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Despite the severe partisanship of the current administration and the government shutdowns that have been occurring on an infrequent basis over the last decade, government jobs are still a much sought after resource for Americans struggling to find a well-paying, stable job in their chosen career field. Unfortunately, securing a job in the public sector is becoming more and more difficult for those without a college education.
Higher Education = Higher Demand
The U.S. Government has myriad responsibilities that it delegates to millions of civil service employees throughout the country. Regardless of individual job responsibilities, one thing remains clear for anyone seeking a job with the government: there will always be a high demand for well-educated, intelligent, hard-working people. Do these government jobs pay well? USA Today reported in 2010 that federal employees earned an average of $7,000 more than people employed in the private sector. At that time, the average income of a federal employee for jobs that exist in both the private and public sectors averaged $67,691 – and that’s not counting the value of benefits such as health insurance and paid vacation.
Will Having a College Degree Guarantee Employment in the Public Sector?
A college degree, regardless of the institution granting it, will never guarantee employment – in the public sector or otherwise. Nevertheless, a degree does grant its holder a distinct advantage over the competition. What a college degree does guarantee is consideration for higher-level positions that invariably offer a much higher income than jobs that don’t require a higher education. Like on-the-job experience, a degree shows potential employers – including the federal government – that you can stick with something to completion and that you have the requisite knowledge to handle the requirements of a specific job.
Crunching the Numbers
There’s really no question that an accountant with a college education can find a good job in the ranks of the civil service. The only question that remains is what kind of compensation you can expect as an accountant working in the public sector.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants and auditors earn a median income of $63,550 annually in the private sector as of May 2012. By contrast, an accountant employed by the federal executive branch earn a median income of $90,560 annually.
Considering that the average tuition for a bachelor’s degree is $60,560 and assuming tuition rate increases as modest as this year’s 2.9 percent, it doesn’t take an accounting major to realize that investing in a college education is a smart move, especially if you intend to go to work for the federal government.
Can you get a good government job with a degree in accounting?
With good grades on your transcript, some valuable real-world experience in the form of internships or summer jobs, and a positive attitude, yes, a degree in accounting can give you the opportunity to work for the government of one of the greatest nations in the history of modern civilization. It can also provide you with the foundational knowledge needed to pursue a Master’s degree in Business Administration to further boost your earning power. The sky is the limit.