A public accountant is a professional who provides a wide range of financial services to individuals, businesses, and organizations. They are responsible for preparing and analyzing financial records, creating and implementing financial plans, and providing advice on tax and business matters. Public accountants also help clients comply with laws and regulations, and may specialize in areas such as auditing, taxation, or management accounting. They are considered trusted advisers who play a vital role in the financial health of their clients.

What Does A Public Accountant Do?

A public accountant is a professional who provides a wide range of financial services to individuals, businesses, and organizations. They are responsible for preparing and analyzing financial records, creating and implementing financial plans, and providing advice on tax and business matters. Public accountants also help clients comply with laws and regulations, and may specialize in areas such as auditing, taxation, or management accounting. They are considered trusted advisers who play a vital role in the financial health of their clients.

How To Become A Public Accountant?

To become a public accountant, one typically must have a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field, and pass the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination (CPA). Many states also require candidates to have a certain amount of work experience before they can become licensed.
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Education

Bachelor's degree
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Average Salary

$57,672
Average Experience Icon

Avg. Experience

1-2 years
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Public Accountant Jobs

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  Nationwide

June 4, 2026

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Average Salary for Public Accountant

A Public Accountant makes $57,672 per year on average, or $27.73 per hour, in the United States. The bottom 10% make about $46,093 a year, while the top 10% make about $73,029.

Highest Paying States

Minnesota

$57,554 Yearly

Florida

$56,591 Yearly

California

$54,744 Yearly

Public Accountant Education

The most common degrees for a Public Accountant are Bachelor's degree (75.95% of jobs require this), High school (14.29%), Associate's degree (3.76%).

Public Accountant Degrees

Bachelor's degree 75.95%
High school 14.29%
Associate's degree 3.76%
Master's degree 3.75%
Doctoral or Professional degree 1.5%
College degree 0.75%
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