Accountants and auditors examine financial records, ensure compliance with regulations, and help organizations make sound money decisions. You can start with a high school diploma, though the work requires considerable preparation and strong analytical skills.
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Accountants and auditors review financial documents, verify accuracy, and confirm that records meet legal and regulatory standards. You will spend time gathering information from multiple sources, working with accounting software and spreadsheets, and communicating findings to supervisors and clients. The role involves careful evaluation of data to spot errors or inconsistencies, documenting your work thoroughly, and sometimes presenting results to stakeholders. You need strong reading comprehension to understand complex financial rules and the ability to explain your findings clearly in writing and conversation.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Accountants and Auditors earn a median of $83,680 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is strong. Employment is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than average for all occupations, with about 124,200 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You can enter this field with a high school diploma, but the path requires considerable preparation. Most accountants pursue further education through community colleges or universities to deepen knowledge in accounting, economics, and business law. You will develop skills in mathematics, critical thinking, and active learning on the job and through coursework. Many employers prefer candidates with some college-level accounting or business courses. Consider starting with entry-level accounting roles while you build expertise and credentials over time.
Most accountants combine on-the-job training with formal education in accounting or business. Whether you pursue a certificate, associate degree, or bachelor's degree depends on your timeline and career goals, so if you are exploring those paths, Pathly can map the accountant and auditor path that fits you and turn it into a step-by-step plan with your counselor in the loop.
You do not need a license to work as an accountant and auditor, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You are detail-oriented, methodical, and comfortable with rules and systems. You like working with data, following procedures, and ensuring everything is correct and in order.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).