National Salary Info » Accountants and Auditors

Highest Paying Industries for Accountants and Auditors

The top 100 highest paying industries for accountants and auditors (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $90,490, federal executive branch (oes designation) is the highest paying industry for accountants and auditors. It is followed by federal government, including usps industry (average annual salary $90,350). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of accountants and auditors in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 100 Highest Paying Industries for Accountants and Auditors

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	$90,490	$63,330	22,970
2	Federal government, including USPS	$90,350	$63,340	23,560
3	Exterminating and Pest Control Services	$87,340	$44,980	170
4	Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media	$86,750	$50,160	280
5	Securities and Commodity Exchanges	$84,870	$47,820	160
6	Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage	$83,010	$51,380	6,680
7	Software Publishers	$82,920	$49,370	6,510
8	Postal Service (federal government)	$82,180	$63,940	590
9	Monetary Authorities-Central Bank	$80,510	$52,480	680
10	Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing	$80,190	$47,700	3,490
11	Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Stores	$80,110	$44,840	620
12	Motion Picture and Video Industries	$78,980	$44,920	3,070
13	Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries	$78,120	$44,180	3,380
14	Other Information Services	$77,990	$48,320	2,760
15	Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers	$77,950	$42,770	410
16	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$77,300	$46,930	7,030
17	Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities	$76,990	$44,290	31,520
18	Rail Transportation	$76,810	$52,410	720
19	Scientific Research and Development Services	$76,570	$46,980	7,720
20	Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)	$76,210	$50,190	1,300
21	Metal Ore Mining	$76,100	$49,410	200
22	Publishing Industries (except Internet)	$75,810	$44,330	11,170
23	Natural Gas Distribution	$75,620	$48,250	1,900
24	Other Financial Investment Activities	$75,330	$43,050	24,680
25	Wired Telecommunications Carriers	$75,050	$48,360	5,150
26	Information	$74,440	$45,090	31,060
27	Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing	$74,370	$45,940	12,710
28	Telecommunications	$74,260	$47,990	7,720
29	Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing	$74,090	$46,500	2,710
30	Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing	$73,930	$48,300	3,690
31	Communications Equipment Manufacturing	$73,830	$44,950	1,160
32	Satellite Telecommunications	$73,700	$52,260	190
33	Support Activities for Mining	$73,410	$43,760	3,150
34	Other Investment Pools and Funds	$73,330	$44,790	400
35	Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles	$73,280	$44,780	620
36	Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds	$73,180	$44,770	220
37	Cable and Other Subscription Programming	$73,030	$48,910	600
38	Utilities	$72,780	$46,510	6,560
39	Activities Related to Credit Intermediation	$72,700	$43,030	4,120
40	Pharmacies and Drug Stores	$72,410	$39,960	950
41	Local Messengers and Local Delivery	$72,140	$43,330	150
42	Other Pipeline Transportation	$72,140	$44,530	120
43	Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution	$72,120	$46,610	4,300
44	Mining	$72,110	$41,400	12,530
45	Specialized Design Services	$71,840	$44,820	1,480
46	Oil and Gas Extraction	$71,780	$40,530	8,440
47	Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing	$71,750	$44,080	3,180
48	Sound Recording Industries	$71,610	$37,620	310
49	Computer Systems Design and Related Services	$71,590	$44,620	20,380
50	Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers	$71,470	$45,150	2,000
51	Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing	$71,220	$43,280	900
52	Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing	$71,180	$45,990	710
53	Automobile Dealers	$71,110	$41,000	6,930
54	Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing	$71,110	$44,600	4,850
55	Motor Vehicle Manufacturing	$71,100	$47,680	380
56	Specialty Food Stores	$71,090	$37,660	280
57	Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services	$71,070	$43,510	6,620
58	Book Stores and News Dealers	$70,980	$40,480	70
59	Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities	$70,800	$47,490	690
60	Engineering Services	$70,650	$44,530	11,380
61	Nondepository Credit Intermediation	$70,650	$43,280	8,650
62	Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations	$70,480	$40,260	1,540
63	Household Appliances and Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers	$70,170	$44,660	3,790
64	Legal Services	$70,140	$44,420	8,250
65	Nonscheduled Air Transportation	$70,080	$42,450	310
66	Lessors of Real Estate	$70,070	$43,350	8,590
67	Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing	$70,040	$43,580	1,020
68	Broadcasting (except Internet)	$69,920	$43,170	2,510
69	Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers	$69,890	$42,480	8,310
70	Forging and Stamping	$69,810	$41,000	610
71	Mining (except Oil and Gas)	$69,780	$43,620	940
72	Chemical Manufacturing	$69,740	$43,380	7,790
73	Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$69,480	$43,310	15,620
74	Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing	$69,470	$47,530	280
75	Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing	$69,460	$43,370	2,070
76	General Rental Centers	$69,450	$41,610	140
77	Television Broadcasting	$69,420	$43,720	1,130
78	Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities	$69,390	$44,220	550
79	Basic Chemical Manufacturing	$69,390	$42,790	1,300
80	Investigation, Guard, and Armored Car Services	$69,350	$39,340	700
81	Finance and Insurance	$69,350	$42,170	98,710
82	Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance	$69,340	$42,130	160
83	Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services	$69,330	$44,080	3,520
84	Personal Care Services	$69,260	$40,730	260
85	Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers	$69,240	$40,390	8,380
86	Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers	$69,220	$43,950	2,030
87	Health and Personal Care Stores	$69,190	$40,780	1,440
88	Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying	$69,160	$44,250	450
89	Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing	$69,140	$44,050	440
90	Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers	$68,900	$43,050	900
91	Couriers and Messengers	$68,860	$42,600	380
92	Automotive Body, Paint, Interior, and Glass Repair	$68,670	$42,620	560
93	Clay Product and Refractory Manufacturing	$68,650	$41,190	280
94	Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing	$68,600	$44,530	800
95	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$68,580	$41,970	27,590
96	Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers	$68,570	$43,410	3,400
97	Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing	$68,550	$43,730	740
98	Pipeline Transportation	$68,530	$42,320	1,060
99	Converted Paper Product Manufacturing	$68,520	$42,780	1,770
100	Radio and Television Broadcasting	$68,430	$42,170	1,900