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Certified Internal Auditor Salary: A Guide to the CIA Salary in the U.S.A.
As you may know, a career as an internal auditor is financially stable. However, what you may not know is that earning the a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) qualification can make this career even more lucrative. Furthermore, the healthy CIA certification salary is just one of the many benefits of becoming a CIA. So, if you’re interested in the certification specifically and wondering, “How much do internal auditors make?” in general, consult this guide to the CIA salary in the U.S.A.
Table of Contents
- Why Internal Audit Salaries are Increasing
- Average Internal Auditor Salary
- Range of the Certified Internal Auditor Salary
- Factors Affecting Internal Audit Salary
- Entry-Level Internal Auditor Salary
- Junior Internal Auditor Salary
- Senior Internal Auditor Salary
- Internal Audit Manager Salary
- Director of Internal Audit Salary
- Responsibilities of Certified Internal Auditors
- Reasons for Certified Internal Auditor Salary Increases
Why Internal Audit Salaries are Increasing
Just like many other accounting careers, the internal audit career is expanding as demand for financially capable professionals increases. Moreover, areas of accounting such as internal audits are becoming more and more important to companies around the world. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected the employment of accountants and auditors to grow 6% from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations.
Robert Half, an organization that puts together an annual salary guide for a number of different financial careers, notes that the hiring outlook for internal auditors is particularly good in industries like finance and healthcare. Additionally, they argue that the versatility of the profession puts internal auditors in a good place for transitioning into other industries or areas like risk management and consulting.
Furthermore, a shortage of internal audit talent, especially at the senior level, only adds to the desperation for internal auditors at these companies. And when such demands and shortages exist, compensation for those positions naturally rises. The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) called internal auditing one of the top five in-demand professions throughout the world in 2022. Therefore, if you’re interested in earning the CIA, you can make a good deal of money.
Average Internal Auditor Salary
The average Certified Internal Auditor salary is between $65,000 and $200,000. However, not all internal auditor salaries are equal. By earning your CIA certification, you can earn 37-50% more than uncertified IAs. That translates to an extra $26,000 to $38,000 per year. In fact, the IIA’s own 2017 Internal Audit Compensation Study found that you can boost your salary by as much as 51% with the CIA credential. Moreover, a 2022 survey of all North American IIA members showed that 41% made between $75,001 and $100,000, and 30% made between $50,001 and $75,000.
Range of the Certified Internal Auditor Salary
Additionally, the 2025 Robert Half Salary Guide presents annual salary information for internal auditors in corporate accounting and in financial services. Here, you can see that seniority accounts for a great deal of the range in salaries. Thus, a manager with a CIA credential will make much more than a junior auditor.
Here are the salary ranges for CIAs in Greensboro, NC, which is roughly equal to the national average. But salaries may be higher or lower depending on where you live.
Certified Internal Auditor Salary Range in Corporate Accounting
| Title/Experience | Annual Salary Range | 50th Percentile |
| Internal Audit Director | $141,500-$228,500 | $199,000 |
| Manager | $110,500-$157,750 | $131,750 |
| Senior | $86,000-$121,750 | $103,250 |
| 1 to 3 Years | $67,750-$98,750 | $84,750 |
| Up to 1 Year | $50,750-$70,750 | $63,000 |
Certified Internal Auditor Salary Range in Financial Services
| Title/Experience | Annual Salary Range | 50th Percentile |
| Internal Auditor – Manager | $111,250-$154,750 | $130,500 |
| Internal Auditor 3 to 5 Years | $80,000-$114,750 | $103,250 |
| Internal Auditor 1 to 3 Years | $65,500-$97,000 | $80,250 |
Factors Affecting Internal Audit Salary
While these numbers are exciting, internal auditors only secure such sizable salary figures by having exceptional resumes. For example, to land a higher-end starting salary, you must have a very strong skill set and more experience than the typical internal auditor. Having the CIA certification is also key for commanding more compensation from the get-go.
Which Internal Auditors Earn More?
Obviously, experience and certification are two of the biggest factors that determine an internal auditor’s pay. Here are some others.
- Geographic location: Salaries will be larger in high cost-of-living states (e.g., California, New York) and cities (e.g., Boston, Chicago) than in other places.
- Demand: In areas where economic conditions are strong or internal auditors are in high demand, they will receive better compensation.
- Company size: Large, global organizations tend to pay more than smaller organizations, though the workload and travel requirements are often greater as well.
