Both certified public accountants (CPAs) and enrolled agents (EAs) must adhere to strict ethical standards. Among the differences between these two careers is that enrolled agent salary certified public accountants are regulated at the state level. In order to become a certified public accountant, candidates are required to complete a minimum of 150 undergraduate hours. As international tax laws become increasingly complex, Enrolled Agents are in demand in multinational firms across various countries. Many Indian companies and global firms with offices in India hire EAs for U.S. tax work.
Enrolled Agent Salary Guide in 2025-26
Congress created the designation of enrolled agent in 1884 following the Civil War. At this time, numerous U.S. citizens had government claims regarding property confiscated during the war. With the new designation, enrolled agents were given the ability to represent citizens and prepare claims. After Congress passed the income law in 1913, the duties of EAs were expanded to include tax representation. Many Enrolled Agents in India choose to operate as independent tax consultants, offering flexibility in their work schedules.
- However, jobs posted for smaller regional agencies tend to pay higher.
- Once completed, you are listed on the IRS’ RPO database as an official “Annual Filing Season Program Participant”.
- So, as the tax preparer, an Enrolled Agent is the most qualified to explain and defend the choices made during preparation.
- Therefore, the EA salary range in that city is a little lower, with the average salary about $38,197 to $55,306.
- An entry-level enrolled agent with up to five years of experience can typically expect to earn an average of $42,000 per year.
Which companies pay enrolled agents the most?
A senior-level enrolled agent with between 10 and 20 years of experience can typically expect to earn an average salary of $55,000. Agents with more than 20 years of experience may see a pay raise up to $60,000 per year. You must pursue the EA course to enter the group of credentialed Enrolled Agents to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service Board. Continue reading this blog if you are an EA certification aspirant.
Highest paying enrolled agent jobs
- However, San Francisco residents in Enrolled Agent positions earn a median income of $54,504, which is well above the national number.
- With a high demand for tax professionals, you can command higher salaries.
- What’s more, the median pay for Enrolled Agents in Denver is in line with the U.S. median at over $44,000.
- Unlike CPAs, enrolled agents become nationally certified, so they can practice in any state with the same certification.
- Another way to boost your salary and solidify your expertise is to become dual-certified.
On the other https://www.bookstime.com/ hand, the actual range is between $43,399 and $62,837. 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. On average, CPAs do make more money (over $70,000 annually) than Enrolled Agents. But in the long term, corporate salary caps and geographical constraints often limit CPAs’ salaries. So, an Enrolled Agent in the right region who builds up a great interstate reputation and client base can certainly out-earn CPAs in the same area.
Average enrolled agent salary by state
In India, starting salaries can range from ₹3.5 lakh to ₹6 lakh per annum. Salary ranges for senior roles are generally between ₹15 and ₹ 25 LPA, depending on their experience, company and role. As of 2024, over 86,000 public accounting firms existed in the United States. While that number is large, most of those firms are small agencies that handle relatively few clients compared to the big competition. The largest firms in the country pull in billions of dollars in revenue annually and employ tens of thousands of people. On the other hand, the smallest successful brokers and agents typically see less than a million dollars come through their doors each year.
Enrolled agent salaries typically range between $22,000 and $54,000 yearly. As their experience adjusting entries increases, these agents have the opportunity to move up the pay scale. Mid-level enrolled agents typically earn between $52,000 after 1-2 years of work experience. When it comes to jobs in accounting and finance, many people consider becoming CPAs, while few think about the option of becoming enrolled agents.