52,920 (▼25% Below national average)Rank: 51st
The average salary ranks 51st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Idaho State University, NNAC, and Accountemps.

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$26,000

$88,000

Salary Distribution
Illinois – $75,363 (▲7% Above national average)Rank: 6th
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Chicago Search Group, CFS, Inc., Parker+Lynch, and Professional Recruiting Partners, LLC.

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$38,000

$119,000

Salary Distribution
Indiana – $63,734 (▼9% Below national average)Rank: 21st
The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Aegis Worldwide, Pinnacle Partners, Inc, and Milliner & Associates.

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$32,000

$106,000

Salary Distribution
Kansas – $61,580 (▼12% Below national average)Rank: 31st
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Three Pillar LLC, Aureus Group, Accounting Career Network, and Morgan Hunter Companies.

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$29,000

$106,000

Salary Distribution
Kentucky – $60,711 (▼13% Below national average)Rank: 41st
The average salary ranks 41st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like MCM Staffing, LLC, Hamilton Recruitment, Talis Group Inc., and Capitol Search Consultants, LLC.

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$30,000

$97,000

Salary Distribution
Louisiana – $60,659 (▼14% Below national average)Rank: 33rd
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like The McIntyre Group, Personnel Consulting Group, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Robert Half.

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$30,000

$99,000

Salary Distribution
Massachusetts – $73,192 (●Meets national average)Rank: 3rd
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Accounting Career Network, global software organization, Hollister Staffing, and WinterWyman.

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$34,000

$127,000

Salary Distribution
Maryland – $71,845 (●Meets national average)Rank: 10th
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Exelon, Capital Search Group, Robert Half, and Kforce Finance and Accounting.

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$36,000

$113,000

Salary Distribution
Maine – $62,376 (▼11% Below national average)Rank: 38th
The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kforce Finance and Accounting, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Accountemps.

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$30,000

$105,000

Salary Distribution
Michigan – $67,603 (●Meets national average)Rank: 14th
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Synergy Solutions, Manpower, Davalyn Corporation, and Accounting Career Network.

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$34,000

$112,000

Salary Distribution
Minnesota – $68,975 (●Meets national average)Rank: 39th
The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like JP Staffing LLC, Ledgent Finance & Accounting, Baker Tilly Search & Staffing, LLC, and SALO, LLC.

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$35,000

$113,000

Salary Distribution
Missouri – $62,419 (▼11% Below national average)Rank: 20th
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Katch, LLC, The Judge Group, Fast Search, and Bell & Associates, Inc..

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$31,000

$101,000

Salary Distribution
Mississippi – $60,950 (▼13% Below national average)Rank: 9th
The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$30,000

$93,000

Salary Distribution
Montana – $60,000Rank: 43rd
The average salary ranks 43rd among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state.

North Carolina – $67,275 (●Meets national average)Rank: 26th
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Sherpa LLC, Experis, and Vaco, LLC.

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$33,000

$113,000

Salary Distribution
North Dakota – $63,928 (▼9% Below national average)Rank: 34th
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Three Pillar LLC, Nigel Frank International, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Accountemps.

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$28,000

$113,000

Salary Distribution
Nebraska – $61,914 (▼12% Below national average)Rank: 50th
The average salary ranks 50th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Hansen Agri-PLACEMENT, G4S, Capitol Search Consultants, LLC, and CornerStone Staffing.

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$31,000

$102,000

Salary Distribution
New Hampshire – $69,708 (●Meets national average)Rank: 17th
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like SNI Companies, Leddy Group, KBW Financial, and Kforce Finance and Accounting.

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$35,000

$111,000

Salary Distribution
New Jersey – $73,767 (●Meets national average)Rank: 8th
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like GSP International, Parker+Lynch, Watson Barron, and Salem Executive Search.

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$37,000

$121,000

Salary Distribution
New Mexico – $62,399 (▼11% Below national average)Rank: 42nd
The average salary ranks 42nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Katch, LLC, Sabio Systems, Parker and Lynch, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$29,000

$108,000

Salary Distribution
Nevada – $65,171 (▼7% Below national average)Rank: 47th
The average salary ranks 47th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, NV Energy, Workway, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$33,000

$104,000

Salary Distribution
New York – $73,148 (●Meets national average)Rank: 2nd
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like MISSION STAFFING, Bond Street Group, Watson Barron, and Parker+Lynch.

