Planning your tax career in public accounting? Understand realistic timelines, salary benchmarks, and what it takes to advance from staff tax accountant to tax partner.

Compensation matters, but it is rarely the primary reason experienced tax professionals change firms.

Many small and mid-sized CPA firms assume tax seniors move for incremental pay increases. In practice, the decision is usually more nuanced.

Tax hiring on the West Coast remains difficult, even as demand for services continues to grow. The reasons are structural, not short-term.