Massive STEM vs. Trades Thread. (Dumping Ground for Garbage)(srs)

[TrueBromance]

Cant you become a cpa without an accounting degree in the US?

Systems completely different here

[trapgodFLEX]

Accounting is one of the most versatile and adaptive majors out there, but you must have a huge interest in business to do it, if you don't love business you will rot with boredom, so be careful.

yea i would say i am pretty interested in the corporate world..
i have absolutley 0 interest in STEM, so i think i would rot harder, doing all that work in school, for an extra 20-30k per year. but the monies is nice starting out

If misc threads make you question your career choice it's a good thing you aren't a tradesman, you would of killed yourself by now.

fukk all my friends that didnt go to college are going the traderoute...
can see the glow leaving them now at 22 nigas look like they are 30 srs

[buzkil]

Cant you become a cpa without an accounting degree in the US?

Systems completely different here

Might just need the required accounting courses.

[Polaris]

Cant you become a cpa without an accounting degree in the US?

Systems completely different here

Yeah, however (it varies by state) but you typically need 24+ accounting credits as well as 150 total college credits. Depending on the state there maybe be even more specific criteria. You dont specifically need an accounting degree per say though.

[trapgodFLEX]

Yeah, however (it varies by state) but you typically need 24+ accounting credits as well as 150 total college credits. Depending on the state there maybe be even more specific criteria. You dont specifically need an accounting degree per say though.

i think for sure you need at least a bachelors degree to become a CPA

[bestbuyy]

do accounting

[AtomicVeggie]

fuk brah what degree do you have??

and do you recommend sticking with one company and trying to progress to CFO,
or once you get promoted.. keep working for a bit to get that experience on your resume, then switch jobs?
like once you go from staff- senior, switch jobs and try to level up at new job? so you dont work for the same company the rest of your life?
what about 401k plans?

I was a finance major at a poverty state university. Worked in the field for a while and switched to recruiting because I don't have the personality of an analyst so I recruit accounting folks now. As to the career progression, no, the likelihood of leveling up to CFO in one company is minuscule because you basically will have to wait for people to leave and that may never happen. Stay in one position 2-3 years before you switch companies. Job hopping is poison on a resume (meaning a bunch of positions less than one year). Be patient, look to move up internally if you can after a couple of years, but if you can't, get the fuk out.

[TwoHumpChump]

yea but you live in canada so the job market is different than in the US....

idk man im in my 2nd year at community college about to transfer to uni

im currently on track to an accounting degree but wantt to switch to computer science...
will graduate at 24 with accounting degree, would it be worth it to go for the CS degreee and graduate at 26?

Do whichever one you will enjoy doing for the next 40 years. Every day.

2 years Doesnt make a difference. Once your in a career; more often than not your stuck for the rest of your life. So you better choose whichever one you'll enjoy.

[Polaris]

i think for sure you need at least a bachelors degree to become a CPA

You need more than that. My point is, you can meet the requirements without specifically majoring (or getting a Masters) in accounting. You need to take numerous Accounting courses though obviously.

[DrunkPanda18]

Why are all the accountant average salaries 50-70k from what I can see. Unless you are running the entire show

Maybe because you suck? Who cares what the average salary is. If you have any ambition, you should be setting your goals above "average". I'm an accountant and was making more than $70k, 2 years after I graduated. I also know accountants that were in the industry for 10+ years that still don't make $70k.

No one's going to just start throwing money at you for having an accounting degree, but it's very possible to make a hell of a lot more than $70k relatively quickly, if you play you cards right and have ambition

[fj123]

FUKING LOL


about the biggest losers one can find, most guys in the finance departments could very well be labeled as convicted rapists and have everyone believe it, skinny twigs that get no pussy


brb doing mindless drone sht, day in, day out, all day, tradies of the corporate world

accounting and finance departments are usually separate fella, though very closely related

[LaCosaNostra90]

Maybe because you suck? Who cares what the average salary is. If you have any ambition, you should be setting your goals above "average". I'm an accountant and was making more than $70k, 2 years after I graduated. I also know accountants that were in the industry for 10+ years that still don't make $70k.

No one's going to just start throwing money at you for having an accounting degree, but it's very possible to make a hell of a lot more than $70k relatively quickly, if you play you cards right and have ambition

oh thanks for clearing that up my accountant overlord. 70k a year wow big money sorry just a commoner here. Good day

[forthenoodz]

Chit money, mind numbing work, terrible hours, not prestigious. OP is correct, Gtfo if you have any ounce of ambition.

