Cost Accountant
Impact: Problem-solving and innovation
Track, analyze, and report on the costs associated with manufacturing processes or services to improve profitability.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Extensive
- Team vs solo
- 53% Team / 47% Solo
- Client facing
- Rarely
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- 5-10% domestic
- Schedule flexibility
- Flexible
- Remote work
- Hybrid
- Typical work hours
- 40-50 hours/week
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $110,000
- Entry-level
- $61,000
- Senior
- $114,000+
- Growth by 2033
- 11% (faster than average)
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Very Low
- Salary growth potential
- High to 87% growth from entry to senior
- Typical student debt
- Minimal
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Valuation
- Data Analysis
- Risk Management
- Regulatory Compliance
Soft skills
- Critical Thinking
- Adaptability
- Time Management
Technical complexity: High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Bachelor's Degree
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 4-6 years
- Years to senior
- 7-9 years
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Entry Level
- Mid Level
- Senior Level
- Lead/Manager
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 37% to moderate risk due to specialized skills
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 8.2/10
- Meaning
- 5.4/10
- Work-life balance
- 5.9/10
- Prestige
- 7.1/10
- Social perception
- High