Enrolled agent salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. If your goal is to work at one of the Big 4 accounting firms, the Enrolled Agent designation is one way to stand out from other applicants. Learn how becoming a tax expert can help you excel at firms of all sizes on our Enrolled Agents at the Big 4 blog. Once you get your first job, experience starts to include actual time working in the industry and your accomplishments at work. One reason Enrolled Agent salaries across America are so widespread is that Enrolled Agents can hold various positions.
How Much Do Enrolled Agents Make?
Large firms are willing and able to pay a premium to attract top talent. The larger the company, the higher the pay for a given role, and the better defined your career path will be. Tax preparers work with taxpayers to complete federal and state tax returns.
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- Enrolled agent salary is impacted by location, education, and experience.
- Another data point that someone thinking about a career path should consider is whether or not jobs are expected to see growth in the future.
- And, if you decide to work for a non-finance-related company as an Enrolled Agent, you can actually expect to earn a bit more.
- For example, daycare can be a considerable expense for young working families.
- For example, a small Enrolled Agent-run firm in rural Nevada could expertly serve clients in New York, California, or Alabama.
Because Enrolled Agents have the authority to represent clients before the IRS, they can fulfill a more specialized niche than non-enrolled tax preparers and accountants. Therefore, while CPAs do earn more on average than enrolled agents in the short run, the potential for earnings over the span of a career can be higher for enrolled agents. And, if you decide to work for a non-finance-related company as an Enrolled Agent, you can actually expect to earn a bit more. On the other hand, accounting jobs for enrolled agents at top corporations like Apple, Starbucks, FedEx, and GE typically pay between $60,000 to $80,000 per year.
What is the Average Hourly Wage of Enrolled Agent in The United States?
- Master finance principles and develop all-inclusive corporate finance strategies for business firms and financial institutions.
- The benefits you’ll gain from earning the EA designation will far outweigh the cost of taking the EA exam.
- As mentioned previously, the median salary for enrolled agents in the United States in 2023 was $58,531.
- Consequently, building a reputation as the tax expert in town (and the tax law expert) can really help your career.
- On the other hand, a small company that specializes in complex tax situations would really benefit from having one or two EAs on staff.
For each stage of your Enrolled Agent career, you’ll see an average salary increase of 8.38%. A smaller step, but still one in the direction of earning more for your expertise, is completing the Annual Filing Season Program. The AFSP is a yearly 15 to 18 hour continuing education program governed by the IRS. Once completed, you are listed on the IRS’ RPO database as an official “Annual Filing Season Program Participant”. The highest paying types of enrolled agents are insurance broker, licensed insurance producer, and insurance producer. The highest-paying cities for enrolled agents are Green Bay, WI, San Francisco, CA, and Southfield, MI.
Recently added enrolled agent salaries
They handle balancing the budget and must use budgeting and auditing software programs. The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below. Distinguish yourself as a knowledgeable accounting professional with advanced technical, research, and communication skills.
So, use our comparisons of the best EA review courses to find the right EA course for you, and use our EA discounts to save on your preferred exam prep. Additionally, because Enrolled Agents are federally designated, they can work in any state in the country. And, with the increased convenience and reliability of telecommuting technology, a small firm can serve clients nationwide. For example, a small Enrolled Agent-run firm in rural Nevada could expertly serve clients in New York, California, or Alabama.
Based on those postings, the median advertised salary for enrolled agents was $66,944 per year. The BLS also breaks down compensation for enrolled agents by hourly salary, and the median average hourly pay for enrolled agents in 2023 was $28. Lowest hourly earners took home $18 while the highest reported hourly salaries for enrolled agents was $52. Working as an Enrolled Agent at one of the larger national tax firms won’t necessarily earn you as much as you might make at a more specialized regional or local brokerage. The big chains pay their more experienced Enrolled Agents between $20 and $30 per hour on average, which comes to between $40,000 and $50,000 annually.
Of course, the more experience you have, the more an employer will be willing to pay you. Consequently, entry-level positions start on the low end of these ranges, while senior positions claim the highest salaries. For example, in Phoenix, a senior tax consultant with an Enrolled Agent designation and over 5 years of relevant experience can earn over 6 figures at a regional firm. According to a recent search on Indeed.com, over half of the Enrolled Agent jobs in Atlanta pay more than 6 figures. Therefore, the EA salary range in that city is a little lower, with the average salary about $38,197 to $55,306. Enrolled Agents in Charlotte also earn less than the national average at about $42,295.
On average, CPAs do make more money (over $70,000 annually) than Enrolled Agents. But in the long term, corporate salary caps and how much does an enrolled agent make geographical constraints often limit CPAs’ salaries. So, an Enrolled Agent in the right region who builds up a great interstate reputation and client base can certainly out-earn CPAs in the same area. Therefore, because the CPA is a state certification, not a federal one, a CPA may want to earn an Enrolled Agent designation as well to expand her credentials and earning potential. Unlike other non-enrolled tax professionals, an Enrolled Agent has special permission to perform legal services that other tax professionals cannot.
Becoming an EA is one of the best investments you can make in your career as a tax preparer. The benefits you’ll gain from earning the EA designation will far outweigh the cost of taking the EA exam. In addition to the salary benefits, you’ll also enjoy increased representation rights so you can expand your client base and the services you can offer. Plus, the EA designation signals a high level of expertise that will cement your status as a valuable expert on tax topics.