INDUSTRIES & MARKETS
Accounting services in the U.S.
Table of Contents
01 Industry overview
Revenue of accounting services in the U.S. 2013-2023
03
Leading U.S. accounting firms by revenue 2020-2023
04
Audit and attest revenue of the leading U.S. accounting firms 2023
05
Tax services revenue of the leading U.S. accounting firms 2020-2023
06
Consulting services revenue of the biggest U.S. accounting firms 2023
07
Revenue distribution of the leading U.S. accounting firms by service line 2023
08
U.S. household expenditure on accounting fees 2007-2022
09
02 Employment
States with the most accountants and auditors in the U.S. 2023
11
Number of partners at the leading accounting firms in the U.S. 2023
12
Number of professionals at the leading accounting firms in the U.S. 2023
13
Number of employees at the leading accounting firms in the U.S. 2023
14
Number of accountants and auditors employed in the U.S. 2012-2023
15
Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks employed in the U.S. 2012-2023
16
Share of employees in accounting services in the U.S. 2023, by race and ethnicity
17
Hiring plans in accountancy businesses in the U.S. Q1 2024
18
03 Wages
Mean annual wage of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks U.S. 2013-2023
1
20
Mean hourly wage of bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks U.S. 2013-2023
21
Highest paying states for accountants and auditors in the U.S. 2023
22
04 "Big Four" in the U.S.
Revenue of the Big Four accounting/audit firms worldwide by region 2023
24
Gross revenue of the Big Four accounting/audit firms in the U.S. 2023
25
Gross revenue of Deloitte in the U.S. 2012-2023
26
Gross revenue of PwC in the U.S. 2012-2023
27
Gross revenue of EY in the U.S. 2012-2023
28
Gross revenue of KPMG in the U.S. 2012-2023
29
CHAPTER 01
Industry overview
Revenue of accounting services in the United States from 2013 to 2023 (in
billion U.S. dollars)
Revenue of accounting services in the U.S. 2013-2023
160
140
Revenue in billion U.S. dollars
120
108.19
113.32
121.41
128.84
131.8
134.83
2016
2017
2018
138.93
140.38
141.29
143.69
2019
2020
2021
2022
147.5
100
80
60
40
20
0
3
2013
2014
2015
Description: The revenue generated by accounting services in the United States reached 145.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, up from roughly 144 billion U.S. dollars in 2022. The revenue generated by this service was the highest it had ever been in 2023. Read more
Note(s): United States; 2010 to 2023
Source(s): IBISWorld
2023
Leading accounting firms in the United States from 2020 to 2023, by
revenue (in billion U.S. dollars)
Leading U.S. accounting firms by revenue 2020-2023
Revenue in billion U.S. dollars
2023
Firm (headquarters, fiscal year end)
0
2021
10
2020
15
20
25
Deloitte* (New York City, June)
PwC* (New York City, June)
Ernst & Young* (New York City, June)
KPMG* (New York City, September)
RSM U.S. (Chicago, December)
BDO USA (Chicago, April)
Grant Thornton (Chicago, July)
CLA (December)
Forvis (May)
Baker Tilly (Chicago, May)
CBIZ & MHM (Cleveland, December)
4
5
2022
3.89
3.6
3.13
2.79
2.82
2.49
2
1.8
2.36
2.31
1.97
1.92
2
1.66
1.45
1.19
1.69
1.49
9.97
9.57
12.2
11.44
1.58
1.41
1.15
0.79
1.42
1.24
1.08
0.82
Description: In 2023, Deloitte was the largest accounting firm in the United States with a revenue of almost 32.7 billion U.S. dollars. Read more
Note(s): United States; 2020 to 2023; * Gross revenue. Headquarters location of CLA and Forvis not available/applicable. Figures have been rounded. Read more
Source(s): AccountingToday
16.17
15.82
17.97
18
19.11
20.73
21.46
22.93
23.16
22.75
30
27.94
35
32.67
Leading accounting firms in the United States in 2023, by revenue from
audit and attest services (in million U.S. dollars)
Audit and attest revenue of the leading U.S. accounting firms 2023
10,000
9,147.32
9,000
Revenue in million U.S. dollars
8,000
7,000
5,915
6,000
5,365
5,000
3,782
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,213.72
1,000
0
5
Deloitte
PwC
Ernst & Young
KPMG
BDO USA
1,086.46
897.63
RSM U.S.