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$32,000

$130,000

Salary Distribution
Ohio – $65,013 (▼7% Below national average)Rank: 22nd
The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Atlas Accounting Associates, Ringside Search & Staffing, Ringside Search Partners, and General Employment, Inc..

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$33,000

$105,000

Salary Distribution
Oklahoma – $60,703 (▼13% Below national average)Rank: 30th
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Direct Hire:70K – 90K – Dallas, Accounting Principals, Rowland Group, The, and AcctKnowledge.

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$29,000

$102,000

Salary Distribution
Oregon – $68,836 (●Meets national average)Rank: 23rd
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like VanderHouwen, Parker and Lynch, Accounting Principals, and Creative Financial Staffing.

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$25,000

$133,000

Salary Distribution
Pennsylvania – $70,802 (●Meets national average)Rank: 24th
The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Career Brokers, Inc., CyberCoders, NewCareers, and QCI Technical Staffing.

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$33,000

$122,000

Salary Distribution
Rhode Island – $66,271 (▼6% Below national average)Rank: 32nd
The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Complete Staffing Solutions, Kforce Finance and Accounting, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Randstad Professionals.

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$33,000

$110,000

Salary Distribution
South Carolina – $62,480 (▼11% Below national average)Rank: 18th
The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Health Career Associates, Search Solution Group, Gilder Search Group, and American Personnel.

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$29,000

$108,000

Salary Distribution
South Dakota – $62,608 (▼11% Below national average)Rank: 48th
The average salary ranks 48th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Black Hills Corporation and Key Staffing.

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$22,000

$123,000

Salary Distribution
Tennessee – $62,869 (▼10% Below national average)Rank: 29th
The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Anderson Frank, FDH Resources, LLC, Creative Financial Staffing, and Onboard.jobs.

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$31,000

$100,000

Salary Distribution
Texas – $70,221 (●Meets national average)Rank: 25th
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Parker+Lynch, SNI Financial, Fenway Search Group, and Frontline Source Group, Inc..

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$35,000

$113,000

Salary Distribution
Utah – $61,240 (▼13% Below national average)Rank: 46th
The average salary ranks 46th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Conner Recruiting, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, PrincePerelson & Associates, and Robert Half.

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$29,000

$105,000

Salary Distribution
Virginia – $68,609 (●Meets national average)Rank: 15th
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like WholePoint Systems, Cordia Resources, Nigel Frank International, and Kforce.

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$34,000

$114,000

Salary Distribution
Vermont – $64,430 (▼8% Below national average)Rank: 40th
The average salary ranks 40th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kforce Finance and Accounting, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Leddy Group.

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$29,000

$112,000

Salary Distribution
Washington – $71,419 (●Meets national average)Rank: 11th
The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Management Resources, Brunswik Street, Matrix Finance and Accounting, and Seattle Search Group.

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$36,000

$114,000

Salary Distribution
Wisconsin – $62,212 (▼11% Below national average)Rank: 35th
The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Creative Financial Staffing, Tanke Recruiting, Beacon Hill Staffing, and Infinity Consulting Solutions, Inc..

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$30,000

$105,000

Salary Distribution
West Virginia – $59,534 (▼15% Below national average)Rank: 27th
The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$30,000

$94,000

Salary Distribution
Wyoming – $45,612 (▼28% Below national average)Rank: 45th
The average salary ranks 45th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like State of Wyoming.

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$1,900

$5,800

Salary Distribution

Top 20 National Employers

According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Senior Accountant. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.

Employer NameLocationAverage Salary
Execuforce LLCCalifornia$99,163
TER Consulting,LLCConnecticut$98,894
San Mateo County Transit DistrictCalifornia$98,377
ALC Staffing AssociatesConnecticut$96,769
ExelonMaryland$96,392
Synergy SolutionsMichigan$95,259
WholePoint SystemsVirginia$95,000
MISSION STAFFINGNew York$94,916
Bond Street GroupNew York$94,082
Career Brokers, Inc.Pennsylvania$93,024
Pascale & LaMorteConnecticut$92,893
Elite Placement GroupConnecticut$92,773
Smith Arnold PartnersConnecticut$92,609
Alexander BecConnecticut$92,152
The Sylgar GroupConnecticut$91,343
The Sylgar Group, LLCConnecticut$91,275
JP Staffing LLCMinnesota$90,924
Chicago Search GroupIllinois$90,527
ManpowerMichigan$90,416
CyberCodersPennsylvania$90,209

References

*Indicates number of job postings as of June, 2017.

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