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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 a career as a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) is financially lucrative. A survey of the Certified Internal Audit salary reveals that you can make a good deal of money as a CIA. 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, use this guide to the CIA salary in the U.S.A. to see how much you can make as a CIA.
Table of Contents
- Causes for the Increasing Internal Auditor Salary
- 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
Causes for the Increasing Internal Audit Salary
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 across the country and around the world. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected the employment of accountants and auditors to grow 10% from the years 2016-2026. The 2019 Robert Half Salary Guide also mentions internal auditor as one of the hot positions and the CIA certification as one of the top certifications in the accounting and finance industry.
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. Therefore, if you’re interested in earning the CIA, you can make a good deal of money with the Certified Internal Auditor salary.
Average Internal Auditor Salary
According to the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), Certified Internal Auditors earn an average of $38,000 more annually than non-certified internal auditors.
And while the IIA’s annual Internal Audit Compensation Report is no longer publicly available, job sites such as Indeed, Glassdoor, and Payscale have completed their own internal audit salary surveys. Based on their findings, the average Certified Internal Auditor salary ranges from $69,000-$84,000.
Range of the Certified Internal Auditor Salary
Additionally, the 2019 Robert Half Salary Guide presents annual salary information for internal auditors in corporate accounting and in financial services. As a result, we can see that in corporate accounting, the CIA certification enables internal auditors to earn anywhere from $16,750-$157,250 more than non-certified internal auditors annually, depending on their position and years of experience. Similarly, Certified Internal Auditors in finance and accounting can make $25,250-$81,250 more a year than regular internal auditors.
Certified Internal Auditor Salary Range in Corporate Accounting
|
Title/Experience |
Annual Salary Range |
| Chief Audit Executive / Vice President of Internal Audit / Internal Audit Director |
$213,000-$285,000 |
| Manager |
$134,500-$157,500 |
| Senior |
$105,000-$120,250 |
| 1 to 3 Years |
$84,250-$95,000 |
| Up to 1 Year |
$55,000-$71,500 |
Certified Internal Auditor Salary Range in Financial Services
|
Title/Experience |
Annual Salary Range |
| Internal Auditor – Manager |
$128,500-$170,750 |
| Internal Auditor 3 to 5 Years |
$98,750-$129,250 |
| Internal Auditor 1 to 3 Years |
$83,000-$110,750 |
Factors Affecting Internal Audit Salary
While these numbers are exciting, internal auditors only secure such sizable salary figures by having the perfect combination of points on their 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.
Recently, the IIA reported that the number of organizations not awarding annual raises to internal auditors was increasing. Therefore, you really 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.
One of the IIA’s recent compensation studies found that, in the U.S., the median salary for auditors with master’s degrees was 14% higher than for auditors with just a bachelor’s degree. Furthermore, the pay gap demonstrates an even greater distance between auditors with multiple certifications and those with none, as certified auditors made the most money.
Of course, the type of company you work for and where that company is located also affect how much you can expect to make a year. But no matter where you go, having the CIA certification proves that you know your stuff and that you’re super committed to the industry.
Looking at how the CIA certification salary compares to the internal auditor salary in various positions within two different financial industries demonstrates all you stand to gain with the CIA.
Entry-Level Internal Auditor Salary
Entry-level internal auditors have up to 1 year of experience. So, with the least amount of experience possible, you can expect an entry-level internal auditor salary to be as low as they come. However, the CIA helps you make more even when you’re still pretty new to the game.
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 |
$38,250-$46,250 |
| Certified |
$55,000-$71,500 |
Junior Internal Auditor Salary
Junior-level internal auditors have been on the job for 1-3 years. And though junior-level internal auditors make a healthy amount more than entry-level internal auditors, non-certified junior-level internal auditors are only just beginning to make what certified entry-level internal auditors make. Therefore, to increase your earning potential, you can either gain more experience, which takes time, or you can become certified, which takes less time and fast-forwards your salary increases.
In corporate accounting, non-certified junior-level internal auditors make $58,250-$71,000 a year. Whereas, certified junior-level internal auditors can rake in $84,250-$95,000 annually.
And in financial services, a non-certified junior-level internal auditor starts off making $57,750-$70,250 a year. But, a certified junior-level internal auditor can bring in anywhere from $83,000-$110,750 in their first few years.
Junior Level Internal Auditor Salary Ranges
|
Certification Level |
Corporate Accounting |
Financial Services |
| Non-certified |
$58,250-$71,000 |
$57,750-$70,250 |
| Certified |
$84,250-$95,000 |
$83,000-$110,750 |
Senior Internal Auditor Salary
A senior internal auditor has clocked in 3-5 years of experience. While non-certified senior internal auditors continue to see steady salary increases as they acquire more knowledge and skill on the job, certified senior internal auditors start making about $30,000-$40,000 more than non-certified senior internal auditors in a year.
So, in corporate accounting, a non-certified senior internal auditor receives about $75,000-$87,250 a year. Of course, certified senior internal auditors earn more, bringing in around $105,000-$120,250.
Additionally, for one year in finance and accounting, a non-certified senior internal auditor makes $68,750-$87,500. Consequently, a certified senior internal auditor makes $98,750-$129,250.
Senior Level Internal Auditor Salary Ranges
|
Certification Level |
Corporate Accounting |
Financial Services |
| Non-certified |
$75,000-$87,250 |
$68,750-$87,500 |
| Certified |
$105,000-$120,250 |
$98,750-$129,250 |
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 financial accounting, certified internal audit managers can make about $52,250 more than non-certified internal audit managers.
In corporate accounting, a non-certified internal audit manager can receive between $96,750-$112,750 a year. On the other hand, a certified internal audit manager gets about $134,500-$157,500 annually.
Also, in financial services, a non-certified internal audit manager earns $89,500-$118,500. Yet, a certified internal audit manager makes $128,500-$170,750.
Internal Auditor Manager Salary Ranges
|
Certification Level |
Corporate Accounting |
Financial Services |
| Non-certified |
$96,750-$112,750 |
$89,500-$118,500 |
| Certified |
$134,500-$157,500 |
$128,500-$170,750 |
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 non-certified internal audit director in corporate accounting can enjoy an annual salary somewhere between $127,750-$179,250. But naturally, a certified director of internal audit has a bit more to be thankful for, as the certified internal audit director salary is $213,00-$285,000 annually.
Furthermore, in finance and accounting, a non-CIA certified CFO or controller can make $168,750-$203,500 a year. Consequently, a certified CFO or controller benefits from making $243,250-$500,000 in 12 months.
Internal Auditor Director Salary Ranges
|
Certification Level |
Corporate Accounting |
Financial Services |
| Non-certified |
$127,750-$179,250 |
$168,750-$203,500 |
| Certified |
$213,00-$285,000 |
$243,250-$500,000 |
Clearly, when the CIA certification can help you earn twice as much money in these high-ranking positions and puts you within the quarter- to half a million-dollar range, it pays to be a CIA!
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.
As you amass more experience and higher titles, you’re awarded greater responsibilities and obligations within the company. So, as you can expect, the certified internal auditor salary ranges increase rather exponentially as well.
Then, the increase from senior to manager is the most notable. After all, the manager position requires a more specific combination of hard and soft skills rather than merely technical abilities. Finally, as you move closer to the director position, you need more sophisticated soft skills, and you are handsomely rewarded for having these.
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.
