CPA
License requirements, cost and salary by state
Certified Public Accountants handle auditing, tax preparation, financial planning, and business consulting. The CPA license is one of the most rigorous professional certifications — requiring 150 semester hours of college education (more than a bachelor's degree), passing the four-part Uniform CPA Exam, and completing supervised work experience. CPAs work in public accounting firms, corporations, government, and private practice.
Time to certify
Required exam
Exam cost
Education
Renewal
Annual openings
What it's actually like
A day-to-day reality check, grounded in current practitioner sources — not just the salary math.
Hours / week
Shifts: 8-12 hours.
Weekends
Where you work: accounting firms, corporate offices, government agencies.
Physical demand
LowThe role primarily involves sitting for long periods while working on a computer.
Stress level
HighStress often stems from tight deadlines, high workloads, especially during tax season, and the pressure to maintain accuracy.
A typical shift
- Examine financial statements to ensure accuracy and compliance with laws and regulations.
- Prepare and file individual and corporate tax returns, ensuring compliance with tax laws.
- Analyze financial data to identify trends, assess financial health, and provide recommendations for improvement.
- Meet with clients to discuss their financial goals, tax planning, and accounting needs.
- Stay updated on changing tax laws and accounting regulations through continuing education.
- Manage budgets, forecast future income and expenses, and provide financial advice.
- Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency and to identify potential risks.
check_circle Best fit if
- —You are highly organized and detail-oriented, capable of managing large amounts of financial data and meeting strict deadlines.
- —You possess strong ethical standards and can be trusted with sensitive financial information.
- —You enjoy problem-solving and can analyze complex financial information to provide actionable advice.
- —You are a strong communicator who can explain complex financial concepts to clients and colleagues.
cancel Skip if
- —You are not prepared to work long hours, including evenings and weekends, especially during peak seasons.
- —You find it difficult to work under pressure and handle the stress of tight deadlines and high-stakes financial reporting.
- —You are not committed to continuous learning to keep up with ever-changing tax laws and regulations.
- —You prefer a career with a tangible, visible end product rather than providing advisory services and reports.
Sources cited (21)
- illinoisworknet.com
- distinctrecruitment.com
- thefinopartners.com
- caseyneilon.com
- nccareers.org
- champlain.edu
- accounting.com
- mileseducation.com
- bwkaccounting.com
- cpacredits.com
- rasmussen.edu
- efficientlearning.com
- wgu.edu
- wilmington.edu
- taxdome.com
- bls.gov
- collegegrad.com
- netgain.tech
- infinity-globus.com
- zelleducation.com
- reddit.com
The Landscape
Conversely, the lowest median salaries are typically found in the Southern and some Midwestern states, such as Mississippi ($68,100) and Arkansas ($66,330). A notable outlier is Hawaii ($74,500), which, despite its high cost of living, offers significantly lower CPA salaries compared to other high-COL areas, likely due to a smaller, more isolated market. While all states require licensing to use the CPA title, the path to obtaining it varies considerably, with some states like Connecticut and Alaska requiring 4,000 hours of experience, double the more common 2,000-hour standard, while Pennsylvania stands out with a lower 1,600-hour requirement.
Beyond experience hours, candidates should be aware of state-specific nuances: some require additional ethics exams (like California or Texas), while others (New York, Florida) have very specific coursework distribution requirements. These differences can significantly impact the time and effort needed to become licensed, making initial state selection a strategic decision. A closely-related path worth comparing is the Paralegal certification. For a side-by-side look at licensing and earnings, see CPA vs. Paralegal. You can also compare CPA vs. Real Estate Agent on the same dimensions.
