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. Working as an Enrolled Agent at one of the larger national tax firms won’t necessarily earn you as much as you might make at a more specialized regional or local brokerage. The big chains pay their more experienced Enrolled Agents between $20 and $30 per hour on average, which comes to between $40,000 and $50,000 annually. However, jobs posted for smaller regional agencies tend to pay higher. For instance, the range for some posted jobs in these types of companies is between $60,000 and $85,000.

• Adtalem Global Education is not responsible for the security, contents and accuracy of any information provided on the third-party website.
• But in the long term, corporate salary caps and geographical constraints often limit CPAs’ salaries.
• Compare enrolled agent salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
• Best of all, you can set your own schedule, work across the United States, and take on as many clients as you can keep.
• The lowest average enrolled agent salary states are Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
• If you want to become an EA, now’s definitely the best time to be one.

Where can an Enrolled Agent earn more?

Enrolled Agents (EAs) earn an average annual salary of just over $72,000 in the US, with some sources citing earnings as high as $174,000 per year. An EA’s salary is primarily influenced by their level of professional experience, geographic location, and the industry they work in. 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. Versatile CareerThere is a wide range of career opportunities for enrolled agents.

• For example, a small agency that specializes in escrow accounting may not need an Enrolled Agent.
• Since enrolled agents are federally licensed, they can practice in any state wherever they may be located.
• If you don’t currently have the IRS experience to become an Enrolled Agent, you’ll need to pass the EA exam.
• While that number is large, most of those firms are small agencies that handle relatively few clients compared to the big competition.
• The other way to become an Enrolled Agent is by having enough IRS experience.
• As a credentialed Enrolled Agent with the ability to offer any tax service for any client, you’re equipped to take on a world of new job opportunities.

Average enrolled agent salary over time

Compare enrolled agent salaries for cities or states with the national average over time. An enrolled agent’s salary ranges from $22,000 a year at the 10th percentile Oil And Gas Accounting to $54,000 at the 90th percentile. What’s more, Enrolled Agents often fill the roles of both tax accountant and tax attorney.

The Enrolled Agent Salary: Our Guide to EA Salaries

The Enrolled Agent credential is the highest designation awarded by the Internal Revenue Service. 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. For example, a small Enrolled Agent-run firm in rural Nevada could expertly serve clients in New York, California, or Alabama. Therefore, the ability to expand your client base beyond state borders is an advantage enrolled agents have over CPAs. If you’re considering a career in accounting or finance, you may be curious about how much money Enrolled Agents make.

• Therefore, you should compare the average EA salaries across the United States to better understand how much you can make as an EA.
• Many EAs chose to work for large agencies, accounting or otherwise.
• 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.
• As an enrolled agent, you can provide services to your clients that other CPAs, bookkeepers, and finance professionals can’t.
• For example, a small Enrolled Agent-run firm in rural Nevada could expertly serve clients in New York, California, or Alabama.
• Some may be looking for a change in their career path while others want to boost their earning potential or learn more about tax law.

Unlike other non-enrolled tax professionals, an Enrolled Agent has special permission to perform legal services that other tax professionals cannot. The main service that distinguishes an Enrolled Agent from enrollment agent salary 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. If you’re the type that thrives as your own boss and has big plans to build your own business, you can use your Enrolled Agent credential to jump into entrepreneurship. EAs can take on the risk—and reap the rewards—of opening their own tax service firm, helping clients file taxes, optimize savings, stay compliant, and navigate IRS audits.

High paying enrolled agent jobs

• However, how much an EA makes depends not only on having the designation, but also on several other factors.
• As credentialed tax professionals, the Enrolled Agent salary is higher than non-certified tax preparers.
• Therefore, the EA salary range in that city is a little lower, with the average salary about $38,197  to $55,306.
• Nevertheless, you can pursue additional credentials, such as CPA licensure for instance.
• Your education and experience level, as well as any other certifications you hold, also affect the size of your Enrolled Agent salary.
• Additionally, clients often prefer to work with a single individual or a small team for the sake of efficiency.
• The annual average salary for beginners could range from $30,000 to $50,000.

Moreover, whatever the state of the economy may be, people will always need help preparing their taxes or dealing with the IRS. In-Demand assets = liabilities + equity ExpertiseThe world we live in now is becoming more and more virtual. The remote work trend means many professionals are looking for more flexible careers. Since enrolled agents are federally licensed, they can practice in any state wherever they may be located.

Highest paying states for enrolled agents

The highest paying types of enrolled agents are insurance broker, licensed insurance producer, and insurance producer. The highest-paying cities for enrolled agents are Green Bay, WI, San Francisco, CA, and Southfield, MI. Multinational corporations and Big Four firms generally offer higher salaries compared to small or mid-sized firms. Senior-Level EAsEnrolled agents with five or more years of experience could have an annual income of $75,000 to $100,000 and even more.