.:Accounting Job Outlook:.

     Hello, let me give you a brief introduction about me and my goal for readers who read my blog.  I am a third year UCSD student majoring in Communication and minoring in Accounting.  My ultimate career goal in life is to become a financial consultant; though my original goal is to become an accountant with a CPA.  Why did I change?  Well this blog represents how my interest in accounting eventually evolved into my desire to become a financial consultant.  Don't worry if you don't understand the terminology I am using.  Here I will explain everything from what accounting entails, to different career paths in the future to how to land a job.  So let us all embark on this journey together.  First, let's start off with what you can expect from the job market.

     As the economy grows, the number of business establishments will increase, requiring more accountants and auditors to set up books, prepare taxes, and provide management advice. As these businesses grow, the volume and complexity of information reviewed by accountants and auditors regarding costs, expenditures, taxes, and internal controls will expand as well. The continued globalization of business will also lead to more demand for accounting expertise and services related to international trade and accounting rules and international mergers and acquisition.

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     So not surprisingly, accounting is ranked as one of the top two careers in the nation offering the most job openings for fresh out of college graduates.  There’s an estimated 22% annual growth in the industry and by the year 2018 it is expected that more than half a million new accounting positions will be created waiting to be filled.  Of course job opportunities for accountants and auditors will be most favorable and advantageous to those who have earned their CPAs or obtained a master’s degree in Business Administration.  However, students who earn a Bachelor of Commerce or related degree with a focus on accounting can also work in other jobs including management consulting, finance, marketing, human resources and entrepreneurship.

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     Now that you have the degree, what can you expect to earn?  Well the median annual wages of wage and salary accountants and auditors were $59,430 in May 2008. The middle half of the occupation earned between $45,900 and $78,210. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $36,720, and the top 10 percent earned more than $102,380. Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of accountants and auditors were as follows:

Accounting, tax prep, bookkeeping, and payroll	$61,480
Management of companies and enterprises	59,820
Insurance carriers	59,550
Local government	53,660
State government	51,250

[Statistics derived from http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos001.htm#projections_data]


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These statistics are here to help you realize what you can expect in terms of entry level salary and job growth rate in the accounting market today.  It is to entice your interest in this field or at the very least educate you on the surface level what kinds of opportunities you can find in the accounting field.