Accountants and auditors
SOC Code: 13-2011
Accountants and auditors carries a 87% AI exposure score (Very High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $81,680 and +4.6% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 1,579,800 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 87% AI exposure, Accountants and auditors sits 50 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - among the most AI-exposed occupations tracked. It is one of just 21 occupations above the 70% high-exposure line.
Where Accountants and auditors sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Accountants and auditors has ai exposure of 87%. Distribution: 1 occupations at 0-10%; 43 occupations at 10-20%; 184 occupations at 20-30%; 332 occupations at 30-40%; 158 occupations at 40-50%; 64 occupations at 50-60%; 29 occupations at 60-70%; 15 occupations at 70-80%; 5 occupations at 80-90%; 1 occupations at 90-100%.
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Accountants and auditors vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Accountants and auditors is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Accountants and auditors (SOC 13-2011) carries an AI exposure score of 87%, placing it in the Very High automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score above 70% signals that the majority of core duties are already technically automatable, workers in these roles face the steepest near-term displacement pressure.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 1,579,800 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +4.6% change through 2034 - modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $81,680, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Bachelor's degree, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Accountants and auditors. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.
- 2. Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes in operations and financial activities.
- 3. Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.
- 4. Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
- 5. Supervise auditing of establishments, and determine scope of investigation required.
- 6. Confer with company officials about financial and regulatory matters.
- 7. Examine and evaluate financial and information systems, recommending controls to ensure system reliability and data integrity.
- 8. Inspect cash on hand, notes receivable and payable, negotiable securities, and canceled checks to confirm records are accurate.
- 9. Examine records and interview workers to ensure recording of transactions and compliance with laws and regulations.
- 10. Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.
Key Skills Required
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Monitoring
- Complex Problem Solving
- Mathematics
- Coordination
Knowledge Areas
- Economics and Accounting
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Law and Government
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Education and Training
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Accountants and auditors?
Accountants and auditors has an AI exposure score of 87%, indicating a very high level of automation risk. Many tasks in this role involve routine data processing and pattern recognition that current AI systems can perform.
What is the job outlook for Accountants and auditors?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Accountants and auditors is projected to grow by 4.6% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 1,579,800 workers.
What skills are needed for Accountants and auditors?
Key skills for Accountants and auditors include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, and others. Typical entry-level education is Bachelor's degree.
How much do Accountants and auditors earn?
The median annual wage for Accountants and auditors is $81,680, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Accountants and auditors?
The typical entry-level education for Accountants and auditors is Bachelor's degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Accountants and auditors?
Accountants and auditors roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Very High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A majority of tasks in this occupation are susceptible to AI automation.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
Explore More on PlainWorkforce
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).