I started in accounting and leaving that crap was the best decision I ever made. Now making multiples more than my former coworkers, faster career progression, more interesting and challenging work, and better hours. (Tech)

this. it's a stable job, but stupid hours for the pay and the **** work

[DrunkPanda18]

oh thanks for clearing that up my accountant overlord. 70k a year wow big money sorry just a commoner here. Good day

lol. Reading comprehension of peace... my point was that the "average" salary doesn't mean anything, since I was able to surpass the top of your range after only 2 years of working.... btw, I said I was making MORE than 70k two years into my career, I used that as a reference point since that's the number you said was the top of the range. I was actually making 75k at the time, to be specific, I'm making significantly more than that now (I didn't mention that before as it should have been an obvious implication)... what, did you assume my salary just completely stagnated, 2 years into my career? But who was logic?

Just LOL @ you for thinking an accountant's salary reaches its cap, 2 years into their career.

And I'm not trying to brag about my money, I'm just countering your ridiculous argument that accountants can't make any money. The controller at my old company (accountant) was in his 40s and he received stock bonuses worth millions, every year (publically traded company, so his compensation was disclosed)

[Shortstop36]

People who go to school for business are retarded. BRB gonna start a business and make mad money (people do this without going to school). Have fun getting a job when you need experience at the entry level lulz. STEM>TRAdies>Business majors

[supersystem3]

Lmao marketing/sales are the tradies of the white colar world.

"Hit my sales quotas last year, base pay 90k with another 200k in commissions, spend my weeks trying to shove products down peoples throats who don't need them life is so great! Brb my 300/hr hooker is calling and needs diaper money"

[DeBaie]

Accounting brah checking in.

[nickboy333]

Accountants & lawyers might not have the most interesting thought provoking professions in the world, but they are needed and depending on your personality you might be very good at that job.

Stop complaining about what other people do OP, it just shows insecurity.

Not everyone is cut out to be a sales person or other such job.

[PrivilegeCheker]

Sloots in finance are super easy
That's all I know

Sloots

Super easy



Pick two.

[GunsGoldGirls]

I actually wish I took some accounting classes (the useful ones) knowing how to move money is useful

[i3oosted]

30k-80k a year isn't big bucks, at all

location: Canada

[Reecebrah]

Thats exactly whats going on. Have you not realized every theme as of late parallel the journey young adulthood. Every trend stems from the minds and habits of anxious 18-25 year olds.

frywithsuspiciouseyes.jpg

[vash1789]

I'm an electrician in Alberta. Not going to touch this argument because who gives a ****. It depends on the person and their personality. I like my job, it pays pretty well, and it teaches me a lot of life skills like using tools. I'm not afraid to work on my own vehicles or house, so that saves me a lot of future money in maintenance. I'm saving 25% for an income property while paying off my mortgage. I plan to retire with a portfolio of rental properties that I renovated myself. I'm torn whether to go into future business as a general contractor or an electrical contractor or simply stay working as a foreman which is where I'll be in a few years. You can make a good life as a construction foreman and move into an office as a project manager. Did I mention all our office staff make 6 figures from safety officers to project managers, to sales staff and estimators? Oh the only requirement, is a journeyman ticket in electrical, NOT a university degree.

Say what you want , but in reality, engineers will always end up in the project manager positions a lot quicker than you tradesmen.

Source: I'm an engineer in Alberta

[DTRrex]

"Accounting" is so broad.

Salary averages are held down by the fact that a lot of times people that do payroll and ap/ar or book-keeping are considered "accountants".

Furthermore, accountants start off with "lower" salaries, but climb quickly. So when you figure that, statistically, people with years into accounting leave the profession, and people who do well move onto higher level non accounting roles like controller, finance director, fp&a director, cfo, ceo, etc... The data isn't really indicative of adequate representation.

Nearly every person I know with an accounting degree that isn't an idiot with over 5 years experience is nearing or over 100k. Anyone with 10+ years is decently over 100k. A lot of people I've worked with pulling down north of 250k are from an accounting background.

The reality is, accounting is what you make of it. I have been 100k+ for a few years now.... Doing somewhat interesting stuff like fp&a, decision analysis, asset management, etc.... It's not what I would call interesting work but the stereotype assigned to accounting background individuals is largely unfounded these days.

I've worked for some pretty major companies and all CFOs started as accountants and half of CEOs started there. I make more than all my "stem" friends with the exception of the guys that had math and stats degrees and went into banking. Engineer salaries are a joke without an MBA.... And I spent years working for a firm that specializes in large scale engineering.

