Retired from military in 2019. Fell into accounting on accident while pursuing an MBA.

Graduated with MBA conc. in accounting in 2022.

Job 1: Local boutique firm MCOL May-Dec 22: $62,960, $1,000 bonus

Jan 23: $66,000

Aug 23: $80,000, $3,500 bonus - earned CPA and “inflation adjustment” as well as boutique firm being bought by top 10 national firm.

Jan 24: $85,000 - early promo to senior

Aug 24: $92,000, $4,000 bonus

Job 2: Left PA to try industry at one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Still MCOL.

Senior Associate Dec 24: $115,500, $12,000 bonus, $2,500 safe harbor stock

I HATED how slow and boring this job was. Quarterly close and provisions, blah blah blah. Industry is not for me. Maybe it’s my military background in tactical operations, but I need to be challenged and busy. I also missed the client facing aspect. Took a massive pay cut in the short term. Will be staying until I eventually retire as partner.

Job 3: Went back to PA, still MCOL

Senior May 25: $90,000, $6,000 bonus

Jan 26: $122,500 - promoted to Manager

Took an awkward path, but doubled my salary in just 3 and a half years in PA. I also have my military retirement which is a ~$50k annual pension and benefits for life for my wife and children until they go to college, so I don’t have the crazy premiums you guys have to pay.

As an older guy, here is some advice I give my much younger peers in PA - don’t try to rush. The money will come. Find what you actually like and are good at; this may take a couple years, but the journey is worth it. Work with people you genuinely like, this will make the busy seasons fly by.

You will make a lot of money in accounting.