SOC 2421 Business, media and public service professionals

Chartered and certified accountants Salary

Median salary £45,538 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £46,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For chartered and certified accountants, £50,062 is the typical (median) pay. That is well above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +28% versus the national average. Experienced chartered and certified accountants (top 25%) earn over £64,223.

About this role

Chartered and certified accountants prepare, examine and analyse financial records, ensuring accuracy and compliance with statutory requirements. They provide financial advice, prepare tax returns, conduct audits and support organisations in managing their financial obligations.

Key responsibilities

Preparing and analysing financial statements and management accounts
Ensuring compliance with accounting standards and tax legislation
Conducting internal or external audits
Providing financial advice to clients or management
Preparing tax computations and returns

Qualifications and entry routes

Requires a professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, AAT for technician level). A degree in accounting, finance or a related field is typical. Ongoing CPD is mandatory.

Career outlook

Steady demand. MTD (Making Tax Digital) and increasing regulatory complexity are driving demand for technically skilled professionals.

Key skills

Financial analysis Attention to detail Regulatory knowledge Analytical thinking Communication

Common industries

Accounting firms
Financial services
All corporate sectors
Public sector
Non-profit

Data coverage

SOC code 2421

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 75,000

Median Salary

£45,538

Mean Salary

£50,563

Jobs (000s)

75k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £33,974Median: £45,538P75: £64,223

P10: £23kP25: £34kMedian: £46kP75: £64kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£23,274

0-2 years

Mid Level

£33,974

3-7 years

Senior

£64,223

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +176% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +26.5%Real growth: -8.3%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 14.8%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£45,538

Full-time Only

£50,062

Full-time premium: +£4,524

Chartered and certified accountants salary: common questions

How much do chartered and certified accountants earn in the UK?

Chartered and certified accountants earn a median of £50,062 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £33,974 and £64,223.

Is £50,062 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for chartered and certified accountants?

Entry-level chartered and certified accountants typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £33,974, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £23,274.

Have chartered and certified accountants salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median chartered and certified accountants pay has risen from £38,413 to £50,062 — +30% in cash terms, or -6.0% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for chartered and certified accountants?

Male chartered and certified accountants earn a median £49,142 and female chartered and certified accountants £41,866 — a gap of +15% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).