More than 672,000 CPAs hold active licenses in the United States. Candidates invest 400 hours on average in exam preparation and face a 17 percent first-time pass rate across all sections. The statistics below cover certification requirements, compensation levels, market scale, technology use, and employment patterns.
Key Takeaways
- CPA exam now includes data analytics section since 2024.
- 150 credit hours required for CPA licensure in 55 U.S. jurisdictions.
- CPA exam candidates: 88,000 unique in 2023.
- Average U.S. CPA salary was $128,000 in 2023.
- Big Four partners average $1.2 million total compensation in 2023.
- Profitability for top 100 CPA firms averaged 28.4% in 2023.
- In 2023, the global CPA services market was valued at $512.4 billion, with a projected CAGR of 6.2% from 2024 to 2030.
- The U.S. public accounting industry generated $179 billion in revenue in 2022, up 8.5% from the previous year.
- North America holds 38% of the global accounting services market share as of 2023.
- 85% of CPA firms using AI reported 15% cost savings in 2023.
- Cloud accounting software adoption: 78% of firms in 2023.
- Blockchain use in auditing: 22% of Big Four clients in 2023.
- There were 672,311 active CPAs in the U.S. as of December 2023: June 2026.
- 55% of U.S. CPAs are male and 45% female as of 2023.
- Average age of U.S. CPAs is 47 years old in 2023.
With data analytics added in 2024, CPA candidates face about 400 hours of study for 150 hour licensure.
Related reading
01 · Category
Education and Certification21 stats
01
CPA exam now includes data analytics section since 2024.
02
150 credit hours required for CPA licensure in 55 U.S. jurisdictions.
03
CPA exam candidates: 88,000 unique in 2023.
04
Pass rate for CPA BEC section: 59.1% in 2023.
05
92% of CPAs hold bachelor's degree, 25% master's.
06
International CPA (IQEX) pass rate: 72% in 2023.
07
40 CPE hours annually required for most CPAs.
08
CPA Evolution model adopted by 48 states by 2023.
09
Average CPA exam study time: 400 hours per candidate.
10
17% first-time pass rate for all sections combined 2023.
11
Auditing section pass rate: 47.3% in 2023.
12
65% of accounting graduates pursue CPA certification.
13
CGMA qualification integrated with CPA in 30% programs.
14
FAR section pass rate: 44.5% in 2023.
15
REG section pass rate: 55.6% in 2023.
16
Online CPA prep courses: 82% usage rate 2023.
17
12,000 CPAs obtained specialization credentials in 2023.
18
CPA exam fee averages $1,500per candidate.
19
76% of universities offer 150-hour programs.
20
Micro-credentials in ESG auditing: 5,200 earned 2023.
21
Pass rates improved 4% post-Evolution rollout.
Interpretation
Education and Certification Interpretation
Behold the modern CPA: a data-savvy marathoner of 150 credit hours, who after 400 hours of studying and $1,500 in fees battles for a 17% chance of first-time glory, all just to begin an annual 40-hour quest for continuing education to stay relevant in a field that's rapidly evolving.
02 · Category
Financial Performance24 stats
01
Average U.S. CPA salary was $128,000in 2023.
02
Big Four partners average $1.2 million total compensation in 2023.
03
Profitability for top 100 CPA firms averaged 28.4% in 2023.
04
Tax services generated 35% of U.S. CPA firm revenues in 2023.
05
Average billing rate for CPA audit services: $225/hour in 2023.
06
Realization rates for CPA firms averaged 85% in 2023.
07
Advisory services margins at 42% for mid-tier firms in 2023.
08
Top 500 CPA firms saw 7.2% revenue growth in 2023.
09
Cost per client acquisition for CPA firms: $2,450in 2023.
10
62% of firms increased prices by 5-10% in 2023.
11
Net income per partner in top 100 firms: $950,000in 2023.
12
Overhead costs rose 6.8% for CPA firms in 2023.
13
Tax refund processing fees averaged $250per return in 2023.
14
Forensic accounting billings: $350/hour average in 2023.
