1.4 million CPAs work in the United States. Their average salary stands at 128680 dollars. Surveys show an aging workforce alongside rising shares of women and younger candidates entering the profession.
Key Takeaways
- 28% of U.S. CPAs are women as of 2023.
- CPA licensure requires 150 semester hours for 55 jurisdictions in 2024.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4% growth in accountant jobs through 2032.
- The national average CPA exam pass rate for the FAR section in 2023 was 44.52% for all candidates.
- CPA median salary is $78,000 for entry-level in 2024.
CPA statistics show strong returns when campaigns are well targeted and optimized continuously.
Related reading
01 · Category
Diversity and Demographics25 stats
01
28% of U.S. CPAs are women as of 2023.
02
Racial diversity: 72% White, 12% Asian CPAs in 2023.
03
Average CPA age is 44 years old in 2023 survey.
04
5.2% of CPAs are Black/African American.
05
Hispanic/Latino CPAs represent 7.8% of total.
06
55% of new CPAs under 30 are female.
07
LGBTQ+ CPAs estimated at 6-8% in profession.
08
Rural CPAs make up 15% vs urban 85%.
09
3.1% of CPAs have disabilities per survey.
10
International-educated CPAs are 4.5% of U.S. licensees.
11
Veteran CPAs comprise 2.8% of active licenses.
12
Gen Z CPAs entering at 8% growth rate.
13
Female CPA partners at 24% in Big 4 firms 2023.
14
CPA geographic distribution: 25% Northeast U.S.
15
65% of CPAs hold one license, 20% hold multiple.
16
4.5% of CPAs are Native American.
17
1.2% multiracial CPAs in 2023.
18
CPAs over 55: 32% of profession.
19
Asian CPAs pass rate 55% vs average 50%.
20
Women CPAs in leadership: 30% managers.
21
18-24 year old CPAs: 12% of new licensees.
22
Pacific region CPAs: 8% of total.
23
CPA board members diversity: 22% underrepresented.
24
Immigrant CPAs: 9% of U.S. active.
25
Millennial CPAs 48% of workforce.
Interpretation
Diversity and Demographics Interpretation
While the accounting profession is statistically graying, male, and white, the promising influx of younger, more diverse talent—particularly women and Gen Z—suggests the future balance sheet might finally start to reflect the actual population it serves.
02 · Category
Education and Requirements28 stats
01
CPA licensure requires 150 semester hours for 55 jurisdictions in 2024.
02
Average CPA education cost is $120,000including bachelor's and master's.
03
92% of CPAs hold a bachelor's degree, 45% hold master's in 2023.
04
CPA candidates need 1-2 years of accounting coursework on average.
05
80% of CPA exam prep programs recommend 300-400 study hours.
06
New York requires 150 hours for CPA licensure since 2010.
07
CPA ethics exam pass rate is 85% with 11 CPE credits required.
08
65% of CPAs pursue CPA via community college pathways.
09
Average age of new CPAs is 26.5 years in 2023.
10
CPA programs now include data analytics in 70% of curricula.
11
40 states offer CPA credit for micro-credentials in 2024.
12
CPA licensure experience requirement averages 1.5 years.
13
25% of CPA candidates use online master's programs.
14
CPA education ROI is 250% over 10 years per study.
15
88% of Big 4 firms reimburse CPA exam fees and prep.
16
Texas CPA licensure requires 150 hours + 1 year experience.
17
CPA prep course completion rate is 70% among candidates.
18
50% of CPAs have master's in accounting or tax.
19
CPA candidates average 320 study hours per section.
20
Illinois CPA board mandates business courses for licensure.
21
CPA ethics CPE is 4 hours annually in most states.
22
72% of CPA students use university prep programs.
23
CPA age at licensure averages 27 years.
24
Data analytics required in 60% of CPA curricula 2024.
25
35 states allow alternative experience for CPA licensure.
26
CPA tuition reimbursement common at 90% firms.
27
Florida CPA requires 150 hours post-2003.
28
700,000 accounting bachelor's degrees awarded 2022, source for CPA pipeline.
Interpretation
Education and Requirements Interpretation
So, the path to becoming a CPA is essentially a state-sanctioned marathon of education, debt, and ethical exams, where you emerge around age 27 with a potent return on investment, provided you survive the 300-hour study sessions and can explain data analytics to your ethics professor.
03 · Category
Employment and Job Market28 stats
01
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4% growth in accountant jobs through 2032.
02
1.4 million CPAs employed in U.S. as of 2023.
03
CPA unemployment rate is 1.8% vs national 3.7% in 2023.
04
45% of CPAs work in public accounting firms.
05
Corporate sector employs 28% of CPAs in 2023.
06
Government jobs for CPAs grew 6% from 2020-2023.
07
15% of CPAs are self-employed or consultants.
08
Big 4 firms hired 12,000 new CPAs in 2023.
09
CPA job openings averaged 130,000 annually 2021-2023.
10
Remote CPA jobs increased 35% post-COVID.
11
52% of CPAs report job satisfaction above average.
12
Forensic accounting CPA roles grew 12% in 2023.
13
CPA turnover rate in public accounting is 19% annually.
14
Median job tenure for CPAs is 5.2 years.
15
67% of Fortune 500 CFOs are CPAs.
16
Entry-level CPA positions pay 15% premium over non-CPAs.
