CA salary at a Big 4 or CA firm
Big 4 and large CA firms hire many newly qualified CAs into audit, tax and advisory. In this model an audit role in a metro starts at about ₹8.8 L (₹7.5 to 10.1 L).
Firm pay often starts below industry pay, and many CAs move to industry after three or four years. The typical Year-5 figure here is ₹13.2 L (₹10.6 to 19.2 L).
Illustrative estimate, data as of 2026-09. Many inputs are still being verified. See the methodology.
Typical income: CA firm or Big 4 job
Year 1, typical
₹8.8 L
Range ₹7.5 to 10.1 L
Year 5, typical
₹13.2 L
Range ₹10.6 to 19.2 L
Gross annual pay in nominal rupees. Assumes: Job in a CA firm or Big 4, audit and assurance, a metro city, qualifying at 24 in the first attempt, mid-size firm articleship, no extra qualifications.
Income over 15 years
The x-axis is years after qualifying. Values are in the table below.
| After qualifying | Conservative | Typical | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 age 24 | ₹7.5 L | ₹8.8 L | ₹10.1 L |
| Year 3 age 26 | ₹9.0 L | ₹11.0 L | ₹15.4 L |
| Year 5 age 28 | ₹10.6 L | ₹13.2 L | ₹19.2 L |
| Year 10 age 33 | ₹14.9 L | ₹19.3 L | ₹29.0 L |
| Year 15 age 38 | ₹19.9 L | ₹26.5 L | ₹41.1 L |
What moves this number
Each change is measured on its own against the figures above, by the change in typical Year-5 income.
- Move from a CA firm or Big 4 job to a job in industry: +₹7.1 L in Year 5
- Switch function from Audit and assurance to Investment banking and M&A: +₹7.0 L in Year 5
- Work in the Gulf (gross pay, before living costs and tax): +₹4.0 L in Year 5
- Switch function from Audit and assurance to Indirect tax and GST: +₹1.4 L in Year 5
See your own number
Change your qualifying age, attempt, articleship, city and skills, and compare two scenarios side by side.
Open this in the calculatorTalk to FOCAS Edu about your attemptFrequently asked questions
What is the Big 4 salary for a fresher CA?
In this model, about ₹8.8 L a year for audit in a metro city, with a range of ₹7.5 to 10.1 L. Published fresher ranges vary by firm and year.
Is a Big 4 job better than industry for a new CA?
It depends on what you want. Firm roles often start lower but build broad exposure, and many CAs move to industry after a few years at higher pay.
What does a Big 4 CA earn after 5 years?
The typical Year-5 figure in this model is ₹13.2 L, with a range of ₹10.6 to 19.2 L. Moving into advisory or deals roles tends to raise it.
Are these real salary offers?
No. They are illustrative ranges from a model built on published campus-placement figures and salary surveys. Many inputs are still being verified, so treat them as estimates, not offers or guarantees.
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These figures are illustrative ranges built from published campus-placement data and market salary surveys. They are not job offers or guarantees. Real pay varies with the firm, your negotiation, the job market and your own performance. Items marked 'estimated' are our assumptions and are still being verified.