Reality is, all things considered (pay, upward mobility, salary potential, title potential) a decently ambitious accountant is at the top of that. No board of directors looking for a ceo or cfo wants a stem major that can create algorithms or do differential equations in their sleep if they have fck all business aptitude.

If you want money and prestige be a doctor. Or go to s top law school and get into big law. Or go to a target school and into investment banking. Or, the most practical way with the least hours and stress..... Be an accountant, get a cpa, spend 10 years making ~ 100k. Prove yourself, expand your horizon beyond accounting, make 150k as a controller, then get an MBA and find yourself as vp of finance or cfo at 250-500k. It's a longer path but an easier one with way way way more stability.

All that being said, many are right that accounting folks are overlooked and underappreciated and sht on in the office (non public accounting). Prestige in accounting is a joke... It's unfortunate because a good accountant is worth their weight in gold, but no one gives a damn about you (but they'll never fire you because you're vital).... Just won't get your recognition. Hence why the good ones end up directors or C suite.

[JRJester]

lol. Reading comprehension of peace... my point was that the "average" salary doesn't mean anything, since I was able to surpass the top of your range after only 2 years of working.... btw, I said I was making MORE than 70k two years into my career, I used that as a reference point since that's the number you said was the top of the range. I was actually making 75k at the time, to be specific, I'm making significantly more than that now (I didn't mention that before as it should have been an obvious implication)... what, did you assume my salary just completely stagnated, 2 years into my career? But who was logic?

Just LOL @ you for thinking an accountant's salary reaches its cap, 2 years into their career.

And I'm not trying to brag about my money, I'm just countering your ridiculous argument that accountants can't make any money. The controller at my old company (accountant) was in his 40s and he received stock bonuses worth millions, every year (publically traded company, so his compensation was disclosed)

you're talking about outliers. Most accountants won't make much more than 100k/year, and it generally takes a lot longer to get there than a lot of other professions. 4 year degree, plus 2 year designation, just to make an average salary doing something boring af?

It isn't all about money anyhow. Accounting is so unfulfilling. There's way easier/more fun ways to break the 6 figure mark, without being some soulless accounting drone.

The people who go into accounting because they think it's a fast ticket to wealth are the ones who burn out the fastest.

[NumberOneStunna]

I'm an accountant. This was my salary progression without bonus which is usually btw 10-20%. Also doesn't include other compensation for bringing in client which is 10% of billings.

Yr1 50k
Yr2 57.5k
Yr3 80k after designation and promoted to manager
Yr4 95k
Yr5 110k with bonus 143k.

I should be promoted to senior manager end of this year which would put me over 150k.

It's all about what value you can create and the area you specialize. I specialize in tax. Billing rate is 290/hr. Manage $850k of billings.

[JRJester]

I'm an accountant. This was my salary progression without bonus which is usually btw 10-20%. Also doesn't include other compensation for bringing in client which is 10% of billings.

Yr1 50k
Yr2 57.5k
Yr3 80k after designation and promoted to manager
Yr4 95k
Yr5 110k with bonus 143k.

I should be promoted to senior manager end of this year which would put me over 150k.

It's all about what value you can create and the area you specialize. I specialize in tax. Billing rate is 290/hr. Manage $850k of billings.

tbh accountants don't really add any TRUE value to society. This to me is the worst part of the profession.

btw you also need to state the hours you worked as to not mislead all these accounting major would-be's. This isn't 9-5. In public practice, one you work out your wage per hour it's poverty AF

[shortys408]

Can make serious money in public accounting. But you need to do more than sit behind a desk and crunch numbers. You need to become a rain maker and you need to be entrepreneurial.

It is easy to invest with clients, or even just be given equity as an advisor. Over a few years you can build up multiple sources of income.

[CHARBACK]

typed in cpa salary into google came up at 60k

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/...t_(CPA)/Salary

[JRJester]

Can make serious money in public accounting. But you need to do more than sit behind a desk and crunch numbers. You need to become a rain maker and you need to be entrepreneurial.

It is easy to invest with clients, or even just be given equity as an advisor. Over a few years you can build up multiple sources of income.

ya but you trade your life for your career. There's a reason public practice has such a huge attrition rate. Money isn't everything. Learn this when you're young. You don't want to be one of those burned out 50 somethings who's on their third marriage and who's kids hate them. **** like this is a dime a dozen in public practice lol.