Quick Summary
- A Chartered Accountant is a professional financial expert who helps businesses with accounting, auditing, and financial management.
- The salary of a CA is 10.5 lakh per annum on average.
- CA skills include financial skills, analysis ability and knowledge of regulations.
Table of Contents
The salary of a Chartered Accountant or CA in India is a very popular topic among commerce students. The majority of students from a commerce background aspire to take chartered accountancy as a dream career. Every year, more than 1 lakh students join the Chartered Accountancy Institute – ICAI. One of the chief reasons that drives such a huge number of students is the salary of a chartered accountant in India.
The Salary of a Chartered Accountant in India is considered one of the highest paid, the reason behind this is their evergreen demand and the type of work they do. The average chartered accountant’s salary is around 10.5 lakhs per annum, but with experience, it can go up to 15-20 LPA.
However, getting such a CA salary in India requires you to be an expert in the work you are doing. Preparation for this starts from the school itself and clearing the CA exam is the final stage of becoming CA. Then you need to apply for a good paying CA job.
Role of a Chartered Accountant
Chartered accountants are the accounting professionals of an organization. They hold an important role in the finance and accounting field. The CA regulates and manages the financial operations of a business enterprise and keeps an eye to find the deficiencies in the financial structure of a company.
They carry out several tasks, such as preparing books of accounts, capital budgeting, tax planning, budget forecasting, etc.
Chartered accountants also contribute to the fields like auditing and assurance, management accounting, financial accounting, and reporting. The efficiency of operating these works generally determines the salary of a chartered accountant in India.
Salary of a Chartered Accountant in India
The salary of a Chartered Accountant in India depends upon various factors like the company they work for, industry, geographical factors and experiences etc. Here you will get to know how various factors affect the salary of a Chartered Accountant in India.
1. CA Salary in India- Experience Based
As a fresher, you might have less amount of salary. With the gradual increase in the experience, the salary increases too.
| Years of Experience | Average Salary (in INR) |
| 0- 2 Years | 7 LPA |
| 3- 5 Years | 7.5 LPA |
| 6-8 Years | 9 LPA |
| 9 or more | 11 LPA |
Source: Ambition Box
2. CA Salary in India- Private Sector
The big MNCs and various companies provide a good salary for employees appointed as their CA. Those companies are as follows:
| Company | Average Salary (in INR) |
| Ernst & Young | 13.9 LPA |
| Deloitte | 18.6 LPA |
| KPMG | 19.4 LPA |
| Wipro | 10.8 LPA |
| Reliance Industries | 17.1 LPA |
Source: Ambition Box
3. CA Salary in India- Government Sector
The Government Sector provides numerous job opportunities for a Chartered Accountant to work for the Government established institutions. You can refer them for the analysis of a CA salary.
| Company | Average Salary (in INR) |
| State Bank of India (SBI) | 1-14 LPA |
| Institute Of Chartered Accountants | 1-6 LPA |
| ONGC | 16-19 LPA |
| CSPDCL | 3-4 LPA |
| Canara Bank | 1-2 LPA |
Source: Ambition Box
4. Salary of a Chartered Accountant in Different Cities
With states and their different tax regulations, CA’s are paid based on their location. This plays a major role towards the salary factor.
| Cities | Average Salary (in INR) |
| Delhi | 11 LPA |
| Bengaluru | 11.5 LPA |
| Gurugram | 11.6 LPA |
| Kolkata | 11.9 LPA |
| Mumbai | 11.1 LPA |
Source: Ambition Box
5. Salary of a Chartered Accountant based on Skills
There is a difference in the salary of a Chartered Accountant in India based on skills. Here are some of the skills that a CA is hired for.
| Skills | Average Salary(in INR) |
| Financial Reporting | 8.2 LPA |
| Budget Management | 12 LPA |
| Auditing | 7 LPA |
| Strategic Accounts | 13.5 LPA |
| SAP Financial Accounting and Controlling | 8 LPA |
| Account Management | 7.5 LPA |
6. CA Salary based on Job Profile
A CA is highly qualified and has experience in other roles as well. They are hired in some of the job profiles listed below.
| Job Profile | Average Salary(in INR) |
| Finance Controller | 24.5 LPA |
| Finance Manager | 16.8 LPA |
| Business Analyst | 4 LPA |
| Finance Officer | 5 LPA |
| Senior Account Executive | 4.8 LPA |
Source: Ambition Box
How to Become a Chartered Accountant?
The chartered accountancy certification is offered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). To enroll in the CA program, candidates must fulfil the eligibility criteria and clear the respective exams.
CA Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for pursuing the CA course are as follows:
- Candidates who have passed their 10+2 or equivalent examination are eligible for the CA course.
- Besides, graduates are also eligible provided they secured a minimum aggregate of 55%, if from the commerce stream or 60% for other streams.
To be a chartered accountant, one has to clear some milestones in the form of exams which are mentioned below:
- CA Common Proficiency Test (CPT) or CA Foundation
- CA Intermediate
- Articleship
- CA Final
After clearing the final exam, one can be certified as a chartered accountant by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
Scope of Chartered Accountant (CA)
The chartered accountancy course is designed for students who want to delve deeper into the finance and accounting domain. The course imparts in-depth knowledge of accounting and taxation and trains them to deal with real-world problems.