CPA by State
Licensing cost, reciprocity, and median pay across all 50 states.
| State | Licensing cost | Reciprocity | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,182 | Endorsement | $74,880 | -10.5% |
| Alaska | $1,675 | Endorsement | $83,460 | -0.3% |
| Arizona | $1,200 | Endorsement | $79,970 | -4.4% |
| Arkansas | $1,069 | Endorsement | $66,330 | -20.7% |
| California | $1,151 | None | $97,050 | +16.0% |
| Colorado | $1,583 | Endorsement | $97,030 | +16.0% |
| Connecticut | $1,723 | Endorsement | $97,550 | +16.6% |
| Delaware | $1,610 | Endorsement | $95,020 | +13.6% |
| District of Columbia | $1,339 | Endorsement | $111,530 | +33.3% |
| Florida | $1,461 | Endorsement | $79,250 | -5.3% |
| Georgia | $1,191 | Endorsement | $81,900 | -2.1% |
| Hawaii | $1,519 | None | $74,500 | -11.0% |
| Idaho | $1,275 | Endorsement | $74,730 | -10.7% |
| Illinois | $1,193 | Endorsement | $80,230 | -4.1% |
| Indiana | $1,516 | Endorsement | $77,720 | -7.1% |
| Iowa | $1,563 | Endorsement | $77,440 | -7.5% |
| Kansas | $1,516 | Endorsement | $79,000 | -5.6% |
| Kentucky | $1,081 | Endorsement | $75,270 | -10.1% |
| Louisiana | $1,523 | Endorsement | $73,810 | -11.8% |
| Maine | $1,479 | Endorsement | $77,480 | -7.4% |
| Maryland | $1,124 | Endorsement | $89,370 | +6.8% |
| Massachusetts | $1,826 | Endorsement | $99,460 | +18.9% |
| Michigan | $1,723 | Endorsement | $78,820 | -5.8% |
| Minnesota | $1,573 | Recognized | $81,600 | -2.5% |
| Mississippi | $1,429 | Endorsement | $68,100 | -18.6% |
| Missouri | $1,619 | Endorsement | $76,590 | -8.5% |
| Montana | $1,573 | Endorsement | $75,810 | -9.4% |
| Nebraska | $1,323 | Endorsement | $72,080 | -13.9% |
| Nevada | $1,291 | Endorsement | $81,600 | -2.5% |
| New Hampshire | $1,924 | None | $83,470 | -0.3% |
| New Jersey | $1,486 | Endorsement | $100,830 | +20.5% |
| New Mexico | $1,638 | Endorsement | $78,580 | -6.1% |
| New York | $1,527 | Endorsement | $102,640 | +22.7% |
| North Carolina | $1,522 | Endorsement | $82,050 | -1.9% |
| North Dakota | $1,543 | Endorsement | $75,730 | -9.5% |
| Ohio | $1,543 | Endorsement | $79,320 | -5.2% |
| Oklahoma | $1,109 | Endorsement | $79,370 | -5.2% |
| Oregon | $1,276 | Endorsement | $85,800 | +2.5% |
| Pennsylvania | $1,488 | Recognized | $79,000 | -5.6% |
| Rhode Island | $1,798 | Endorsement | $95,820 | +14.5% |
| South Carolina | $1,408 | Endorsement | $76,560 | -8.5% |
| South Dakota | $1,271 | Endorsement | $78,880 | -5.7% |
| Tennessee | $1,343 | Recognized | $76,840 | -8.2% |
| Texas | $1,101 | Re-exam | $80,920 | -3.3% |
| Utah | $1,508 | Endorsement | $79,990 | -4.4% |
| Vermont | $1,538 | Endorsement | $78,890 | -5.7% |
| Virginia | $1,302 | Endorsement | $93,290 | +11.5% |
| Washington | $1,793 | Endorsement | $96,550 | +15.4% |
| West Virginia | $1,221 | Endorsement | $73,320 | -12.4% |
| Wisconsin | $1,678 | Recognized | $79,400 | -5.1% |
| Wyoming | $1,120 | Endorsement | $77,620 | -7.2% |
Related Certifications
Compare CPA head-to-head
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