What’s more, when an Enrolled Agent runs a small agency or brokerage that offers complete, specialized tax solutions for its clients, she can expand her earning potential even more. And, Enrolled Agent salaries are on the rise at larger firms and corporations, too. So, if you’re just starting out as an Enrolled Agent, you can expect to make somewhere between $30,000 and $40,000 annually. A similar analysis of job postings provides insight into advertised hourly salary for enrolled agents. Based on 36% of postings with advertised compensation, the median hourly salary for open positions for enrolled agents in the United States is about $32. 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.
It’s essential to take into account the cost of living expenses in your deliberations as well. As per information provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for CPAs stands at about $79,000. Learn to decipher the numbers and communicate your findings with confidence and clarity in Franklin’s M.S.
- According to the Treasury Department guidelines, you must have at least 5 years of active, continuous service in order to become an EA.
- Elsewhere in the region, such as Baltimore, the majority of the enrolled agent positions pay between $38,197 and $55,306 per year.
- Furthermore, when you consider the lack of an upper limit on your earning potential, the idea of self-employment becomes very attractive.
- Enrolled agent salaries typically range between $22,000 and $54,000 yearly.
- Consequently, entry-level positions start on the low end of these ranges, while senior positions claim the highest salaries.
In the Pacific Northwest, where tech and trees reign, Seattle Enrolled Agents earn anywhere from $49,275 and $68,692. However, San Francisco residents in Enrolled Agent positions earn a median income of $54,504, which is well above the national number. Of jobs posted in the city by the bay, nearly half pay above $125,000 annually. Moving down to Southern California reveals EA salary numbers that are as sunny as the beaches. Enrolled Agent salary numbers in Los Angeles show that about half of the jobs available pay in the six-figure range. And finally, salary numbers for enrolled agent jobs in San Diego range from $39,906 and $57,780.
Hourly Salary for Enrolled Agents
For example, your years of experience as a tax professional will help you earn more. The size of the company and the scope of your responsibilities also affect your earnings. If you’re planning to start your own book of business, then earning the Enrolled Agent designation is a great way to differentiate yourself from the bulk of your competitors. As an enrolled agent, you can provide services to your clients that other CPAs, bookkeepers, and finance professionals can’t.
So, having one person serve as both their tax preparer and their tax attorney appeals to these clients quite a lot. Additionally, clients often prefer to work with a single individual or a small team for the sake of efficiency. Therefore, as with the lion’s share of the small accounting agencies out there, specialization is key. Consequently, building a reputation as the tax expert in town (and the tax law expert) can really help your career. 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.
Start studying today with Surgent EA Review — the smartest way to pass the Enrolled Agent exam — start your free trial today. Review a breakdown of entry level salary expectations by state here. I am the author of How to Pass The CPA Exam (published by Wiley) and the publisher of this and several accounting professional exam prep sites. In order to become an Enrolled Agent, you must satisfy the EA requirements of Treasury Department Circular 230. This document explains that you can obtain an Enrolled Agent designation in 1 of 2 ways. The first is by passing the Special Enrollment Examination (SEE), which has 3 parts.
At a median of over $53,000, the salary for an independent Enrolled Agent is not bad. Furthermore, when you consider the lack of an upper limit on your earning potential, the idea of self-employment becomes very attractive. In the right area, and with the right book of business, an Enrolled Agent can do quite well working in self-employment. Best of all, you can set your own schedule, work across the United States, and take on as many clients as you can keep. 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.
- The average enrolled agent salary in Alaska, Wisconsin, and Washington are the highest in the U.S.
- While that number is large, most of those firms are small agencies that handle relatively few clients compared to the big competition.
- Chicago’s median salary for Enrolled Agents is actually lower than that of the rest of the country, according to Salary.com’s data.
- Not only will you build advanced skills in data analytics, automation and information systems, you’ll earn industry-recognized certifications (and meet CPA hours) along the way.
- However, San Francisco residents in Enrolled Agent positions earn a median income of $54,504, which is well above the national number.
What is an enrolled agent’s salary?
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. As of October 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recorded the national median salary for CPAs in the U.S. as $73,560. Jobs paying $58,500 or less are in the 25th percentile range, while jobs paying more than $83,000 are in 75th percentile. Self-employed Enrolled Agents who operate their own accounting agencies can expect more earnings than their counterparts at large brokerages and corporations.
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Enter into or advance within the rapidly growing accounting industry and prepare for professional certifications like the CPA. EAs are federally authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS and have unlimited representation rights. This means EAs can represent any taxpayer, regardless of whether they prepared their income tax return.
About This Data
Typical salaries for accounting agencies were around the $50,000 mark. 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. 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.
Employment Projections For Enrolled Agents
In New York City, the average salary for an Enrolled Agent is above the national average, with NY EAs making over $51,000 on average. Additionally, a cursory glance at Boston EA jobs reveals that salaries how much does an enrolled agent make range anywhere from $41,653 and $60,309. Elsewhere in the region, such as Baltimore, the majority of the enrolled agent positions pay between $38,197 and $55,306 per year.
Continuing Education
According to ZipRecruiter.com, the average annual salary for an Enrolled Agent as of December 2021 was $59,020. The IRS designates EAs, but because they represent taxpayers before the IRS, Enrolled Agents cannot work there. In most cases, Enrolled Agents compete with other tax professionals. However, some prefer to work for only one client or for a corporation or a smaller business. As you’ll see, each employment option for Enrolled Agents has its pros and cons. Having a clear understanding of earnings potential is important, especially if you are researching career paths or considering changing jobs.
Enrolled agent salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. In general, CPAs earn more than EAs in all career levels; however, the CPA credential requires significantly more schooling, time and up-front costs than the EA credential. Additionally, the EA credential is more client-focused, with a variety of career paths.