External Audit Salary in the United States

How much does an External Audit make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for an External Audit in the United States is $69,423 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

However, an External Audit's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $80,780
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61,987 to $75,368
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55,217
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View as table View as graph 25% $61,987 10% $55,217 90% $80,780 75% $75,368 $69,423 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

External Audit Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $75,368 $6,281 $1,449 $36
Average $69,423 $5,785 $1,335 $33
25th Percentile $61,987 $5,166 $1,192 $30
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Key Factors That Influence External Audit Salaries

An External Audit's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects External Audit Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an External Audit's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $60,232
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $70,972
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $85,249
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $114,829
  • Expert (over 8 years): $150,484
Levels Salary
Refinery ... Level External Audit$60,232
External ... Level External Audit$70,972
Refinery ... Level External Audit$85,249
Refinery ... Level External Audit$114,829
Refinery ... Level External Audit$150,484
$60,232 0 yr
$70,972 < 2 yrs
$85,249 2-4 yrs
$114,829 5-8 yrs
$150,484 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for External Audits

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $87,564
  • San Francisco: $86,703
  • Oakland: $84,780

What Skills Can Increase an External Audit's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 9.52% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Work Ethic (Mentioned in 2.38% Job Postings): A belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. A set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard.
  • Mechanical Aptitude (Mentioned in 1.19% Job Postings): Mechanical aptitude is a measure of a technical or engineering candidate's mechanical reasoning and mechanical comprehension to succeed in their domain.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 9.52%
Work Ethic 2.38%
Mechanical Aptitude 1.19%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an External Audit's salary.
  • Scheduling: Can increase your salary by up to 43%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Communicates Effectively: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Scheduling
 $99,275
43%
Commitment
 $82,614
19%
Communicates Effectively
 $80,531
16%
Safety Standards
 $74,977
8%
Risk Management
 $73,589
6%
Continuous Improvement
 $72,894
5%
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How Education impacts an External Audit's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many External Audits enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an External Audit with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $68,791 and $72,400).

External Audit Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for External Audit
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 36.4%
High School 36.4%
Associates 27.3%
Bachelors 27.3%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 9.1%
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External Audit Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an External Audit's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on April 01, 2026
$61,987
Average $69,423/year
$75,368
$5,166
Average $5,785/month
$6,281
$1,192
Average $1,335/week
$1,449
$30
Average $33/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $75,368 $6,281 $1,449 $36
Average $69,423 $5,785 $1,335 $33
25th Percentile $61,987 $5,166 $1,192 $30

Salaries of jobs related to External Audit

Salary Trends for External Audit

Salaries for an External Audit can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $75,516 in 2023 to around $74,961 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of External Audit salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of External Audit Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$75,516
2024
$75,617
2025
$74,961
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $75,516
2024 $75,617
2025 $74,961
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for External Audit

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401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for External Audit

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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