Big Four accounting firms pay their entry level employees salaries that are on par with salaries in other industries. Salaries vary greatly depending on the firm and the location of your job, with the New York offices paying more than offices in other states. As you gain experience there is a clear path towards achieving a six-figure salary at one of these firms.
The Big 4 accounting firms are some of the most prestigious and well-paying in the world. Entry-level salaries are often only a reflection of one’s skill level, but they can also be influenced by location, budgeting limitations, or a variety of other factors. Keep reading to learn more about entry level salaries at the Big 4 accounting firms.
Greatly influenced by the recent economic downturn, not to mention the increased competition in the accounting and finance industry, salaries have been trending downward. However, there are still some notable increases that can help you boost your salary substantially if you are willing to move companies or new cities. Who knows what the future holds for accounting and finance professionals- but we may not be out of a recession yet!
Salary In Big 4 Accounting Firms Overview
Which big 4 accounting firm pays the most?
The big 4 accounting firms are PwC, Deloitte, EY, and KPMG. They pay their employees very well, with salaries and bonuses that can easily reach six figures. However, how much you’re paid is dependent on your role within the company.
Senior associates at PwC can expect to make between $65k and $80k per year. Senior associates at Deloitte make between $60k and $80k per year, while senior associates at EY make around $70k per year.
Accounting managers at these firms can expect to make between $85k and $110k per year. Tax managers at these firms earn even more—between $90k and $125k per year.
These numbers are averages for these particular roles across all companies in the industry; they do not represent what every single person in those roles makes! If you’re interested in applying for one of these positions at one of these companies, keep in mind that it may take some time before your application is reviewed and processed by human resources (HR).
Big Four Accounting Salary Figures
Salary figures vary quite a lot depending on the department and location. In fact, remuneration often depends more on the country, and more specifically on the city, rather than on the firm itself. Although tax associates are usually associated with earning slightly more than audit associates when starting out, after several years of experience, salaries become quite similar and really depend on the overall performance of the individual.
Generally, compensation figures within the Big Four are often almost identical, with only a few minor differences. Some average numbers are shown below for a Big Four accounting salary in the United States (in USD). Salaries in Canada or the UK are different and are often slightly lower than those in the United States.
KPMG salaries:
Associate: $45,000 – $60,000
Senior Associate: $60,000 – $80,000
Manager: $100,000 – $120,000
Senior Manager: $150,000 – $180,000
Partner: $300,000+
Visit KPMG’s Career Website.
PwC salaries:
Associate: $45,000 – $60,000
Senior Associate: $65,000 – $85,000
Manager: $105,000 – $130,000
Senior Manager: $150,000 – $180,000
Partner: $300,000+
Visit PwC’s Career Website.
Deloitte salaries:
Associate: $45,000 – $60,000
Senior Associate: $65,000 – $ 85,000
Manager: $100,000 – $135,000
Senior Manager: $150,000 – $180,000
Partner: $300,000+
Visit Deloitte’s Career Website.
EY salaries:
Associate: $45,000 – $60,000
Senior Associate: $60,000 – $80,000
Manager: $100,000 – $120,000
Senior Manager: $150,000 – $180,000
Partner: $300,000+
Visit EY’s Career Website.
Some final things to consider…
To conclude, when considering a career in a Big Four public accounting firm, starting out compensation packages are almost identical. In fact, the more important factor is “fit”. Fit involves examining which company’s values, employees, clients, industries, and overall work culture align best with your own attributes. Even though the Big Four may generally look fairly similar, each firm emphasizes key values that are not always similar to its peers. Starting out, students should focus more on experiences, career progression, growth, resources, fit, and training provided by the firms to help them advance in their preferred career path.
Additional Resources
Thank you for reading CFI’s guide on Big Four Accounting Salaries. To keep learning and advancing your career, the following resources will be helpful:
- Big Four Advisory – Firms
- Due Diligence Career Profile
- Audited Financial Statements
- Compensation Guides
The Big 4 Accounting Firm Salaries
Given that the Big 4 accounting firms provide essentially identical salaries to employees, you will find below compensation figures based on level, location, and practice rather than the details for each firm. Big shoutout to our friends at Big 4 Career Lab for providing this information after reviewing hundreds of salaries across Big 4 employees! For more consulting-specific numbers, including relocation, signing bonus, retirement match, and more, check out our 2019 Consulting Salaries report.
Associates
| NYC | Chicago | Dallas | Seattle | |
| Audit / Assurance | $61,000 | $59,000 | $56,000 | $53,000 |
| Advisory (Other) | $72,000 | $69,000 | $67,000 | $70,000 |
| Consulting | $88,000 | $86,000 | $81,000 | $87,000 |
| Tax | $64,000 | $61,000 | $59,000 | $61,000 |
Senior Associates
| NYC | Chicago | Dallas | Seattle | |
| Audit / Assurance | $79,000 | $76,000 | $72,000 | $68,000 |
| Advisory (Other) | $94,000 | $90,000 | $87,000 | $92,000 |
| Consulting | $116,000 | $108,000 | $105,000 | $112,000 |
| Tax | $81,000 | $79,000 | $76,000 | $77,000 |
Manager
| NYC | Chicago | Dallas | Seattle | |
| Audit / Assurance | $112,000 | $108,000 | $101,000 | $98,000 |
| Advisory (Other) | $133,000 | $123,000 | $119,000 | $129,000 |
| Consulting | $162,000 | $159,000 | $137,000 | $157,000 |
| Tax | $118,000 | $112,000 | $106,000 | $112,000 |
Senior Manager
| NYC | Chicago | Dallas | Seattle | |
| Audit / Assurance | $151,000 | $147,000 | $140,000 | $132,000 |
| Advisory (Other) | $182,000 | $172,000 | $167,000 | $175,000 |
| Consulting | $220,000 | $215,000 | $202,000 | $217,000 |
| Tax | $159,000 | $152,000 | $147,000 | $152,000 |
Managing Director
| NYC | Chicago | Dallas | Seattle | |
| Audit / Assurance | $274,000 | $265,000 | $252,000 | $238,000 |
| Advisory (Other) | $324,000 | $310,000 | $301,000 | $315,000 |
| Consulting | $396,000 | $387,000 | $364,000 | $391,000 |
| Tax | $288,000 | $274,000 | $265,000 | $274,000 |