Grant Thornton
Description: In 2023, Deloitte was the largest accounting firm in the United States in terms of audit and attest revenue, with revenue of approximately 9.1 billion U.S. dollars. PwC followed, with revenue from audit and attest services amounting to 5.9 billion U.S. dollars.
Read more
Note(s): United States; 2023
Source(s): AccountingToday
640.68
Forvis
Leading accounting firms in the United States from 2020 to 2023, by
revenue from tax services (in million U.S. dollars)
Tax services revenue of the leading U.S. accounting firms 2020-2023
2020
2021
2022
2023
6,000
Revenue in million U.S. dollars
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
6
Ernst & Young
PwC
Deloitte
H&R Block
KPMG
RSM U.S.
BDO USA
Ryan
CLA
Description: In 2023, Ernst & Young was the leading accounting firm in the United States in terms of tax services revenue, with a revenue of almost 5.6 billion U.S. dollars. PwC was the second-biggest accounting firm, with a U.S. revenue of approximately 5.5 billion U.S.
dollars from tax services in 2023. Read more
Note(s): United States; 2020 to 2023
Source(s): AccountingToday
Grant
Thornton
Leading accounting firms in the United States in 2023, by revenue from
consulting services (in million U.S. dollars)
Consulting services revenue of the biggest U.S. accounting firms 2023
20,000
18,000
17,641.26
Revenue in million U.S. dollars
16,000
14,000
11,375
12,000
10,515.4
10,000
8,000
6,000
5,002
4,000
1,506.12
2,000
0
7
Deloitte
PwC
Ernst & Young
KPMG
RSM US
826.76
591.25
586.23
Grant Thornton
Crowe
Baker Tilly
Description: In 2023, Deloitte was the leading accounting firm in the United States, with consulting revenue of around 18 billion U.S. dollars from consulting services. The so-called Big Four continued to lead the industry by some way. Read more
Note(s): United States; 2020 to 2023
Source(s): AccountingToday
Share of revenue of the leading accounting firms in United States in 2023,
by service line
Revenue distribution of the leading U.S. accounting firms by service line 2023
Share of revenue
A&A
0%
20%
Tax
MAS (consulting)
40%
Other
60%
Deloitte
PwC
Ernst & Young
KPMG
RSM U.S.
BDO USA
Grant Thornton
CLA
Forvis
Baker Tilly
CBIZ & Mayer Hofmann McCann
Crowe
8
Description: In 2023, Deloitte generated the majority of its revenue in the United States from consulting services. Deloitte was also the leading accounting firm by revenue in the same year. Read more
Note(s): United States; 2023
Source(s): AccountingToday
80%
100%
120%
Average annual expenditure on accounting fees per consumer unit in the
United States from 2007 to 2022 (in U.S. dollars)
U.S. household expenditure on accounting fees 2007-2022
Average annual expenditure in U.S. dollars
120
101.78
100
80
77.08
75.03
62.08
60
65.52
58.73
88.24
89.72
88.91
76.56
75.62
65.32
62.95
81.2
62.83
40
20
0
9
89.84
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Description: In 2022, the average annual expenditure on accounting fees per consumer unit stood at approximately 102 U.S. dollars. This was an increase of roughly 20 U.S. dollars compared to the previous year. Read more
Note(s): United States; 2007 to 2022
Source(s): Bureau of Labor Statistics
2019
2020
2021
2022
CHAPTER 02
Employment
States with the highest employment level in accounting and auditing in the
United States as of May 2023
States with the most accountants and auditors in the U.S. 2023
Number of employees
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
California
166,020
New York
119,150
Texas
111,160
Florida
Pennsylvania
11
180,000
89,350
54,540
Description: In 2023, California was the state with the highest employment level in accounting and auditing, with approximately 166,000 working within this industry. The state of New York was second in the list, employing roughly 119,000, as well as being second in
the list of highest paying states for accounting and auditing. Read more
Note(s): United States; May 2023
Source(s): Bureau of Labor Statistics
Number of partners at the leading accounting firms in the United States in
2023
Number of partners at the leading accounting firms in the U.S. 2023
Number of partners
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
Deloitte
4,037
Ernst & Young
3,700
Accounting firm
KPMG
12
6,000
7,000
6,585
PwC
2,482
CLA
1,329
RSM US
1,180
BDO USA
860
CBIZ & MHM
810
Grant Thornton
595
Baker Tilly
578
Marcum
546
Forvis
511
Crowe
509
Citrin Cooperman & Co.
