The earning potential of BC CPAs

By CPABC in Focus
Jan 31, 2024
Photo credit: ismagilov/iStock/Getty Images

This content was originally published as an infographic in the January/February 2024 issue of CPABC in Focus. The article below is a text-only, web-accessible version.


How much do British Columbia’s CPAs make?

As CPA Canada’s 2023 Canadian CPA Profession Compensation Study indicates, the answer continues to vary by location, industry sector, years of experience, and position. This infographic features some median compensation results for BC.

Median compensation = $131,000

By census metropolitan area:

  1. Abbotsford-Mission: $142,000
  2. Vancouver $138,000
  3. Kamloops $125,000
  4. Vernon $123,000
  5. Victoria $122,000

By industry:

  1. Mining $176,000
  2. Professional services (not public practice) $173,000
  3. Financial services $170,000
  4. Agriculture/forestry/fisheries $152,000
  5. Retail/wholesale $145,000

By years of post-designation work experience:

  • 25+ years $182,000
  • 20-24 years $160,000
  • 15-19 years $150,000
  • 10-14 years $136,000
  • 5-9 years $116,000
  • 3-4 years $105,000
  • 0-3 years $87,000

By job title:

  • Partner $300,000
  • Vice-president $217,000
  • Chief financial officer $195,000
  • Sole practitioner $175,000
  • Senior manager $137,000
  • Controller/comptroller $125,000
  • Manager $109,000
  • Senior auditor/accountant $85,000

Data source: CPA Canada, 2023 Canadian CPA Profession Compensation Study Report: British Columbia prepared by NielsenIQ, summer 2023. The study survey was conducted between June 20 and July 17, 2023; 1,576 BC CPAs participated. See the full report.