By earning your associate degree in accounting, you learn fundamental and practical skillsets in the finance, accounting, and bookkeeping workplace. But what, exactly, can you do with an associate degree—and what are the next steps to take you even further in your career?
Summary
An Associate Degree in Accounting opens the door to a variety of entry-level roles—such as Bookkeeper and Accounting Clerk—that involve working with financial data and transactions, while simultaneously serving as a stepping-stone to gain experience, pursue entrepreneurship, or continue education toward credentials like the Enrolled Agent or a bachelor’s degree.
What is an associate degree vs bachelor’s degree in accounting?
An associate and a bachelor’s degree in accounting differ significantly in duration, curriculum depth, career opportunities, and earning potential. The primary difference between the two degrees lies in the time commitment and the focus of the coursework:
Associate Degree (A.A. or A.S.): Requires around 60 credits and takes about two years of full-time study to complete. It is considered the lowest accounting degree in the field, offering a broad view of the profession and the quickest path to entering the industry. The curriculum is more targeted toward practical skills and includes core accounting, business, and communications courses.
Bachelor's Degree (B.A. or B.S.): Requires four years of study and usually 120 credits. It is more in-depth and expands upon the foundational knowledge provided by the associate degree. Bachelor's coursework includes subjects like auditing, finance, and advanced accounting theory, typically also including the opportunity to complete an internship at an accounting firm or company. With a bachelor’s degree, you also fulfill the education requirements needed to earn important credentials like the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification.
Individuals often choose between the two based on the time and money they have available to devote to college. Earning an associate degree first, working for a few years, and then expanding it to a bachelor's degree later is also a viable option.
What jobs can you get with an associate degree in accounting?
An associate degree will teach you the basics in accounting skillsets and equip you for many entry-level job opportunities in clerical or specialized supportive roles. While the positions are entry-level, they offer opportunities for growth as you gain experience and additional education and credentials.
Job title | Description | Average annual salary |
| Bookkeeper | Manages financial accounts for a company by recording transactions, maintaining ledgers, creating financial reports, handling payroll, and processing accounts receivable and payable. | $44,200 to $45,644 |
| Accounting Assistant | Performs administrative and accounting support tasks, such as filing reports, entering data, processing transactions, preparing financial statements, updating ledgers, and assisting with audits. | $34,379 to $40,600 |
| Accounting Clerk | Performs basic bookkeeping, prepares and maintains accounting documents and records, prepares bank deposits and statements, and reconciles accounts. | $39,600 to $53,083 |
| Payroll Clerk/Assistant/Specialist | Handles employee compensation, calculating wages and bonuses, distributing paychecks, issuing statements, maintaining employee information, and resolving payroll discrepancies. | $40,979 to $51,525 |
| Accounts Receivable Clerk | Processes incoming payments, prepares bills and invoices, reconciles accounts and ledgers, and communicates with clients to resolve billing issues and discrepancies. | $61,545 |
| Accounts Payable Clerk | Handles a company's outgoing payments to vendors and other companies, receiving/processing invoices, tracking payments, balancing ledgers, and generating reports. | $40,737 |
| Auditing Clerk | Ensures financial records (including expense accounts, loans, and inventory) are accurate and appropriately coded by checking accounts for possible mistakes and catching mathematical errors. They can correct minor transcription errors or notify senior staff of major discrepancies. | $38,300 |
| Billing Specialist/Clerk | Helps companies manage payments and invoices by issuing/posting bills, updating financial databases, managing accounts, reporting missed payments, and providing payment solutions to clients. | $39,504 |
How do you grow an accounting career beyond your associate degree?
An associate degree is often the quickest path to entering the field, taking about two years of full-time study. It is designed to give you practical knowledge quickly and allows you to dive into the workforce and start building your career. With just an associate degree, you will be limited in the job opportunities you have available; however, there are multiple ways to capitalize on the foundation you’ve earned with an associate degree in accounting and take your career further.
1. Gain experience. The jobs available with an only associate degree provide a foundation, but time, skill improvement, and additional training will help you move up in the accounting world.
2. Jump into entrepreneurship. The degree provides skills in basic accounting principles, reading financial statements, and managerial accounting concepts (like product costs, budgets, and forecasts) that are especially relevant for starting your own business.
3. Continue your education and seek certifications. If your career goals include growing in the industry beyond the entry level, you’ll find that finishing a bachelor’s degree in accounting will be well worth the investment. Not only will you gain the required skillsets to move beyond assistant positions, but you’ll also meet the education requirements needed to earn the credentials essential for upper-level leadership roles. For example, becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), or Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) are necessary to qualify for more advanced and higher-paying roles in their respective specializations (public accounting, management accounting, and internal auditing). Many colleges offer bachelor's completion programs that allow you to leverage your existing associate degree credits.
4. Consider becoming an Enrolled Agent. If you’re certain that completing a bachelor’s degree is not in the cards for you, or if your focus is growing specifically in tax services, consider earning becoming an Enrolled Agent (EA). Earning the designation will exponentially advance your career as a tax professional. Plus, since there are no education requirements to becoming an EA, the credential is one of the only ones accessible with only your associate degree in accounting.
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An associate degree in accounting is a great place to start your career—but it’s really a stepping-stone for further growth into accounting, tax, or auditing specializations.
If you’re looking for a credential that will advance your career without the need to earn a bachelor’s degree, becoming an Enrolled Agent is your best bet. Learn more about the designation, your career opportunities as an EA, and how to earn the credential in our free EA Exam Guide.
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About the author
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/associate-degree-in-accounting-jobs
https://www.monroeu.edu/news/accounting-degree-associate-or-bachelors
https://www.allbusinessschools.com/accounting/associate-degree-in-accounting/
https://www.accounting.com/careers/associate-degree-accounting-jobs/