- Industry: Specializations and sectors like tech and financial services typically pay internal auditors more.
- Education: Internal auditors with masters’ degrees tend to earn about 15% more than those with bachelors’ degrees.
What about Bonuses and Raises?
Of course, take-home pay isn’t the only kind of compensation. Many CIAs also earn performance bonuses, which can range anywhere from 10-20% of your salary for staff and management. Moreover, executives can earn up to 40% bonuses.
Traditionally, companies also offer internal auditors annual salary increases. Posters on Reddit report that these raises are usually between 2% and 5%. Recently, however, the IIA reported that the number of organizations not awarding annual raises to internal auditors was increasing. Therefore, you need to increase your credentials if you want to pull away from the pack with your earning potential. To max out your internal auditor salary, you’ll need the highest level of relevant experience and expertise. And you can only acquire such qualifications with a master’s degree, industry specialization, and, once again, certifications such as the CIA.
Entry-Level Internal Auditor Salary
When you first start work as an auditor, you’re considered entry-level until you have at least one year of experience. Thus, your salary will start off low. However, the CIA certification can helps you make more even when you’re still pretty new to the game.
The average entry-level salary for certified internal auditors in corporate accounting is between $50,750 and $70,750 with a median of $63,000. But remember, CIAs make between 37 and 50% more than auditors without the certification. Let’s use an approximate figure of 40% here. Thus, non-certified auditors can expect to make $36,250-$50,535.
The annual salary for non-certified entry-level internal auditors in corporate accounting ranges from $38,250-$46,250. But, CIA-certified entry-level internal auditors can make $55,000-$71,500 a year in corporate accounting.
Entry-Level Internal Auditor Salary Ranges
|
Certification Level |
Corporate Accounting |
| Non-certified |
$36,250-$50,535 |
| Certified |
$50,750-$70,750 |
Junior Internal Auditor Salary
Next, junior-level internal auditors have been on the job for 1-3 years. In corporate accounting, certified junior-level internal auditors make $67,750-$98,750 a year. Therefore, non-certified junior-level internal auditors can expect to make $48,393-$70,535.
And in financial services, a non-certified junior-level internal auditor starts off making $46,786-$69,286 a year. But, a certified junior-level internal auditor can bring in anywhere from $65,500 to $97,000 in their first few years.
Junior Level Internal Auditor Salary Ranges
| Certification Level | Corporate Accounting | Financial Services |
| Non-certified | $48,393-$70,535 | $46,786-$69,286 |
| Certified | $67,750-$98,750 | $65,500-$97,000 |
Senior Internal Auditor Salary
A senior internal auditor has clocked in 3-5 years of experience. In corporate accounting, a non-certified senior internal auditor receives about $61,429-$86,964 a year. Of course, certified senior internal auditors earn more, bringing in around $86,000-$121,750.
Additionally, for one year in finance and accounting, a non-certified senior internal auditor makes $57,143-$81,964. However, a certified senior internal auditor makes $80,000-$114,750.
Senior Level Internal Auditor Salary Ranges
| Certification Level | Corporate Accounting | Financial Services |
| Non-certified | $61,429-$86,964 | $57,143-$81,964 |
| Certified | $86,000-$121,750 | $80,000-$114,750 |
Internal Audit Manager Salary
An internal audit manager has about 5-10 years of experience. And, a worthy salary comes with so much experience, especially when certified. As these salaries reveal, major discrepancies between non-certified and certified internal auditor salaries start to appear at this stage. For example, in corporate accounting, certified internal audit managers can make about $45,000 more than non-certified internal audit managers.
That’s because a certified IA manager can expect to make $110,500-$157,750, whereas a non-certified manager would likely make $78,928-$112,679. Similarly, in financial services, a non-certified internal audit manager earns $79,464-$110,536. Yet a certified internal audit manager makes $$111,250-$154,750.
Internal Auditor Manager Salary Ranges
| Certification Level | Corporate Accounting | Financial Services |
| Non-certified | $78,928-$112,679 | $79,464-$110,536 |
| Certified | $110,500-$157,750 | $111,250-$154,750 |
Director of Internal Audit Salary
Finally, once you’re at the top of the company, you’re at the top of the salary range as well. Along with Internal Audit Director, other titles internal auditors may hold once they’ve climbed the corporate accounting ladder include Chief Audit Executive and Vice President of Internal Audit. And on the financial services side, leading internal auditors may be promoted to a controller or Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
A certified internal audit director in corporate accounting can enjoy an annual salary somewhere between $141,500 and $228,500. But naturally, a non-certified director of internal audit would earn a bit less, closer to $101,071-$163,214 annually.
