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Accountants are valuable in businesses of all sizes. A day at work might consist of analyzing budget reports, preparing financial reports, meeting with clients or managers, or planning the financial side of a company's new product.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there were 1.1 million accountants and auditors working in the U.S. in 2009. Accountants choose between four major fields: management accounting; public accounting; internal auditing; government accounting.

Accountant wages vary by level and location

Accountants and auditors in the U.S. earned mean annual wages of $67,430 in 2009, according to the BLS. Within that figure, there is plenty of room for variation. Salary.com reports the median national average annual base salary for accountants based on job level. Accountant wages across the U.S., as of May 2011, were as follows:

1. Entry-level accountant: $43,713
2. Intermediate-level accountant: $52,408
3. Senior accountant: $63,164
4. Lead accountant: $74,503

Accountants made median annual salaries of $45,625 in 2011, according to GlassDoor.com. Salaries ranged from $32,885 at a school district in the South to $50,785 at an accounting firm.

Top locations for accountants

Wherever there is business, accountants are valued. In addition, the "Big Four" accounting firms have multiple offices in the U.S.. With that in mind, check out the top picks for accountants nationwide:

1. Kentucky: The state with the lowest cost of living in 2010, according to ACCRA, means your dollar goes further. Each of the "Big Four" accounting firms have locations in Louisville, and the second-largest accounting firm in the world has a location in Lexington.
2. New York: Accountants and auditors in the New York City area earned the nation's highest annual mean wages--$87,940 in 2009, according to the BLS--a fact that helps to balance out the area's higher cost of living.
3. California: The San Francisco area is home to some of the largest concentrations of accountants in the country, where they earned $81,640 in 2009, according to the BLS.

Accountant training online and on campus

A bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field is required for most accountant positions. Accountant schools offer degree training online and on campus, giving students a choice of how they earn an education. Earning certified public accountant (CPA) credentials is essential for any accountant who will need to file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Career outlook strong for accountants

The BLS projects that jobs for accountants and auditors are expected to grow 22 percent between 2008 and 2018, with the most favorable prospects going towards accountants with certification like a CPA.

For related news and other information from Schools.com, see:

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• NACE ranks most in-demand majors and lucrative degrees 2011
• Surprise! 5 real-life, unexpected college-to-career journeys
• Business administration professor salary & career outlook