For example, many small to mid-sized businesses prefer to outsource their accounting. 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.

• Another way to boost your salary and solidify your expertise is to become dual-certified.
• Chicago’s median salary for Enrolled Agents is actually lower than that of the rest of the country, according to Salary.com’s data.
• In the right area, and with the right book of business, an Enrolled Agent can do quite well working in self-employment.

Annual Salary for Enrolled Agents

• That works out to a 4% change in pay for enrolled agents over the last decade.
• What’s more, the median pay for Enrolled Agents in Denver is in line with the U.S. median at over $44,000.
• The other way to become an Enrolled Agent is by having enough IRS experience.

This job usually involves a busy season, with the highest workload occurring from December to mid-April. Another way to boost your salary and solidify your expertise is to become dual-certified. Master finance principles and develop all-inclusive corporate finance strategies for business firms and financial institutions. Enter into or advance within the rapidly growing accounting industry and prepare for professional certifications like the CPA. Tax managers handle all the tax reporting and compliance with local, state, and federal tax laws for an organization. While this position is commonly filled by a CPA, the Enrolled Agent designation is a great way to secure your tax specialization.

About This Data

It’s really a personal choice what size company you want to work for, but you should consider benefits that can affect your quality of life. 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. The other way to become an Enrolled Agent is by having enough IRS experience. According to the Treasury Department guidelines, you must have at least 5 years of active, continuous service in order to become an EA. In order to become an Enrolled Agent, you must satisfy the EA requirements of Treasury Department Circular 230.

Corporations and Private Businesses

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 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. Based on compensation data that was included in job postings for enrolled agents dating back to September 2020, advertised salaries for enrolled agents have increased 21%. During a review of 11,127 job postings related to enrolled agents, advertised salary was included in 4,502 of them, which was 40%.

Enrolled Agent Salary in Self-Employment

The EA exam was designed to produce only the most qualified and competent enrolled agents. But fortunately, you can prepare to pass by utilizing an EA review course. And with affordable pricing, this investment in your future definitely pays off.

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. The biggest step you can take to increase your salary as a tax preparer is to become how much does an enrolled agent make an Enrolled Agent.

Big cities have more job opportunities and a larger pool of skilled workers, but they also typically have a higher cost of living, so location isn’t everything. If you dislike the cold and aren’t comfortable in a big city, you don’t have to live in New York or Chicago to make a living as an Enrolled Agent. They prepare tax reports, ensure the accuracy of the company’s tax documents, and are responsible for handling any issues. They must stay up to date on relevant tax laws and often communicate across departments to ensure the entire firm is complying with accounting procedures.

The chart below looks at projected employment for enrolled agents over the next 10 years. The average enrolled agent salary in Alaska, Wisconsin, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average enrolled agent salary states are Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Complete the Annual Filing Season Program

Compare enrolled agent salaries for individual cities or states with the national average. The most highly specialized Enrolled Agent probably isn’t going to be earning as much at a smaller organization as they could at a larger one. Some larger organizations pay their entry-level Enrolled Agents more than smaller organizations pay experienced Enrolled Agents. Office managers oversee several ongoing projects at once and work with staff to ensure that operations run smoothly. They must stay up to date on a wide variety of projects and report directly to higher-level executives. Especially in organizations that employ many tax experts, having an office manager with tax expertise is incredibly valuable.

The main service that distinguishes an Enrolled Agent from others is the ability to represent taxpayers. In addition to preparing taxes and providing advice, Enrolled Agents have permission to act on behalf of their clients in any dealings with the IRS. According to the data obtained through Lightcast,™ there were 54,791 jobs for enrolled agents in the United States in 2023. 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.

Wage gap by gender, race and education

That works out to a 4% change in pay for enrolled agents over the last decade. Enrolled agent salaries typically range between $22,000 and $54,000 yearly. According to the 2024 Robert Half Salary Guide, hiring trends in accounting and finance continue to favor the job candidate. Firms are looking to fill entry-level positions, so recent accounting grads and young professionals are in a great position to get their first accounting job. Firms are especially interested in candidates with technology skills that can be applied to growing areas like cloud systems and data analysis.