Internal Auditor Director Salary Ranges
| Certification Level | Corporate Accounting |
| Non-certified | $101,071-$163,214 |
| Certified | $141,500-$228,500 |
Clearly, when the CIA certification can help you earn so much more money in these high-ranking positions, it pays to be a CIA!
CIA vs. CPA Salary
If you’re still considering different specializations within accounting, you may wonder how a CPA salary compares to that of an internal auditor. Just like with CIAs, how much a CPA makes depends on location, firm, and experience. However, here’s a rough guide to CPA salaries in both tax and audit from the 2025 Robert Half Salary Guide.
| Title/Experience | Annual Salary Range | 50th Percentile |
| Senior Tax Services Manager | $136,000-$217,250 | $175,500 |
| Tax Services Manager | $99,500-$137,750 | $117,500 |
| Senior Tax Associate | $72,750-$101,750 | $90,000 |
| Tax Associate | $57,250-$82,250 | $70,250 |
| Senior Audit Manager | $136,000-$217,250 | $175,500 |
| Audit/Assurance Manager | $92,750-$128,500 | $109,500 |
| Senior Audit Associate | $68,000-$91,500 | $80,500 |
| Audit/Assurance Associate | $51,250-$72,500 | $62,750 |
As you can see, CPA salaries for audit/assurance professionals are approximately equal to internal auditor salaries at the beginning of both careers. However, as you progress up the ladder, CPAs have greater earning potential than CIAs. Moreover, this difference is especially noticeable for late-career tax services CPAs. Also, if you have the CPA designation, you can switch over to internal auditing without necessarily needing to get the CIA certification. However, if you do wish to dual-certify, the IIA offers the CIA Challenge Exam to accountants who already hold a CPA.
If you’re interested in becoming a CPA, you’ll need to meet the requirements and pass the CPA Exam. To learn more about the CPA certification and what it takes to pass the test, check out my other website, I Pass the CPA Exam.
CIA vs. EA Salary
Of course, you may also be curious what enrolled agents earn and how that compare to internal auditor salaries. Enrolled agents (EAs) not only prepare taxes but also represent taxpayers before the IRS. Here’s how much EAs make in a year:
| Experience Level | Annual Salary Range |
| Junior enrolled agent | $30,000-$50,000 |
| Mid-level enrolled agent | $50,000-$70,000 |
| Experienced (5+ years) enrolled agent | $75,000-$100,000 |
Additionally, the BLS puts the median salary for revenue agents at $58,530. Clearly, EAs earn less than certified internal auditors, particularly at higher levels of seniority. However, enrolled agents, who must pass the EA exam, earn more than uncredentialed tax preparers, who tend to make $25,000-$60,000 per year. To learn what it takes to pass the EA exam and work as an enrolled agent, visit I Pass the EA Exam.
Responsibilities of Certified Internal Auditors
Generally, CIAs strive to improve company operations, particularly in the areas of control and risk management.
For example, standard CIA responsibilities include:
- Assessing financial operations and advising management on related decisions
- Reviewing financial statements for accuracy and regulatory compliance
- Identifying issues of risk management and areas of operational concerns
- Suggesting ways to reduce costs and improve revenue and profits
So, when you’re in a lower position, such as an entry-level or junior-level internal auditor, your duties will involve working with senior auditors to plan audits. You’ll also be responsible for completing such tasks as examining expenditures, revenue, and other financial records to confirm that all the numbers add up correctly.
Then, when you’re a senior auditor, you must monitor daily client operations within your firm. To do so, you may need to prepare bank reconciliations or audits, analyze assets and salaries, put together tax reports, and make financial statements and recommendations.
Finally, when you’ve reached an internal auditor manager or director role, you will need to organize and oversee internal audits, which usually means managing a team of auditors. You’ll also supervise the review process and suggest policy changes as necessary.
Reasons for Certified Internal Auditor Salary Increases
As is understandable, increases in the internal auditor salary align with increases in responsibility. When you’re just starting out in internal audit, you have less experience and, therefore, less responsibility. Consequently, your salary will be lower. But as we learned, you can raise it faster by earning the CIA.
To learn more about the skills you’ll need as a CIA, check out the pros and cons of internal audit jobs. Or discover how to become a CIA so you can start the journey to certification today!
About the Author Stephanie
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.
