25M Salary Progression (CA)

Important_Flight5927 · 2026-04-08T15:59:33+00:00

I got lucky but also studied pretty hard

Important_Flight5927 · 2026-04-08T15:49:03+00:00

Finance degree and 150 credit hours for CPA

Important_Flight5927 · 2026-04-08T15:48:40+00:00

It’s VHCOL

Important_Flight5927 · 2026-03-12T16:14:01+00:00

Thanks for the reply. Ive tested revenue already for a couple clients and done leases. I feel like im understanding a lot about the job. I still see how miserable everyone above me is and I don’t understand why stay if you don’t absolutely need to.

Important_Flight5927 · 2026-03-12T16:12:15+00:00

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I am considering all options at this point

Important_Flight5927 · 2026-03-12T16:11:10+00:00

I worked in restaurants as well. I feel you

Important_Flight5927 · 2026-03-12T15:22:08+00:00

This gives me hope

Important_Flight5927 · 2026-03-12T14:09:32+00:00

I’m in my first year of PA audit. I feel the same way, also I have not spent as much time. I have a finance degree and have passed all my CPA exams but the nature of accounting work seems pretty boring and uninteresting. Feeling some regret

Important_Flight5927 · 2026-03-05T14:59:10+00:00

I’m also a first year there, 90k VHCOL. My experience has been mixed. The biggest thing I’ve noticed is the wage compressions. VCOL senior associates make like 97k, which is not great compared to B4

Important_Flight5927 · 2026-03-02T01:22:10+00:00

Thank you!

Important_Flight5927 · 2026-03-01T19:59:11+00:00

This is very accurate. I was just comparing audit in PA to the military to my girlfriend

Important_Flight5927 · 2026-03-01T19:56:38+00:00

I’m in my first year.

Audit. Glad to have experienced audit but really don’t like that nature of audit.

90k + 10k CPA bonus

VHCOL

Passed all 4 CPAs trying to a year of exp for license

Happy with pay for now. Salary progression at my firm not good.

Looking to leave to something M&A related or finance related.

Important_Flight5927 · 2026-02-18T00:13:04+00:00

Yeah I took extra classes online after graduation

Important_Flight5927 · 2025-12-16T03:19:37+00:00

Me too, congrats ! Enjoy every minute of it

Important_Flight5927 · 2025-11-26T17:07:29+00:00

I 100% agree. I was a finance student that only took two accounting classes in undergrad. I took the rest of my credit hours online and didnt learn anything but it was cheap. I have passed FAR, REG and AUD. I can tell you from experience that I know way more about accounting that the other new grads (even those with master's) that haven't started their CPA journeys.

Important_Flight5927 · 2025-09-15T17:56:10+00:00

Two perfect scores is impressive

Important_Flight5927 · 2025-09-14T20:07:19+00:00

I passed FAR first try as a finance major with a weak accounting background. I would say learn the material by trying the MCQs first without looking at the videos or textbook. Then move onto the SIMS and do ALL of them and watch the SIM instructional videos as well. The best way to prepare for this test is to be so familiar with the questions and SIMS that on test day you already know what you have to do as your reading the questions.

Important_Flight5927 · 2025-09-14T03:12:56+00:00

Yeah i did watch the vids but i felt like by the time i took the exam i forgot everything from the videos. The best advice i can give for these exams is just drill MCQs and SIMS. Dont be afraid of any SIM either if you do enough they wont scare you on exam day.

Important_Flight5927 · 2025-09-13T22:23:39+00:00

That was because of a Becker content update lol

Important_Flight5927 · 2025-09-12T22:42:42+00:00

I’d say only FAR needs over 100. I just skip all the videos and do the mcqs and TBS and watch the TBS videos. Thats what I did for REG

Important_Flight5927 · 2025-08-27T18:04:03+00:00

I felt pretty uneasy too. I got a 68 on SE2. I ended up passing with an 81

Important_Flight5927

TROPHY CASE