490
Moss Adams
5,000
402
Description: In 2023, PwC had both the second highest number of partners as well as the second highest revenue of the leading accounting firms in the United States. Read more
Note(s): United States; 2023
Source(s): AccountingToday
Number of professionals at the leading accounting firms in the United
States in 2023
Number of professionals at the leading accounting firms in the U.S. 2023
Number of professionals
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
Deloitte
139,788
Ernst & Young
46,400
KPMG
38,811
Accounting firm
PwC*
13
35,350
RSM US
12,543
BDO USA
9,513
Grant Thornton
8,023
CLA
5,677
Crowe
4,666
Baker Tilly
4,654
Forvis
4,286
CBIZ & MHM
3,492
Moss Adams
3,364
CohnReznick
3,016
Marcum
2,631
Description: With almost 140,000 professionals employed in 2023, Deloitte represented the largest accounting firm in the United States in terms of staff. In the same year, Ernst & Young (EY) came second in the list of accounting firms with the most professionals,
where they employed less than half of the number of that of Deloitte. Read more
Note(s): United States; 2023
Source(s): AccountingToday
160,000
Number of employees at the leading accounting firms in the United States
in 2023
Number of employees at the leading accounting firms in the U.S. 2023
Number of employees
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
Deloitte
75,000
Ernst & Young
55,900
Accounting firm
KPMG
14
180,000
171,100
PwC
50,306
RSM US
17,085
BDO USA
Grant Thornton
160,000
12,212
10,114
CliftonLarsonAllen
8,120
Baker Tilly
6,777
Crowe
6,296
Forvis
5,910
CBIZ / Mayer Hoffman McCann
5,796
Moss Adams
4,782
Eisner Advisory Group
4,280
CohnReznick
3,967
Description: Unsurprisingly the Big Four accounting firms – Deloitte, PwC, EY and KPMG – maintained the largest workforces of the accounting firms in the United States in 2023, ranging from Deloitte with approximately 171,000 staff to KPMG with their workforce of
roughly 50,300. Outside of the Big Four there is a significant drop to the next-largest U.S. accounting firm, RSM, who employed 17,085 U.S. staff. Read more
Note(s): United States; 2023
Source(s): AccountingToday
Number of accountants and auditors employed in the United States from
2012 to 2023 (in millions)
Number of accountants and auditors employed in the U.S. 2012-2023
1.6
Number of employees in millions
1.4
1.28
1.2
1.17
1.19
2013
2014
1.23
1.25
2015
2016
1.24
1.26
1.28
1.27
2017
2018
2019
2020
1.32
1.4
1.44
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
15
2012
2021
Description: In 2023, there were a record amount of accountants and auditors working in the United States, with a workforce that totaled more than 1.4 million people. This was an increase of approximately 40,000 when compared to the previous year. Read more
Note(s): United States; 2012 to 2023
Source(s): Bureau of Labor Statistics
2022
2023
Number of bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks employed in the
United States from 2012 to 2023 (in millions)
Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks employed in the U.S. 2012-2023
2.0
Number of employees in millions
1.8
1.8
1.59
1.6
1.58
1.58
1.57
1.53
1.53
1.51
2017
2018
2019
1.44
1.51
1.55
1.5
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
16
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2020
2021
2022
Description: The number of bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks employed in the United States decreased steadily between 2012 and 2021. In 2022, there was a slight increase as approximately 1.6 million people were employed in these professions. In 2023,
however, this figure fell once again. Read more
Note(s): United States; 2012 to 2023
Source(s): Bureau of Labor Statistics
2023
Share of employees working in accounting services in the United States in
2023, by race and ethnicity