15
78% of firms profitable in 2023, average margin 22%.
16
Revenue per CPA employee: $310,000in top firms 2023.
17
Consulting revenue share: 28% up from 22% in 2019.
18
Small firm (<10 CPAs) average revenue $1.2M in 2023.
19
Utilization rates for staff CPAs: 72% in 2023.
20
M&A activity: CPA firm deals valued $4.1B in 2023.
21
Write-downs averaged 15% of billings in audit in 2023.
22
Bonus payouts: 92% of firms offered in 2023, avg 12% salary.
23
Client retention rate: 94.2% for CPA firms 2023.
24
Digital service revenue: 18% of total in 2023.
Interpretation
Financial Performance Interpretation
The industry's math is clear: while the average CPA earns a solid $128,000, the real profit is in the high-margin advisory work and partner-level ownership, where firms expertly turn $225 audit hours and $250 tax returns into nearly a million dollars per partner, proving that in accounting, the bottom line is always about who's signing the checks and not just crunching the numbers.
03 · Category
Market Size and Growth30 stats
01
In 2023, the global CPA services market was valued at $512.4 billion, with a projected CAGR of 6.2% from 2024 to 2030.
02
The U.S. public accounting industry generated $179 billion in revenue in 2022, up 8.5% from the previous year.
03
North America holds 38% of the global accounting services market share as of 2023.
04
The CPA staffing market in the U.S. is expected to reach $15.7 billion by 2027.
05
Asia-Pacific accounting market grew by 7.8% YoY in 2023, driven by outsourcing.
06
U.S. CPA firms with 2-10 employees represent 52% of all firms but only 12% of revenue in 2022.
07
Global Big Four firms audited 99% of S&P 500 companies in 2023.
08
The audit and assurance segment accounted for 42% of global CPA revenues in 2023.
09
U.S. tax preparation services market size reached $14.2 billion in 2023.
10
Forensic accounting services market projected to grow at 8.1% CAGR to $6.8 billion by 2028.
11
Number of active CPA firms in the U.S. stood at 46,198 in 2022.
12
Consulting services within CPA firms grew 12.3% in 2023 globally.
13
U.S. advisory services market for CPAs valued at $45.6 billion in 2023.
14
Europe’s CPA market expected to reach €250 billion by 2025.
15
Outsourced accounting market in U.S. hit $8.9 billion in 2023.
16
CPA software market size was $22.1 billion globally in 2023.
17
Small business accounting services grew 9.2% YoY in U.S. 2023.
18
Global ESG reporting services for CPAs projected at $1.2 billion in 2024.
19
U.S. CPA industry revenue per employee averaged $285,000in 2022.
20
Indian CPA-equivalent market (CA) valued at $12.5 billion in 2023.
21
Canadian CPA market size reached CAD 18.4 billion in 2023.
22
Australian accounting services market at AUD 32 billion in 2023.
23
Brazil’s auditing market grew 11.4% to BRL 15 billion in 2023.
24
UK CPA-equivalent (Chartered Accountant) market £48 billion in 2023.
25
South Africa accounting services market R120 billion in 2023.
26
China’s CPA market expanded 10.2% to CNY 450 billion in 2023.
27
Mexico auditing services market $4.5 billion USD equivalent in 2023.
28
UAE accounting market grew 14% to AED 25 billion in 2023.
29
Singapore CPA services market S$8.2 billion in 2023.
30
Nigeria’s accounting industry valued at NGN 1.2 trillion in 2023.
Interpretation
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
The global CPA industry is a half-trillion-dollar behemoth where a few giants audit nearly everything, while a vast sea of small firms scrambles for the crumbs, proving that in accounting, the balance sheet is always balanced between staggering consolidation and fragmented hustle.
More related reading
04 · Category
Technological Advancements21 stats
01
85% of CPA firms using AI reported 15% cost savings in 2023.
02
Cloud accounting software adoption: 78% of firms in 2023.
03
Blockchain use in auditing: 22% of Big Four clients in 2023.
