There is no national certification for CPAs, so they must be certified in each state in which they intend to work. EAs prepare taxes, can stand in for you during an audit, and handle other business you may have with the IRS. Be sure to consider additional factors alongside salary when planning your professional path.
Enrolled Agent salary: How much do EAs make?
The IRS’s Enrolled Agent credential grants you unlimited tax representation authority before the IRS. In addition to the EA salary, there are many benefits to becoming an Enrolled Agent. Even within the same industry, while you may see less of a disparity, it’s not uncommon to find that some companies offer larger and some smaller salaries for relatively similar roles. While not a hard and fast rule, working at companies in big-ticket industries like healthcare and private business will likely reel in a larger income than working in industries that don’t tend to be as lucrative, like non-profit or government. Where you work is also a major factor in determining your Enrolled Agent salary. If you’re considering becoming an Enrolled Agent, it’s important to understand the career path.
- In 2019, the average accountant brought home $71,550 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics .
- If you’re thinking about pursuing a career in the field, you may want to understand how compensation has changed over time for enrolled agents.
- As their experience increases, these agents have the opportunity to move up the pay scale.
- Whether you’re just starting or looking to maximize your potential, now is an excellent time to invest in your career as an enrolled agent.
- Before delving too deeply into this field as a career option, it’s important to understand EA salaries to determine if this is the right career choice for you.
Mid-level agents can expect their salaries to be between $50,000 and $70,000 annually. Mid-Level EAsEnrolled agents with a few years of experience will see a jump in their pay. The annual average salary for beginners could range from $30,000 to $50,000.
Once you get your first job, experience starts to include actual time working in the industry and your accomplishments at work. The biggest step you can take to increase your salary as a tax preparer is to become an Enrolled Agent. Here’s how the major salary factors break down, plus our advice for making the most of your tax preparer or tax accountant career. If you’re looking to speed up your salary gains in irs enrolled agent salary tax preparation, the best thing you can do is earn a professional designation, like the Enrolled Agent designation awarded by the IRS.
- The average Enrolled Agent salary is approximately $52,000 annually, as compared to CPAs, who earn an average of approximately $70,000 a year.
- This position does not exclusively involve taxes, but having experience with tax planning can be beneficial to many bookkeepers.
- Enrolled agents must obtain 72 hours of continuing education every three years.
- Bryce Welker is a dynamic speaker, expert blogger, and founder of over 20 test prep websites.
- This exam is comprehensive and covers every aspect of the tax code.
- In addition to the salary benefits, you’ll also enjoy increased representation rights so you can expand your client base and the services you can offer.
- On the other hand, if you are interested in accounting practices that have nothing to do with taxes , then the CPA option is the obvious path.
Additionally, enrolled agents must possess a thorough understanding of IRS documentation, as the documentation must be filed with the IRS. An enrolled agent usually works on a year-round basis helping clients. Since an enrolled agent has a number of responsibilities, the salary tends to be fairly lucrative. The National Association of Enrolled Agents reports that there are more than 50,000 enrolled agents working in the United States as well as abroad. Individuals who are considering becoming enrolled agents should enjoy working with people and have high ethical standards.
Hourly Salary from Job Postings for Enrolled Agents
Although CPAs may have a greater earning potential, that salary comes with the need to spend longer in school, gain more work experience, and take a much more in-depth exam. After passing the exam and the IRS background check, you can do tax preparation and client representation easily. With the right mix of experience, specialization, and professional development, EAs can steadily increase their earnings and advance into senior-level roles. In 2026, enrolled agents enjoy competitive salaries, strong job security, and growing opportunities in the evolving financial landscape.
Who should earn the EA?
This exam covers auditing and attestation, business environment and concepts, financial accounting and reporting, and regulation. In order to become a certified public accountant, candidates are required to complete a minimum of 150 undergraduate hours. Among the differences between these two careers is that certified public accountants are regulated at the state level.
Become an EA with Becker
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. The experience pathway requires at least five years of IRS employment. The time it takes to become an enrolled agent depends on which certification pathway you choose.
Your next renewal cycle, you will be required to complete a minimum of 72 hours of continuing education credits. Due to the month and year that you enrolled, you are required to complete 44 CE credits before December 31, 2022. A minimum of 16 hours must be earned per year, two of which must be on ethics.
Exam Prep
Distinguish yourself as a knowledgeable accounting professional with advanced technical, research, and communication skills. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, the highest earners made about $107,661 annually. There was an unexpected error with the form (your web browser was unable to retrieve some required data from our servers).
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. Keep in mind that salary data is not included in every job posting, so the information compiled here is reflective of the data available through Lightcast.™ Individuals who are considering a new career path may find that becoming an enrolled agent is the right choice. In the last few years, IRS examinations or audits have increased significantly. Becoming an enrolled agent can also provide a certain amount of career security.
The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $44,480, while the top earners made more than $124,450 in 2019, indicating a broad range in salaries. From there, they must obtain their preparer tax identification number, pass the three-part special enrollment examination and then pass the tax compliance check. What’s more, the median pay for enrolled agents in Denver is in line with the U.S. median at just over $50,000. Those with the EA credential can see an increase of as much as 30% based on experience, knowledge and other factors.
As mentioned previously, the median salary for enrolled agents in the United States in 2023 was $58,531. To build a better understanding of how much money enrolled agents and related positions can expect to make in the United States, it can be helpful to look at the full range of compensation for those jobs. In terms of salary, the national median salary for enrolled agents was reported to be $58,531. According to data from 2023, there were about 54,847 positions for enrolled agents in the United States.
Enrolled agents must obtain 72 hours of continuing education every three years. With his help, countless students and professionals have passed certification exams and achieved their dreams. If you decide to pursue this career path, check out these study materials for passing the EA exam today! If you are looking for a flexible and well-paid career in the tax industry and do not want to become a CPA, this rewarding job is worth investigating.
When you register for the examination online or by phone, you will receive a list of available testing times, dates, and locations. If you pass an exam section, you will not receive a numerical score for that part. Prometric calculates your SEE results based on how many multiple-choice questions you answered correctly in each exam section. All three sections use multiple-choice questions and allow for 3.5 hours each.
Due to the high level of knowledge required of Enrolled Agents (EAs), this basic level “refresher” course will not be allowed for IRS credit. However, we do understand that a preparer may have a reason to take a program again if they feel they need a refresher on the subject matter. If you instruct a portion of a program and also attend a portion as a student, you may earn both instructor credit and student credit, in certain situations.