What is the Ideal Accountant Starting Salary

People generally do not go into accounting just simply for the love of the job. Those who are attracted to this field do love to crunch numbers, however in general they also have other interests besides just moving other people's money around. This is why, as a job counselor, I get so many questions about accountant starting salary from people contemplating this lucrative career. It seems that, no one is even willing to consider becoming an accountant without a good understanding of accountant starting salary first. But, for many reasons, I never give them quite the simple answer that they were looking for.

This is partly because of my philosophy as a job counselor. If someone wants to become an accountant just because they have heard that an accountant starting salary is high, they will not be all that likely to succeed in their chosen profession. Everyone wants to make money, but you have to also want to do what you are doing to make money, if you want to be successful. Desiring a high accountant starting salary will probably not be enough motivation to become a good and successful accountant. According to many experts, accounting has an unusually high burnout rate for just this reason, so always keep in mind that you should love what you do.

Another reason that it is hard to answer questions about accountant starting salary is because it really varies from place to place and job to job. Not all starting salaries for accountants are exactly the same amount of money. Although, in general, accountant starting salary compares favorably to other professions, it depends on many factors. How much you want to work and how willing you are to put in extra time are crucial, as is the amount of training you have. Someone who dedicates their whole life to their work will probably have a higher accountant starting salary than someone who takes more time off, but it might not be worth it.

The most important thing to remember is that, although accountant starting salary is high, accounting takes a certain type of temperament only compatible with certain people. You have to have a meticulous eye for detail, and a desire to spend your career doing something that most people find insanely tedious and boring: pushing numbers around. If you love doing this, you are a natural born accountant, and will find the accountant starting salary quite a fitting reward.