Income from your own CA practice
Starting a practice usually means a slower first year while you build clients. In this model Year-1 income is about ₹5.1 L (₹3.1 to 7.1 L), roughly half of a firm job.
Practice income climbs more slowly but for longer, and varies more than a salary. By Year 10 the typical figure here is ₹23.7 L, with a wide range of ₹13.3 to 45.0 L.
Illustrative estimate, data as of 2026-09. Many inputs are still being verified. See the methodology.
Typical income: Own practice
Year 1, typical
₹5.1 L
Range ₹3.1 to 7.1 L
Year 5, typical
₹15.0 L
Range ₹8.6 to 24.0 L
Gross annual pay in nominal rupees. Assumes: Own practice, direct tax, 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 | ₹3.1 L | ₹5.1 L | ₹7.1 L |
| Year 3 age 26 | ₹6.1 L | ₹10.5 L | ₹15.8 L |
| Year 5 age 28 | ₹8.6 L | ₹15.0 L | ₹24.0 L |
| Year 10 age 33 | ₹13.3 L | ₹23.7 L | ₹45.0 L |
| Year 15 age 38 | ₹16.2 L | ₹29.4 L | ₹64.7 L |
What moves this number
Each change is measured on its own against the figures above, by the change in typical Year-5 income.
- Work in the Gulf (gross pay, before living costs and tax): +₹4.5 L in Year 5
- Move from my own practice to a job in industry: +₹4.3 L in Year 5
- Add CFA: +₹1.2 L in Year 5
- Add MBA: +₹1.2 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
How much does a CA earn in their own practice in the first year?
In this model, about ₹5.1 L in Year 1. No reliable public data exists for practice income, so this is one of the least certain figures.
Does a CA practice earn more than a job in the long run?
It can. The model lets practice income keep climbing for longer, reaching about ₹23.7 L by Year 10, but the spread between slow and strong outcomes is wide.
Which practice areas pay best?
Direct tax, GST and audit are the most common. Forensic and valuation work can pay more but needs specialisation.
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.