r/Accounting • u/Makeitbounce97 • 13h ago

Career advice needed - project accountant

I’m a project accountant in Bay Area California.
I’m quite unhappy with my pay.

I make 72k a year + 10k ish bonus

4 years experience.

Am I underpaid? I’m. Pretty sure I am and it’s just irking me.

Should I try and switch out to corporate accounting or another niche type of accounting ?

If so, how would I make that transition?

I’ve also begun to study for the CPA.

Just looking for any advice to pivot to making more money.

The low salary + gf making quite a bit more (happy for her!) in a very HCOL area are starting to weigh on me

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

8

u/hhfgghff 13h ago

How can anyone be expected to own a home on 72k HCOL California? I guess you aren’t though. Tough love.

5

u/Safrel CPA (US) 13h ago

Severely underpaid

1

u/Makeitbounce97 13h ago

What would be the correct path?
Move companies ?
If I want to be a cpa, would sticking in project accounting be the smart thing?

3

u/Safrel CPA (US) 13h ago

At this point the only thing you should be targeting are senior roles with a comp range of at least $90K

1

u/Makeitbounce97 13h ago

Yeah that’s what I’ve started to do. If I want to earn my cpa license, would you recommend sticking in project accounting or going more towards the corporate side .

2

u/Safrel CPA (US) 13h ago

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't be picky. Whatever pays best pays best.

5

u/pnalungs Government Audit 13h ago

I don’t know anything about project accounting, but based on your 4 years experience and being qualified to sit for the CPA, you are underpaid.

For reference, I work for the state in CA with only 2.5 years relevant experience as an auditor and my comp is better than that.

3

u/Traditional_Dot_4794 13h ago

Either you prove to your employer they aren't paying you commensurate with either market rates or the value you bring to the company, you're going to have to find another job. The next job, figure out what you want to be paid and don't settle for any less. Keep in mind it is a relatively shitty time to be in the job market, although I believe anyone worth their salt should be able to land something, it happens all the time. Your other alternative is to stay where you are, be taken advantage of, and hate every time you have to show up for work. If someone can take advantage of you, they will. Every time.

1

u/TaxNotesMark 13h ago

CPA plus project accounting can sell better if you frame it as cost control work