Scheduling is now available for an exam appointment for the May 1, 2025–Feb. The actual seat time is 4 hours to allow for a tutorial, survey, and one scheduled 15-minute break. Large firms are willing and able to pay a premium to attract top talent. The larger the company, the higher the pay for a given role, and the better defined your career path will be. Completing the AFSP is not nearly as comprehensive as receiving an Enrolled Agent designation, and you do not have as many rights as an EA. However, balance sheet it is vastly cheaper than that of preparing and sitting for the EA exam, and takes much less time to complete.

How many questions are on each part of the examination? (reviewed Oct. 19,

So, an Enrolled https://www.bookstime.com/ Agent in the right region who builds up a great interstate reputation and client base can certainly out-earn CPAs in the same area. Therefore, because the CPA is a state certification, not a federal one, a CPA may want to earn an Enrolled Agent designation as well to expand her credentials and earning potential. All score values above passing indicate that a candidate is qualified — not how qualified.

How Much Do CPA or Enrolled Agents Earn at Different Levels in 2025?

At a median of over $53,000, the salary for an independent Enrolled Agent is not bad. Furthermore, when you consider the lack of an upper limit on your earning potential, the idea of self-employment becomes very attractive. In the right area, and with the right book of business, an Enrolled Agent can do quite well working in self-employment. Best of all, you can set your own schedule, work across the United States, and take on as many clients as you can keep. On average, CPAs do make more money (over $70,000 annually) than Enrolled Agents. But in the long term, corporate salary caps and geographical constraints often limit CPAs’ salaries.

Annual Salary from Job Postings for Enrolled Agents

What’s more, the median pay for Enrolled Agents in Denver is in line with the U.S. median at over $44,000. Yet, in the mile-high city, over half of the EA salary figures posted are above $112,000 annually. And while they say everything’s bigger in Texas, this statement doesn’t necessarily hold true for Dallas Enrolled Agent salaries.

• CPAs are qualified to perform more specialized tasks, such as auditing and consulting.
• On the other hand, a small company that specializes in complex tax situations would really benefit from having one or two EAs on staff.
• This in turn makes you a more popular choice compared to your peers when it comes to a potential client looking for a tax professional.
• The highest-paying cities for enrolled agents are Green Bay, WI, San Francisco, CA, and Southfield, MI.
• All score values above passing indicate that a candidate is qualified — not how qualified.
• Enrolled agents are federally licensed tax practitioners who are specialized in all aspects of US taxation.

• The larger the company, the higher the pay for a given role, and the better defined your career path will be.
• They prepare tax reports, ensure the accuracy of the company’s tax documents, and are responsible for handling any issues.
• What’s more, Enrolled Agents often fill the roles of both tax accountant and tax attorney.
• Therefore, the EA salary range in that city is a little lower, with the average salary about $38,197  to $55,306.
• You may electronically apply for enrollment and make secure payment of the $140 enrollment fee at Pay.gov.

Enrolled agents are the tax representatives who work in accounting firms for both large and small. They even work for individuals, some of the most well-reputed corporations in the USA. Let’s determine how lucrative the career as an enrolled agent can be?

Working as an Enrolled Agent at one of the larger national tax firms won’t necessarily earn you as much as you might make at a more specialized regional or local brokerage. The big chains pay their more experienced Enrolled Agents between $20 and $30 per hour on average, which comes to between $40,000 and $50,000 annually. However, jobs posted for smaller regional agencies tend to pay higher. For instance, the range for some posted jobs in these types of companies is between $60,000 and $85,000. If you can not talk to the IRS on behalf of your clients, you may also lose them and with the IRS examinations on the rise, this is becoming more important.

Annual Salary for Enrolled Agents

The lowest average enrolled agent salary states are Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The most enrolled agent salary highly specialized Enrolled Agent probably isn’t going to be earning as much at a smaller organization as they could at a larger one. Some larger organizations pay their entry-level Enrolled Agents more than smaller organizations pay experienced Enrolled Agents. If you’re looking to speed up your salary gains in tax preparation, the best thing you can do is earn a professional designation, like the Enrolled Agent designation awarded by the IRS.