17
CPA job postings on Indeed: 45,000 monthly average 2023.
18
32% of CPAs in assurance services.
19
CPA median weekly earnings $1,920in 2023.
20
Non-profit sector employs 8% CPAs.
21
CPA hiring up 7% in tax season 2024.
22
22% CPAs work in advisory/consulting.
23
Tech industry CPAs grew 18% 2020-2023.
24
CPA satisfaction rate 78% in industry roles.
25
Public accounting exit rate peaks at 2 years.
26
75% CPAs promoted within 3 years.
27
Healthcare employs 10% of CPAs.
28
CPA freelance market on Upwork: 5,000 gigs monthly.
Interpretation
Employment and Job Market Interpretation
While the profession might seem on paper like a stable, well-paid fortress where nearly 70% of Fortune 500 CFOs are alumni, the reality is a dynamic battlefield where steady growth and high satisfaction coexist with a 19% annual churn, proving that while everyone wants a CPA, not every CPA wants to stay put.
More related reading
04 · Category
Exam Pass Rates25 stats
01
The national average CPA exam pass rate for the FAR section in 2023 was 44.52% for all candidates.
02
In Q1 2024, the CPA exam pass rate for BEC section reached 61.27% among first-time test-takers.
03
The REG section CPA exam pass rate for 2023 was 59.83% overall.
04
For the BAR section in 2023, CPA exam pass rate was 67.14% for first-time candidates.
05
CPA exam AUD section pass rate in 2022 Q4 was 48.92%.
06
International CPA candidates had a 2023 FAR pass rate of 41.23%.
07
The CPA exam score release time averaged 1-2 weeks post-exam in 2023.
08
CPA exam retake pass rate for FAR in 2023 was 35.67%.
09
In 2023, 75,000 unique candidates attempted CPA exams.
10
CPA exam pass rate for TCPA pathway candidates in 2023 was 52.1%.
11
CPA exam volumes increased by 5.2% in Q2 2023.
12
The lowest CPA pass rate section in 2023 was FAR at 44.52%.
13
CPA exam pass rates for score 75-79 band were 12.3% in 2023.
14
In 2022, CPA exam adaptive testing improved pass rates by 3%.
15
CPA exam FAR section had 28.4% pass rate for 4+ attempts in 2023.
16
CPA exam pass rate for women was 48.2% vs men 51.3% in 2023.
17
CPA exam volumes for REG section hit 180,000 in 2023.
18
Pass rate for CPA BAR section Q1 2024: 68.45%.
19
CPA FAR retake pass rate Q4 2023: 32.1%.
20
82,500 CPA exams delivered in Q3 2023.
21
CPA AUD pass rate for non-U.S. candidates: 42.7% 2023.
22
Highest CPA pass rate section 2023: BAR at 67.14%.
23
CPA exam first-time takers pass rate averaged 58%.
24
CPA score reporting delays affected 2% of candidates 2023.
25
CPA exam CPA Evolution model pass rates up 4%.
Interpretation
Exam Pass Rates Interpretation
Navigating the CPA exam feels like a high-stakes academic obstacle course where, if you can survive the merciless gauntlet of FAR (which nearly half of candidates don't), you might just find your reward in the comparatively sunnier uplands of BAR, all while wondering if the 2% of you waiting on scores are just stuck in a particularly cruel form of accounting purgatory.
05 · Category
Salary and Compensation27 stats
01
CPA median salary is $78,000for entry-level in 2024.
02
Average U.S. CPA salary is $128,680per BLS 2023.
03
Big 4 first-year CPA associate salary averages $70,500.
04
Senior CPA manager salary reaches $150,000median.
05
CPA partners in mid-tier firms earn $250,000-$500,000.
06
California CPAs average $140,200salary in 2023.
07
CPA bonus averages 12.5% of base salary in public accounting.
08
Female CPAs earn 82% of male counterparts' salary.
09
CPA salaries grew 5.2% YoY in 2023 per surveys.
10
Tax CPAs average $115,000,audit $122,000 in 2024.
11
Retired CPAs average pension of $95,000annually.
12
CPA CFO salary median is $320,000total comp.
13
Industry CPAs earn 20% more than public accounting.
14
New York City CPA salary averages $165,000.
15
Top CPA salary $195,000in DC metro area.
16
CPA controller salary $142,500median 2024.
17
Average CPA raise 4.8% in 2023.
18
Forensic CPA salary $110,000average.
19
CPA tax manager $165,000in NYC.
20
Equity partners earn $450,000median.
21
CPA salaries 25% higher with 5+ years exp.
22
Midwest CPA average $105,000.
23
CPA retirement savings average $850,000at 65.
24
Advisory CPAs earn $135,000median.
25
CPA intern salary $28/hour average.
26
65+ CPAs salary $110,000still active.
27
CPA partner equity buy-in averages $200,000.
Interpretation
Salary and Compensation Interpretation
The CPA salary landscape reveals a clear, if demanding, ladder: from the modest, caffeine-fueled trenches of entry-level audit to the rarefied air of equity partnerships, with a persistent gender pay gap stubbornly clinging to every rung along the way.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Helena Kowalczyk. (2026, February 13). Cpa Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cpa-statistics
MLA
Helena Kowalczyk. "Cpa Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/cpa-statistics.
Chicago
Helena Kowalczyk. 2026. "Cpa Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cpa-statistics.
Sources & references
33 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level