04
RPA automation reduced manual hours by 34% in tax prep 2023.
05
67% of CPAs use data analytics daily in 2023 survey.
06
Cybersecurity incidents in CPA firms: 41% rise in 2023.
07
AI-powered audit tools implemented by 55% of mid-sized firms.
08
Mobile app usage for client portals: 82% adoption 2023.
09
Machine learning for fraud detection: 29% usage in 2023.
10
ERP integration rates: 64% in CPA practices 2023.
11
Virtual reality training used by 12% of firms in 2023.
12
91% of firms plan AI investment in next 2 years (2023).
13
Document automation software: 73% adoption rate 2023.
14
Big Data analytics in tax: 38% utilization 2023.
15
IoT for inventory audits: 15% pilot programs in 2023.
16
52% of CPAs trained in cybersecurity in 2023.
17
API integrations for real-time reporting: 48% in 2023.
18
Quantum computing pilots in risk assessment: 3% firms 2023.
19
Voice AI assistants in workflows: 21% adoption 2023.
20
Digital twin tech for process simulation: 8% use 2023.
21
76% satisfaction with tech ROI in CPA firms 2023.
Interpretation
Technological Advancements Interpretation
While the industry's head is in the cloud with software and data analytics, its wallet is being fattened by AI and RPA, yet its heart still anxiously races from a sharp rise in cybersecurity threats, proving that even for accountants, the future is a high-stakes cocktail of profitable innovation and digital peril.
05 · Category
Workforce and Employment29 stats
01
There were 672,311 active CPAs in the U.S. as of December 2023: June 2026.
02
55% of U.S. CPAs are male and 45% female as of 2023.
03
Average age of U.S. CPAs is 47 years old in 2023.
04
28% of CPAs plan to retire within the next 5 years (2023 survey).
05
CPA exam pass rates averaged 49.2% for all sections in 2023.
06
65% of U.S. CPAs work in public accounting firms in 2023.
07
Turnover rate in Big Four firms was 14.5% in 2023.
08
42% of CPAs have 20+ years of experience (2023).
09
Diversity: 7.2% of CPAs are Black/African American in U.S. 2023.
10
18% of CPAs hold advanced degrees beyond bachelor's in 2023.
11
Remote work adoption among CPAs reached 62% full-time in 2023.
12
31% of CPAs are partners or owners in their firms (2023).
13
CPA unemployment rate was 1.8% in U.S. mid-2023.
14
76% of CPAs report high job satisfaction in 2023 survey.
15
Entry-level CPA salaries averaged $68,000in U.S. 2023.
16
22% growth in CPA candidates under 30 since 2020.
17
Women CPAs in leadership roles: 25% in 2023 (up from 19% in 2018).
18
14,500 new CPAs licensed in U.S. in 2023.
19
58% of CPAs work over 50 hours/week during tax season.
20
Hispanic/Latino CPAs represent 6.8% of total in 2023.
21
35% of CPAs transitioned to industry roles post-public accounting.
22
Average tenure at current firm for CPAs: 8.7 years in 2023.
23
41% of firms report staffing shortages in audit in 2023.
24
Asian American CPAs: 12.4% of U.S. total in 2023.
25
67% of CPAs aged 55+ plan semi-retirement options.
26
CPA licensure reciprocity used by 9,200 professionals in 2023.
27
52% of CPAs engage in continuous professional education >40 hours/year.
28
Big Four hired 45,000 new graduates globally in 2023.
29
Mid-sized firms (11-200 CPAs) employ 28% of workforce.
Interpretation
Workforce and Employment Interpretation
The profession is diligently balancing its books, with a wave of retirements poised to meet a surge of new candidates, all while wrestling with legendary hours, stubborn diversity gaps, and the paradoxical bliss of a job that is both overwhelmingly secure and perpetually short-handed.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Sophie Moreland. (2026, February 13). Cpa Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cpa-industry-statistics
MLA
Sophie Moreland. "Cpa Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/cpa-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Sophie Moreland. 2026. "Cpa Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cpa-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
48 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level