Share of employees in accounting services in the U.S. 2023, by race and ethnicity
12%
11%
10.1%
Share of employees
10%
9.2%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
17
Asian
Hispanic
African American
Description: In 2023, the racial group with the largest representation in accounting services in the United States were Asian where 11 percent of the total workforce was represented. African Americans represented 9.2 percent of those working in accounting services
in the United States. Read more
Note(s): United States; 2023
Source(s): Bureau of Labor Statistics
Hiring plans in accountancy businesses in the United States for the first
quarter in 2024
Hiring plans in accountancy businesses in the U.S. Q1 2024
60%
49%
Share of respondents
50%
40%
30%
22%
20%
15%
11%
10%
0%
18
We have the right number of
employees
We have too few employees and
planning to hire
We have too few employees, but
hesitating to hire
We have an excess number of
employees
Description: In the first quarter of 2024, hiring plans in accountancy businesses in the United States were relatively optimistic according to those who were surveyed. 22 percent of respondents claimed to have too few employees and were looking to hire, whereas 49
percent of respondents claimed they already had the right number of employees. Read more
Note(s): United States; February 6th to February 28th, 2024; 275 respondents; AICPA members in business & industry
Source(s): AICPA
CHAPTER 03
Wages
Mean annual wage of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks in the
United States from 2013 to 2023 (in U.S. dollars)
Mean annual wage of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks U.S. 2013-2023
51,000
49,580
Mean annual wage in U.S. dollars
49,000
47,440
47,000
45,140
45,000
44,100
43,000
42,110
42,960
41,110
40,220
41,000
38,990
39,000
37,250
38,070
37,000
35,000
20
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Description: In 2023, bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks in the United States earned a mean annual wage of approximately 50,000 U.S. dollars. In the same year, there were approximately 1.55 million bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks in the
United States. Read more
Note(s): United States; 2013 to 2023
Source(s): Bureau of Labor Statistics
2022
2023
Mean hourly wage of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks in the
United States from 2013 to 2023 (in U.S. dollars)
Mean hourly wage of bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks U.S. 2013-2023
25.0
23.84
24.0
Mean hourly wage in U.S. dollars
22.81
23.0
21.7
22.0
21.2
21.0
20.25
20.0
19.4
19.0
18.0
17.0
21
17.91
2013
18.3
2014
20.65
19.76
18.74
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Description: In 2023, bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks in the United States earned on average almost 24 U.S. dollars per hour. In the same year, there were approximately 1.5 million bbookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks in the United States. Read
more
Note(s): United States; 2013 to 2023
Source(s): Bureau of Labor Statistics
2023
States with the highest wages for accountants and auditors in the United
States in 2023 (in U.S. dollars)
Highest paying states for accountants and auditors in the U.S. 2023
Mean annual wage in U.S. dollars
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
New York
113,310
District of Columbia
113,190
New Jersey
California
Massachusetts
22
120,000
110,700
100,560
99,360
Description: In 2023, New York was the U.S. state with the highest salary for accountants and auditors, with a mean annual wage of over 113,000 U.S. dollars. The District of Columbia and New Jersey followed in the list of the states with the highest salaries for these
professions. Read more
Note(s): United States; May 2023
Source(s): Bureau of Labor Statistics
CHAPTER 04
"Big Four" in the U.S.
