Earlier this month, U.S. News & World Report released its ranking of the 100 best jobs of 2025, and the job of an accountant made the back half of the list.
The rankings take into account the most important aspects of a job, including growth potential, work-life balance, job safety, employment rate, and salary, the publication noted.
Accountant is No. 90 out of 100 in U.S. News‘ ranking of the 100 best jobs, with a median salary of $79,880, an unemployment rate of 1.4%, and the number of open jobs listed as 91,400.
“Whether it’s the money-laundering stoner in Weeds or the dorky auditor in Parks and Recreation, pop culture tends to portray an unsavory picture of accountants,” U.S. News noted. “But those in this profession make a pretty good living and have a lot of job security. After all, as long as people make money, they’ll need others to help them handle it.”
In its description of the job of an accountant, the publication stated:
Patty Pogemiller, managing director of global talent experience for Deloitte, one of the world’s “Big Four” accounting firms, writes in an email, “Problem solving skills are essential in a client business like professional services. Employers are looking for people who demonstrate an ability to think analytically and approach a problem in a structured and methodical way. Can they objectively analyze and solve an issue? And once they have a solution, they must have the ability to communicate it to others — their clients, managers and fellow team members.”
In addition to preparing taxes for individuals, public accountants can also perform audits, prepare taxes and consult for corporations, nonprofit organizations and governments. Internal accountants create processes to find and eliminate financial waste and fraud. Management accountants record and analyze financial information. Government accountants — at the federal, state or local level — maintain records of government agencies and audit private businesses or individuals whose activities fall under government regulation or taxation.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5.8% employment growth for accountants between 2023 and 2033. In that period, an estimated 91,400 jobs should open up.
In U.S. News‘ scorecard for the job, accountant was given an overall score of 5.0 out of 10. (The methodology for the ranking can be found here.) Out of a top score of 10, the job of an accountant received the following scores in five metrics:
- 4.9 in wage potential.
- 6.2 in employment.
- 4.3 in future prospects.
- 5.0 in comfort.
- 5.1 in work/life balance.
U.S. News noted that accountants made a median salary of $79,880 in 2023, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The best-paid 25% made $103,990 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $62,720.
In addition, accountant placed 11th in the “Best Business Jobs” category.
For the second consecutive year, the need for professionals in health care roles resulted in nurse practitioner holding the No. 1 spot in the top 100 best jobs rankings.
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