Investigates financial records to uncover fraud, trace hidden assets, and calculate damages for lawsuits and criminal cases. BLS does not publish separate figures for accountants and auditors; it counts them within accountant (SOC 13-2011), whose median pay is $83,680 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 13-2011
- Business and Financial Operations
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Forensic Accountant in four numbers
- Median pay
- $83,680a year, or $40.23/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $56KTop 10% $144K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.0%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 115,3001,595,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251.6M
- Projected 20351.7M
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1.6M Projected 2035 1.7M - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Forensic Accounting Investigator, Litigation Support Accountant, Forensic Auditor, Financial Forensics Consultant, Forensic Accounting Manager.
Pay
How much do Accountants and Auditors make?
Every forensic accountant in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$83,680
Middle half earn $67,020 to $109,810
- 10th
- $56,020
- 25th
- $67,020
- 75th
- $109,810
- 90th
- $144,090
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $56,020 |
| 25th | $67,020 |
| Median | $83,680 |
| 75th | $109,810 |
| 90th | $144,090 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $83,680
- Median hourly wage
- $40.23/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $94,750
- People employed
- 1,449,500
Versus all US occupations
At $83,680, Accountants and Auditors earn 64% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $32,700 a year.
Versus business and financial operations occupations
Inside the Business and Financial Operations group, where the middle occupation pays $80,730, this is 4% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $144,090 or more while the bottom 10% earn $56,020, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 64% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $111,530, and still leads at $101,482 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Accountants and Auditors the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $111,530 | $101,482 | 9,810 |
| 2New York | $102,640 | $95,107 | 109,830 |
| 3New Jersey | $100,830 | $92,670 | 42,250 |
| 4Massachusetts | $99,460 | $94,046 | 46,230 |
| 5Connecticut | $97,550 | $94,151 | 16,770 |
| 6California | $97,050 | $87,654 | 175,360 |
| 7Colorado | $97,030 | $94,156 | 35,410 |
| 8Washington | $96,550 | $90,223 | 34,740 |
| 9Rhode Island | $95,820 | $93,684 | 6,570 |
| 10Delaware | $95,020 | $95,203 | 6,570 |
Job outlook
Is Forensic Accountant a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | +5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Accountants and Auditors to change 5.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 79,400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 115,300 openings are projected each year, 7.2% of the 1,595,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Forensic Accountant
Most forensic accountants hold a bachelor's degree in accounting and become licensed CPAs after passing the Uniform CPA Exam and meeting state requirements. Many start in audit at an accounting firm before moving into a forensic or disputes practice.
The Certified Fraud Examiner credential from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and the Certified in Financial Forensics credential from the AICPA are the main specialty credentials. Some forensic accountants also earn valuation credentials. Federal agencies such as the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation hire accountants as special agents. Strong writing and the ability to explain complex findings simply are essential for expert testimony.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does a Forensic Accountant do?
Forensic accountants apply accounting skills to legal questions. They investigate suspected fraud, embezzlement and financial statement manipulation, trace funds through bank accounts and shell companies, and reconstruct records that have been hidden or destroyed.
Much of the work supports litigation. Forensic accountants calculate economic damages in contract disputes, value businesses in divorces and shareholder disputes, and analyze lost profits after insurance claims. They write expert reports, help attorneys prepare questions for depositions, and testify as expert witnesses in court. Others work in government agencies, investigating financial crimes alongside law enforcement.
Day-to-day tasks
- Investigate suspected fraud and financial misconduct
- Trace funds through bank records and corporate entities
- Calculate economic damages and lost profits
- Interview employees and witnesses during investigations
- Write expert reports for attorneys and courts
- Testify as an expert witness at depositions and trials
- Recommend internal controls to prevent future fraud
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Forensic accountants work at accounting and consulting firms, law firms, insurers and government agencies. Most work is office based, with travel to client sites, depositions and court. Deadlines tied to trials and investigations can bring long hours, and the work requires discretion and comfort with conflict.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Active Listening3.5
- Writing3.5
- Critical Thinking3.5
- Speaking3.4
- Mathematics3.4
- Active Learning3.3
- Monitoring3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Active Listening | 3.5 |
| Writing | 3.5 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 |
| Speaking | 3.4 |
| Mathematics | 3.4 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5
- Social Perceptiveness3.3
- Persuasion3.1
- Service Orientation3.1
- Time Management3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Negotiation2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.5 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.5 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.3 |
| Persuasion | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Negotiation | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Forensic Accountant?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ICE) built on O*NET's Accountant profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Forensic Accountant |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 7 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Conventional7.0
- Investigative4.6
- Enterprising4.5
- Social2.1
- Realistic1.1
- Artistic1.1
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Forensic Accountant
O*NET related occupations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Office and Administrative Support
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk
$50,670median a year
Most earn $36K to $75K
−5.6%Some college - Business and Financial Operations
- Management
- Business and Financial Operations
- Management
More business and financial operations careers
Median annual pay, with accountants and auditors highlighted
- Financial Advisor$105,070
- Accountant$83,680
- Forensic Accountant$83,680
- Insurance Underwriter$81,370
- Coroner$80,730
- Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator$78,000
- Loan Officer$76,690
- Human Resources Specialist$75,940
- Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate$67,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Financial Advisor | $105,070 |
| Accountant | $83,680 |
| Forensic Accountant | $83,680 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $81,370 |
| Coroner | $80,730 |
| Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator | $78,000 |
| Loan Officer | $76,690 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 |
| Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate | $67,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Forensic Accountant appears on
Questions
Forensic Accountant: frequently asked questions
How much do Accountants and Auditors make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for accountants and auditors. It counts them within accountant, whose median pay is $83,680 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $67,020 and $109,810, and the top 10% earn $144,090 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Forensic Accountant?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Accountants and Auditors, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation.
Is Forensic Accountant a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.0% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 115,300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Forensic Accountant do?
Forensic accountants apply accounting skills to legal questions. A typical task: investigate suspected fraud and financial misconduct. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Analytical or scientific software, Business intelligence and data analysis software.
Which states pay Accountants and Auditors the most?
The highest state medians for Accountants and Auditors are District of Columbia ($111,530), New York ($102,640), New Jersey ($100,830) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Forensic Accountant?
O*NET scores Accountants and Auditors highest on the Conventional, Investigative and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESTJ, ISTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.