Average Income

• Becoming an auditor typically requires a four-year degree in accounting or a similar field at a minimum, and workers that receive professional certifications may earn more than others. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the average annual income of auditors and accountants was $67,430 as of May 2009. This translates into an hourly wage of $32.42. The median income of auditors and accountants was $60,340.
  
  

Income Distribution

• The income of auditors and accountants vary based upon career level, experience, technical skills and other factors. The report by the bureau showed that the top 10 percent of income earners among auditors and accountants made $104,450 or more as of May 2009, while the bottom 10 percent earned $37,690 or less. The middle half of all workers in the field earned between $46,740 and $79,470.
  
  

Major Industries

• Auditors work in a variety of industries that can affect income. Accounting, tax preparation and booking services, paid an annual average of $73,920, while auditors and accountants involved in management of companies and enterprises made an average of $66,330 per year. Local governments paid an average of $57,490, while the average for state governments was $54,040. The highest-paying industry for accountants and auditors was the federal executive branch of the government, where such workers had an average annual income of $88,190.
  
  

Income by Region

• The bureau says that areas with high concentrations of auditors and accountants in May 2009 were the District of Columbia, at an average annual pay of $79,990, Colorado, at $68,910, Delaware, at $68,950, and New York, at $84,280. New York was the highest-paying state for auditors and accountants followed by the District of Columbia. Workers in the New York City metro area earned over $87,000 on average.