Sure, just depends on the industry nearby. The problem is when there only 3 places to work near you that employ full time accounting departments, and they’re all shitty because they’re the only shows in town and benchmark pay/benefits against one another. Then they’ll gaslight you that they’re market competitive when there’s no market to compete against. Been there.
I will argue it's worth more in a small town. Firms become an oligopoly. We have so many clients that we haven't accepted new clients in a couple of years because we don't have the capacity. We can charge more for it.
The other part is everybody wants to move out of the small town so the supply of accountants is always healthy.
Nope. Pay is higher in remote areas. You have to pay more. Nobody is going to a small town for less pay.
My own experience. I'm in Canada, If I started work where I lived I would have started at 42K CAD - As I moved, my starting was 54K with paid OT. Granted anecdotal, my logic should be sound - You can't pay less in a small town and expect to attract employees from populated areas.
Are we talking industry or public? I know for sure it can be worth it for public accounting. My office is in a small town but is within an hour and a half of two huge cities. Our clients range from small time restaurants to huge clients in the cities. Staff actts also work like 45 hours max during busy season.
Small towns are more likely to spend money on good local services. Local bookkeeping and tax advisory for their construction, agriculture, retail, electrician, plumbing and other blue collar services. They are much less frugal than in larger cities. They also will be more open to consultancy because they know they aren’t financiers and are willing to listen if you aren’t an idiot.
Something being worthwhile is pretty broad, and depends what you value out of your career and personal life and the risks you’re willing to take.
You can make good money in most markets, but you might trade work life balance because you’re stuck with few alternatives. Or you may have good balance, but a short ceiling for growth. Maybe that’s all a risk you’re willing to take. Someone else might not.
Big cities are great because they give people career options, but it’s expensive and you might not want or need those options.
Really depends on what you want to do and what's going on in the small town.
I grew up in a tiny farming community in Idaho, and there was a CPA there who basically just did taxes for farms. He has made a very good living, especially considering that the cost of living in the town is practically nothing. He's about to retire in his early 50's and he's got a couple houses, he is easily set up for life.
Totally, if you wfh. That's what I do. I did get established in a big city (Boston) for about ten years, but now I'm actually headed back to the same area as I grew up in.
Pretty hard to work in the office in a place like that, if you're trying to be a data analyst though. There are relatively few companies with enough sophistication to use a full time data analyst that are going to have offices in truly small towns (like <10k population) - but if you're open to small-sized cities you might have more luck.
Keep your eyes open and do a lot of networking (which is good advice for any student, haha). If you pick a couple of smaller cities that you are interested in, you could research who is in the area that you might be interested in, and try to make contacts. Could even go to shows or networking events in an area you are interested in.
I really like the Boise area personally - small city but big enough to have a decent airport, you can live 20-30 minutes away and be in a small town with good COL and all that good stuff. Happens to be close to my family as well, though obviously that's a personal thing for me.
I would check out articles of 'up and coming' cities, they often highlight the kind of places I'm talking about. Good luck!
What do you consider a small town? Where I live, 50,000+ live within city limits. I know some people that call that a small city while I've heard others call it a small town. I don't think it's a small town, that's reserved for 10,000 or less, imo, but just asking for clarity.
Either way, cost of living is low, so both my salaries at my first 2 jobs were low for this sub, but we're enough to buy a house while my wife finished school. Now that I'm remote and getting paid nearly twice what I was making when I started out, we live a very comfortable life.
Opportunities nay be scarce there, but I'd imagine your salary should be okay for an in-person job and allow you to live a comfortable life. If you're able to secure a remote job, odds are you'd make very good money for the location and be able to live a very comfortable life.
Compared to what? In small towns only a few occupations pay decent. Tradesmen, police officers, medical come to mind. I’m not sure if accounting would be included.
Sure, just depends on the industry nearby. The problem is when there only 3 places to work near you that employ full time accounting departments, and they’re all shitty because they’re the only shows in town and benchmark pay/benefits against one another. Then they’ll gaslight you that they’re market competitive when there’s no market to compete against. Been there.
Once you get a couple years of experience remote work solves this issue. You can get MCOL/HCOL salary and live in a LCOL area
Remote jobs are disappearing
[удалено]
Yep, it's all relative!
i live in a small town with lots of small businesses and people are desperate for a good CPA. most do the bare minimum around here.
