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There were over 1 million accountants and auditors working across the U.S. in 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Many of them are certified public accountants.

What is a certified public accountant?

CPAs are licensed by their state board of accountancy, and must also pass a national exam. Certified public accountant schools and programs offer targeted training designed to help graduates succeed in various levels of the field.

CPAs can be found in the "Big Four" accounting firms, as well as within private business and government. CPAs may also be self-employed.

Certified public accountant wages

The BLS reports that accountants and auditors in the U.S. earned mean annual wages of $67,430 in 2009. The mean annual wages that same year for accountants within specific industries with the highest employment levels are in that same ballpark:

• Accounting, bookkeeping, tax preparation and payroll services: $73,920
• Management of enterprises and companies: $66,330
• Local government: $57,490
• State government: $54,040
• Insurance carriers: $65,520

Next, take a look at the median national average annual base salary for accountants based on their job level, as of May 2011, according to Salary.com:

1. Senior cost accountant: $69,860
2. Senior accountant: $63,164
3. Entry level financial reporting accountant: $50,742

GlassDoor.com reports that accountants earned median annual wages of $45,625 in 2011. Average wages as reported by the website in May 2011 range from $50,785 at a financial services company to $79,744 at a CPA firm.

Top locations for certified public accountants

The top cities and states for certified public accountants, with local area certified public accountant salary information provided by the BLS (www.bls.gov, 2010) and cost-of-living data provided by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center show the following:

1. Chicago, Ill.: This top city is headquarters to several large accounting firms, and features a lower cost of living than finance-heavy New York City, but a strong median salary--$72,380.
2. Houston, Texas: Energy companies are big employers of accountants in this Lone Star city, and the big four accounting firms also have homes here. Texas has a cost of living index of 91.04, according to ACCRA, which puts it in the top-five states in the country for low cost of living. ($70,190)
3. Haverhill-North Andover-Amesbury, Mass.: While the state ranks number 41 in the country for cost of living, the annual mean wage for accountants in this metropolitan area puts it in the top five for accountant wages. ($83,390)

Certified public accountant schools online and on campus

Accountants in most positions must hold a bachelor's degree in accounting. In most states, CPA candidates must complete 150 hours of college coursework beyond the typical accountant training. Certified public accountant training goes deeper than the typical bachelor's degree, and should prepare students to sit for exams.

Career outlook strong for certified public accountants

The BLS reports that careers for accountants and auditors are projected to grow 22 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is much faster than average for all occupations, with the best opportunities going to certified public accountants.

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