Accounting Degree in Erie, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Erie, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$74K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$108K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.6 yrs
in Erie
Cost of Living
120
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Erie, PA Overview
While Erie has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Accounting students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $21,896/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Erie is approximately $74,400.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$15,346/yr
Private Tuition
$35,160/yr
Room & Board
$21,896/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,237/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
63%
Accounting Salary in Erie (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Erie's cost of living index of 120 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Erie adjustment factor: 1.20x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Erie
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Erie tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $15,346 | Private avg: $35,160
Erie avg aid: $15,237/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$148,968
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$32,400
vs HS diploma in Erie
ROI Payback Period
4.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Erie
$751,032
Lifetime earnings premium ($900,000) minus total education cost ($148,968)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Erie
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Erie for Accounting
Gannon University
private
$35,160/yr
$140,640 total
Penn State Behrend
public
$15,346/yr
$61,384 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Erie Community College
$5,070/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Erie
Erie offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Erie Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Philadelphia, PA
$93K starting · COL 150
42 colleges
Pittsburgh, PA
$71K starting · COL 115
12 colleges
Allentown, PA
$70K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$73K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Upper Darby, PA
$59K starting · COL 94.5
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$74K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$78K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$57K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Erie
Business Analytics
$94K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$84K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$78K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$60K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$60K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$60K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$60K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$70K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Erie — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Accounting ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Erie.