Accounting is one of the most stable career paths in business, but not all accounting jobs pay the same. Your earning potential depends heavily on one factor: whether you hold a CPA license.
For students choosing between a bachelor’s degree and a master’s program, that gap matters. A master’s degree raises starting pay and can help satisfy most states’ 150-credit-hour rule for CPA licensure. Pittsburg State University’s online Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAcc) program is designed to put both within reach.
Becker’s 2026 salary analysis found that credentialed accounting professionals earn an average of $95,645. Non-credentialed peers earn $79,135, a gap of roughly 21%. That difference shows up at every stage of a career, from entry-level hiring decisions to senior promotions.
How Much Do Accountants Make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) puts the median annual wage for accountants and auditors at $81,680 as of May 2024, with roughly 124,200 job openings projected each year through 2034. BLS also projects 5% job growth from 2024 to 2034, driven by new positions and retirements. That steady demand makes accounting one of the more reliable career tracks in business.
Starting pay depends heavily on the degree a candidate holds. The 2025 MAP Survey, as reported by the Journal of Accountancy, found that new hires with master’s degrees earned a median starting salary of $67,750. That is roughly 17% higher than the median of $60,834 for those with bachelor’s degrees. That $6,916 gap at entry compounds over a career in higher base pay, faster promotions and a stronger foundation for the senior roles that pay the most.
Pay climbs further with experience. Robert Half’s 2026 Salary Guide puts the national midpoint for senior accountants at $94,750. That is a strong number but still below what the CPA credential tends to unlock at the top of the career ladder.
CPA vs. Non-CPA Salary Gap
The 21% earnings gap between credentialed and non-credentialed accountants shows up at every level of the profession. Becker’s 2026 data puts the average for credentialed professionals at $95,645 and non-credentialed peers at $79,135. Even at entry level, Becker reports that CPAs start in the $60,000 to $70,000 range, ahead of the non-CPA baseline from day one.
The premium is not unique to the CPA. The Institute of Management Accountants’ 2023 Global Salary Survey found that Certified Management Accountants (CMAs) earn 21% more than non-certified peers. Across accounting career paths, the data points in one direction: A professional license is one of the highest-return investments an accountant can make.
The gap extends beyond pay. CPAs can sign audit reports, represent clients before the IRS and take on legal duties that unlicensed accountants cannot. They can start their own firms and offer a wider range of services. Those added responsibilities come with higher compensation at every level. Non-CPA accountants build solid careers in financial analysis, internal audit and management accounting, but the ceiling on pay and seniority is lower without a license.
Getting licensed requires completing 150 credit hours, 30 more than a standard bachelor’s degree, plus typically one year of work experience. Those requirements signal commitment. Employers reward it with higher starting offers and faster advancement.
Which Accounting Jobs Pay the Most?
The highest-paying roles in accounting — controller, director of finance and CFO — are typically held by licensed professionals, with the CPA credential driving the largest salary increases at every stage of the career ladder. The MAP Survey data shows entry-level accountants with a bachelor’s degree start at a median of $60,834. Those who enter with a master’s degree start at $67,750, the same role but with higher pay from day one.
At the senior level, Robert Half’s data puts the national midpoint for senior accountants at $94,750. That is where the CPA premium becomes most visible. Becker’s data shows credentialed professionals averaging $95,645 overall; non-credentialed peers average $79,135. The 21% gap represents more than $16,000 per year in additional earnings, and it grows in dollar terms as base salaries rise with experience.
Above the senior accountant level, the highest-paying roles in the field are typically held by licensed professionals. The CPA is not just a pay bump at one career stage. It is the credential that opens the top of the field.
The profession also spans every major industry. Healthcare, technology, manufacturing, government and nonprofits all hire accountants at every level. That breadth means strong job options regardless of which sector you target.
Does a Master’s Degree Boost Salary?
Master’s graduates earn a median starting salary of $67,750, compared to $60,834 for those with bachelor’s degrees, a difference of roughly 17%, per the MAP Survey. A master’s degree also meets most states’ 150-credit-hour rule for CPA licensure, removing one of the biggest structural barriers to getting licensed.
For candidates who earn a degree like Pitt State’s online MPAcc, the program works on both goals at once. Higher starting pay on day one. A clear path to the CPA license, and the 21% pay premium it carries, as soon as work experience requirements are met. That combination makes a focused master’s program one of the more efficient paths through graduate school for accounting professionals.
Accounting Careers and the Case for Going Further
The data on accounting career salaries tells one consistent story. BLS reports the baseline: $81,680 median pay, 124,200 annual openings and 5% projected growth through 2034. The CPA premium is real: a 21% edge that both Becker and IMA document, and it grows over a full career. A master’s degree sits at the center of both; it raises entry pay while clearing the path to licensure.
For candidates who want to get the most out of an accounting career, the question is not whether to pursue a credential but how to get there in the most direct way. A focused graduate program built around CPA prep answers both sides of that question.
To learn more about earning a Master of Professional Accountancy online from Pittsburg State University, explore the program details and admission requirements online.
About Pittsburg State University’s Master of Professional Accountancy
Pittsburg State University’s online Master of Professional Accountancy is a graduate program built to meet the 150-credit-hour requirement for CPA licensure. Students build skills in taxation, auditing, financial reporting and accounting information systems, the core areas covered on the CPA Exam.
The program is fully online, which makes it a good fit for working professionals and recent graduates across the region. Students finish ready to pursue licensure, with the credit-hour requirement already met. Graduates enter the workforce ready for accounting careers in public accounting, corporate finance and government, positioned to pursue the CPA pay premium the data consistently shows.
