What Does a Tax Specialist Do? 2025 Career Guide

However, senior-level professionals have a very lucrative pay scale, which may go up to $132,000 annually. But a minimum of five years of experience is required for this kind of salary structure, which comes with huge responsibility. In the Pacific Northwest, where tech and trees reign, Seattle enrolled agents earn anywhere from $49,275 and $68,692.

Employment Opportunities for Enrolled Agents

Therefore, as with the lion’s share of the small accounting agencies out there, specialization is key. Consequently, building a reputation as the tax expert in town (and the tax law expert) can really help your career. Additionally, because enrolled agents are federally designated, they can work in any state in the country. And, with the increased convenience and reliability of telecommuting technology, a small firm can serve clients nationwide.

Average Salary

Plus, the EA designation signals a high level of expertise that will cement your status as a valuable expert on tax topics. Chicago’s median salary for enrolled agents is actually lower than that of the rest of the country, according to Payscale’s data. Current job postings in Chicago reveal an EA salary range from around $55,000 per year to over 6 figures. What’s more, the median pay for enrolled agents in Denver is in line with the U.S. median at almost $54,000. Yet, in the mile-high city, over half of the EA salary figures posted are above $112,000 annually. And while they say everything’s bigger in Texas, this statement doesn’t necessarily hold true for Dallas enrolled agent salaries.

The Enrolled Agent Salary: Our Guide to EA Salaries

Your education and experience level, as well as any other certifications you hold, also affect the size of your Certified Bookkeeper enrolled agent salary. And another factor that makes a significant difference is the type of employer for whom you choose to work. According to Indeed.com, over half of the enrolled agent jobs in Atlanta pay more than 6 figures. Therefore, the EA salary range in that city is a little lower, with the average salary about $51,560. If you’re planning to start your own book of business, then earning the enrolled agent designation is a great way to differentiate yourself from the bulk of your competitors.

However, it is vastly cheaper than that of preparing and sitting for the EA exam, and takes much less time to complete. This in turn makes you a more popular choice compared to your peers when it comes to a potential client looking for a tax professional. I am the author of How to Pass The CPA Exam (published by Wiley) and the publisher of this and several accounting professional exam prep sites. Finally, after passing the exams, the candidate can apply for the enrolment and pay the fee online.

Enrolled agent salary numbers in Los Angeles show that about half of the jobs available pay in the six-figure range. And finally, salary numbers for enrolled agent jobs in San Diego range from $48,192 and $67,183. It has become a lucrative career option with a combination of technical expertise and oversight by the Federal government. The enrolled agent course offers a wide range of services to clients, quite close to the level of a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and lawyer.

Wage gap by gender, race and education

• Working as an enrolled agent at one of the larger national tax firms won’t necessarily earn you as much as you might make at a more specialized regional or local brokerage.
• Salaries range from $44,900 to $73,600.The average Enrolled Agent Hourly Wage is $20.00 per hour.
• The first is by passing the Special Enrollment Examination (SEE), which has 3 parts.
• Becoming an EA is one of the best investments you can make in your career as a tax preparer.
• An enrolled agent’s salary ranges from $22,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $54,000 at the 90th percentile.

Self-employed enrolled agents who operate their own accounting agencies can expect more earnings than their counterparts at large brokerages and corporations. At a median of over $53,000, the salary for an independent enrolled agent is not bad. Furthermore, when you consider the lack of an upper limit on your earning potential, the idea of self-employment becomes very attractive.

• The duties of the enrolled agent for IRS can be categorized under three heads, personal, client, and duty to tax administration.
• Tax specialist salary depends on factors like education, skills, location, industry, and company.
• To gain this status, the candidate needs to clear the Special Enrolment Examination (SEE) as a part of the enrolled agent qualification.
• The highest paying types of enrolled agents are insurance broker, licensed insurance producer, and insurance producer.
• The highest-paying cities for enrolled agents are Green Bay, WI, San Francisco, CA, and Southfield, MI.

For example, a small enrolled agent-run firm in rural Nevada could expertly serve clients in New York, California, or Alabama. Therefore, the ability to expand your client base beyond state borders is an advantage enrolled agents have over CPAs. The geographic location of employment can considerably impact a tax specialist’s salary.