I will argue it's worth more in a small town. Firms become an oligopoly. We have so many clients that we haven't accepted new clients in a couple of years because we don't have the capacity. We can charge more for it. The other part is everybody wants to move out of the small town so the supply of accountants is always healthy.
You’re not mentioning how your pay is probably way less than in more populated areas
Nope. Pay is higher in remote areas. You have to pay more. Nobody is going to a small town for less pay. My own experience. I'm in Canada, If I started work where I lived I would have started at 42K CAD - As I moved, my starting was 54K with paid OT. Granted anecdotal, my logic should be sound - You can't pay less in a small town and expect to attract employees from populated areas.
Are we talking industry or public? I know for sure it can be worth it for public accounting. My office is in a small town but is within an hour and a half of two huge cities. Our clients range from small time restaurants to huge clients in the cities. Staff actts also work like 45 hours max during busy season.
Small towns are more likely to spend money on good local services. Local bookkeeping and tax advisory for their construction, agriculture, retail, electrician, plumbing and other blue collar services. They are much less frugal than in larger cities. They also will be more open to consultancy because they know they aren’t financiers and are willing to listen if you aren’t an idiot.
Something being worthwhile is pretty broad, and depends what you value out of your career and personal life and the risks you’re willing to take. You can make good money in most markets, but you might trade work life balance because you’re stuck with few alternatives. Or you may have good balance, but a short ceiling for growth. Maybe that’s all a risk you’re willing to take. Someone else might not. Big cities are great because they give people career options, but it’s expensive and you might not want or need those options.
Really depends on what you want to do and what's going on in the small town. I grew up in a tiny farming community in Idaho, and there was a CPA there who basically just did taxes for farms. He has made a very good living, especially considering that the cost of living in the town is practically nothing. He's about to retire in his early 50's and he's got a couple houses, he is easily set up for life.
I am a computer science major who is interested in becoming a data analyst. Would it be possible to live in a small town at some point?
Totally, if you wfh. That's what I do. I did get established in a big city (Boston) for about ten years, but now I'm actually headed back to the same area as I grew up in. Pretty hard to work in the office in a place like that, if you're trying to be a data analyst though. There are relatively few companies with enough sophistication to use a full time data analyst that are going to have offices in truly small towns (like <10k population) - but if you're open to small-sized cities you might have more luck.
Yeah small sized cities I am open to.
Keep your eyes open and do a lot of networking (which is good advice for any student, haha). If you pick a couple of smaller cities that you are interested in, you could research who is in the area that you might be interested in, and try to make contacts. Could even go to shows or networking events in an area you are interested in. I really like the Boise area personally - small city but big enough to have a decent airport, you can live 20-30 minutes away and be in a small town with good COL and all that good stuff. Happens to be close to my family as well, though obviously that's a personal thing for me. I would check out articles of 'up and coming' cities, they often highlight the kind of places I'm talking about. Good luck!
I appreciate it. Data is everywhere. So I do not think I will have a problem. It is day by day process, and I want to enjoy what I do.
What do you consider a small town? Where I live, 50,000+ live within city limits. I know some people that call that a small city while I've heard others call it a small town. I don't think it's a small town, that's reserved for 10,000 or less, imo, but just asking for clarity. Either way, cost of living is low, so both my salaries at my first 2 jobs were low for this sub, but we're enough to buy a house while my wife finished school. Now that I'm remote and getting paid nearly twice what I was making when I started out, we live a very comfortable life.
I’m talking like small town of like 1,100 or so lol, definitely a very low cost of living where I’m at which is definitely a plus.
Opportunities nay be scarce there, but I'd imagine your salary should be okay for an in-person job and allow you to live a comfortable life. If you're able to secure a remote job, odds are you'd make very good money for the location and be able to live a very comfortable life.
Probably better. You know the people, their business, and help them grow their business and keep their money from the government (legally of course)
Compared to what? In small towns only a few occupations pay decent. Tradesmen, police officers, medical come to mind. I’m not sure if accounting would be included.
It was for Rita crumwell
Nope. In a rural area myself and it’s extremely hard to find jobs.
Everyone needs someone to manage the money
Very good point!