The scope of CA is pervasive that is it is not limited to any particular working sector. Chartered accountants can work in several national and international business firms. You can also get employed in various government institutions or start offering your services as an entrepreneur.
How to get paid the Highest CA Salary
The following points can enable a CA to get paid the highest salary of a chartered accountant in India.
- Try to secure a rank in the CA exam. Getting a rank can increase your chances of employment. Also, you can get recruited to the top companies.
- Have impeccable knowledge of the concepts. The knowledge and skills of a CA influence their salary. Your starting salary may not be high but by having excellent knowledge you can easily grow and get a higher salary package within a short time.
- Try to clear CA on your first attempt. The number of attempts also impacts the salary package. The fewer the number of attempts the more your chance of working with top companies.
- Enhance your communication skills. Good communication skills with help in impressing the interviewer and boost your salary package.
- Have good practical training experience. The interviewer will evaluate you based on your practical training experience hence it will influence your salary package too.
- Determine the locality of your work. Working in developed cities will grab you a higher salary package than in other cities.
Top Skills for Chartered Accountants
1. Financial Expertise
As a chartered accountant, you need to have a strong foundation in financial knowledge. This includes understanding financial statements, tax laws, auditing procedures, and financial analysis. Having basic financial knowledge is a must for getting a well-paid CA salary in India.
2. Business Skills
The salary of a Chartered Accountant in India is well-paid not just because they look after companies accounts and taxes. CAs help organizations expand their business by providing financial advice, to do so they need to have great business skills.
3. Technical Proficiency
To get a good salary as a Chartered Accountant in India you should know how to use the accounting software. This makes you more relevant in modern times and helps you do your work easily. So, learn using the software used in accounting firms.
4. Analytical Skills
Having soft skills like strong analytical skills to assess financial data, identify trends, and make informed decisions is also important for CA. It involves critically analyzing numbers, recognizing patterns, and drawing meaningful conclusions.
5. Communication Skills
If you want to make good professional relationships, climb the career ladder and good salary of a Chartered Accountant in India then you need to sharpen your communication skills. Network with the right people and gain experience.
The Big 4 Audit Firms
The Big 4 accounting firms—KPMG, EY, PWC, and Deloitte—dominate both public and private audits, attracting top chartered accountants for articleships and full-time roles. Starting salaries for fresh hires begin at 11 lakhs, growing to an average of 24-25 lakhs after 4-5 years. Growth potential is limitless, with salaries dependent on daily performance and experience.
Top companies like MARICO, HUL, RB, and P&G prefer top-ranking CAs (ranks 1-50) from chartered accountant exams, valuing those with fewer attempts and higher marks. These companies offer coveted benefits and seek skilled accountants to manage their finances.
In the IT industry, companies like Infosys, TCS, Wipro, and Reliance Industries offer lucrative roles for CAs, starting from 8-10 lakhs and climbing to 40-60 lakhs with experience. Continuous knowledge updating is crucial in this field.
In Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) like BHEL, ONGC, SAIL, CIL, and NTPC, fresher CAs with 55-60% marks in CA finals (two or more attempts) can secure positions. Annual earnings in PSUs range from 8 to 20 lakhs. While PSUs offer stability, they might lack the growth opportunities of the Big 4.
Top Recruiters of Chartered Accountants
| Companies | Salary Package |
| Reliance Industries | 12 LPA |
| Deloitte | 10.9 LPA |
| KPMG | 10 LPA |
| Hindustan Unilever Ltd. | 12 LPA |
| ICICI | 8 LPA |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life | 9.5 LPA |
| ITC | 22 LPA |
| Tata | 8.6 LPA |
| SBI | 11 LPA |
| Bharti Airtel | 6 LPA |
CA Salary in India – Summary
The initial chartered accountant salary in India may depend upon factors like the number of attempts or marks or even the candidate’s rank. Still, later on, all that matters is the knowledge, skills, passion for learning every day, and the capability to withstand the obstacles and handle the stress that comes with the work.
Those with a sheer will and appropriate skills can earn pretty well. When one is working long and smart daily and constantly learning to deal with the day-to-day changing world, there is no limit to a charted accountant’s salary in India.
Frequently Asked Questions
The average salary of a chartered accountant in India is around INR 7 lakhs per annum. This states that a CA earns around 58,000 in a month. This can increase greatly depending on the knowledge and skills acquired by the professional in the course of work. The CA salary majorly depends on the work experience.
The salary of a chartered accountant in India ranges around 6-7 lakhs per annum. The average starting salary is around 2.5 lakhs per annum and the highest salaries go up to 15 lakhs per annum. Chartered accountants with fine years of work experience get a great salary package in various high-end business firms.
The CA designation itself is one of the highest-paying career options however, chartered accountants also get recruited at various reputed job profiles. Some of the fields of CA that earn more are the account executive, finance controller, finance analyst, finance manager, business analyst and many more.
CA and MBA both are prestigious and highly in-demand courses that lead to successful careers in future. Once a candidate clears the CA exam and works in a reputed organization, they can earn around INR 8-9 lakhs per annum. And after completing an MBA course one can earn around INR 7-8 lakhs per annum, which clearly states that CA earns more than MBA.
Although CAs in India are quite well paid, however, the Chartered Accountant Salary in the United States of America (USA) is the highest. So, if you are planning to move abroad and work as CA then choosing USA is a great choice.
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