Revenue of the Big Four accounting/audit firms worldwide in 2023, by
geographical region (in billion U.S. dollars)
Revenue of the Big Four accounting/audit firms worldwide by region 2023
Americas
EMEA*
Asia Pacific**
70
Revenue in billion U.S. dollars
60
10
50
19.1
10.01
7.5
40
19.55
30
20
15.7
35.9
23.54
10
0
24
6.1
18.3
23.6
14.6
Deloitte
PwC
EY
KPMG
Description: Deloitte reported total revenue figures of around 65 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, the highest among the Big Four accounting firms. The company also led the rankings in the Americas, but it was PwC who came out on top in the EMEA region (Europe, the
Middle East, and Africa). Read more
Note(s): Worldwide; 2023; * Ernst & Young - EMEIA: Europe, Middle East, India & Africa; PwC- EMEA: Middle East and Africa, Western Europe, and Central and Eastern Europe; KPMG - EMEA: Europe, Middle East, Africa and India; ** Ernst & Young - [...] Read more
Source(s): Deloitte; EY; KPMG; PwC
Gross revenue of the Big Four accounting/audit firms in the United States
in 2023 (in billion U. S. dollars)
Gross revenue of the Big Four accounting/audit firms in the U.S. 2023
35
32.67
Gross revenue in billion U.S. dollars
30
25
22.75
21.46
20
15
12.2
10
5
0
25
Deloitte
PwC
Ernst & Young
KPMG
Description: Deloitte generated the largest revenue of the Big Four accounting firms in the United States in 2023, earning approximately 10 billion U.S dollars more than their nearest competitor, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The ranking mirrored the revenue of
the Big Four firms worldwide, as Deloitte and PwC again competed for the top two positions. Read more
Note(s): United States; 2023
Source(s): AccountingToday
Gross revenue of Deloitte in the United States from 2012 to 2023 (in billion
U.S. dollars)
Gross revenue of Deloitte in the U.S. 2012-2023
35
32.67
Gross revenue in billion U.S. dollars
30
27.94
25
21.9
20
15
13.07
13.89
14.91
16.15
17.52
18.55
23.16
22.93
2020
2021
19.9
10
5
0
26
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Description: In 2023, Deloitte generated a revenue of approximately 33 billion U.S. dollars in the United States. This was a record turnover for the firm, beating the last record set in the previous year by almost five billion U.S. dollars. Read more
Note(s): United States; 2012 to 2023; fiscal year ended June of each year.
Source(s): Deloitte
2022
2023
Gross revenue of PwC in the United States from 2012 to 2023 (in billion
U.S. dollars)
Gross revenue of PwC in the U.S. 2012-2023
25
22.75
20.73
Gross revenue in billion U.S. dollars
20
14.92
15
11.04
10
17.4
18
17.97
2020
2021
12.2
9.55
5
0
27
11.72
15.62
16.85
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016*
2017
2018
2019
Description: The gross revenue of PwC in the United States increased significantly between 2012 and 2023 by approximately 12 billion U.S. dollars. PwC generated 22.75 billion U.S. dollars in the United States in the 2023 fiscal year. Read more
Note(s): United States; 2012 to 2023; Fiscal year ended June of each year; *The figure for 2016 shows the revenue for all of North America. Figures prior to 2023 come from previous reports. Revenue figures are from PwC annual reports. Read more
Source(s): AccountingToday
2022
2023
Gross revenue of EY (Ernst & Young) in the United States from 2012 to
2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Gross revenue of EY in the U.S. 2012-2023
25
21.46
19.11
Gross revenue in billion U.S. dollars
20
15
10
9.9
12.2
14
15.82
16.2
2020
2021
5
0
28
8.2
9.1
11.19
13
15
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Description: The gross revenue of EY in the United States increased significantly between 2012 and 2023 by approximately 13 billion U.S. dollars. EY generated roughly 21.46 billion U.S. dollars in the United States in the 2023 fiscal year. Read more
Note(s): United States; 2012 to 2023; Fiscal year ended June of each year
Source(s): EY
2022
2023
Gross revenue of KPMG in the United States from 2012 to 2023 (in billion
U.S. dollars)
Gross revenue of KPMG in the U.S. 2012-2023
14
11.44
Gross revenue in billion U.S. dollars
12
10
7.89
8
6
5.75
6.14
8.63
8.96
9.46
9.97
9.57
12.2
9.97
6.87
4
2
0
29
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Description: The gross revenue of KPMG generated in the United States increased significantly between 2012 and 2023, despite some fluctuations. KPMG generated approximately 12.2 billion U.S. dollars in the United States in its 2023 fiscal year. Read more
Note(s): United States; 2012 to 2023; Fiscal year ended September of each year
Source(s): AccountingToday
2022
2023
Sources
AccountingToday
AICPA
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Deloitte
EY
IBISWorld
KPMG
PwC
Statista
30