Accountant's Career Guide: Camden, New Jersey

If you’re an accountant considering a move to Camden, you’re looking at a city that’s part of the larger Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area, with a unique blend of urban challenges and regional opportunities. This isn’t the sprawling suburban accounting market of Bergen County; it’s a dense, working-class city with a lower cost of living than its neighbors, but with real barriers to entry. As a local, I’ll tell you straight: Camden is a city of contrasts. It’s home to world-class institutions and deep poverty, but for an accountant, it can be a strategic launchpad into the Philly metro if you’re savvy about where you live and work.

This guide uses hard data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA), and local market analysis. We’ll break down the numbers, the neighborhoods, and the real-world math of making a living here.

The Salary Picture: Where Camden Stands

Let’s get the central number out of the way: the median salary for an accountant in Camden is $86,983 per year, which translates to an hourly rate of $41.82. This is slightly above the national average of $86,080 per year. The metro area (which includes Camden and surrounding NJ suburbs) has approximately 142 accountant jobs, and the 10-year job growth projection is 4%.

This growth is slower than the national average for accountants (which is around 7%), reflecting Camden's stable but not booming economy. The market is dominated by public accounting firms serving Camden-based clients, non-profits, and the healthcare and education sectors. It’s not a high-volume tech startup hub, but it offers steady, predictable work.

Here’s how that median salary breaks down by experience level. These are estimates based on BLS regional data and local job postings.

Experience Level	Years of Experience	Estimated Annual Salary Range	Notes for Camden
Entry-Level	0-2	$55,000 - $70,000	Common in non-profits, small firms, or as a staff accountant in larger Camden institutions.
Mid-Level	3-7	$75,000 - $95,000	The sweet spot for many in public accounting (tax/audit) or as a senior staff in corporate settings.
Senior/Supervisor	8-12	$95,000 - $120,000	Often requires CPA licensure and specialization. Supervisory roles in healthcare or education.
Expert/Managerial	12+	$120,000+	Director-level roles, Controller positions in local businesses, or partners in small local firms.

How does Camden compare to other NJ cities?
Camden’s median of $86,983 is competitive for its area but lags behind more affluent northern and central NJ markets:

• Newark: ~$92,000 (higher cost of living, larger corporate HQ presence).
• Jersey City: ~$95,000 (finance sector proximity to NYC).
• Trenton: ~$84,000 (similar government/non-profit heavy market).
• Princeton: ~$90,000 (driven by academic and biotech sectors).

Camden’s advantage isn’t the highest salary potential, but the cost of living. Your paycheck stretches further here than in Princeton or Jersey City.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

Let’s do the math for an accountant earning the median salary of $86,983. This is where Camden’s position becomes clearer.

Estimated Monthly Take-Home Pay (after taxes):

• Annual Salary: $86,983
• Estimated Annual Taxes (Federal, State, FICA): ~$26,500 (approximately 30.5% effective rate).
• Net Annual Income: ~$60,483
• Net Monthly Take-Home: ~$5,040

Monthly Budget Breakdown:

• Housing (1BR Rent): $1,451 (Camden average)
• Utilities (Electric, Gas, Internet): ~$200
• Transportation (Car Insurance, Gas, SEPTA/Philly Transit): ~$350 (Car is often needed for local NJ commutes; SEPTA is viable for Philly)
• Groceries & Essentials: ~$450
• Health Insurance (if not fully covered): ~$300
• Debt/Student Loans & Savings: ~$800
• Discretionary/Other: ~$1,489

Can they afford to buy a home?
This is a critical question. With a net monthly income of $5,040, and a mortgage payment (principal, interest, taxes, insurance) for a median Camden home (~$250,000) estimated at $1,800-$2,000/month, it’s tight but possible with a significant down payment and disciplined budgeting. However, the Camden housing market is volatile. Many accountants in the area choose to live in nearby, more stable suburbs (like Haddonfield, Cherry Hill, or Collingswood) and commute into Camden for work, which increases housing costs significantly. The key takeaway: buying a home in Camden proper is financially feasible on this salary, but the city's challenges (school quality, safety in certain blocks, resale value volatility) make many professionals opt to rent here or buy elsewhere in the metro.

Where the Jobs Are: Camden's Major Employers

Camden’s job market is anchored by institutions, not Fortune 500 headquarters. For accountants, this means roles in financial reporting, compliance, and grants management. Here are the key players:

1. Cooper University Health Care: The largest private employer in South Jersey. With a new $2 billion hospital tower, the finance department is massive. They hire staff accountants, senior accountants, and financial analysts. Hiring is steady, with a focus on candidates who understand healthcare reimbursement and compliance.
2. Rutgers University–Camden: The university’s finance and administration division is a major employer. Roles often focus on tuition revenue, research grants accounting, and budget management for departments. Academic calendars create predictable hiring cycles.
3. Campbell Soup Company: While manufacturing is located in Camden, their corporate headquarters moved. However, local plant operations and regional sales offices still require accounting support for cost accounting and local financial reporting.
4. The State of New Jersey – Camden Offices: State agencies like the NJ Department of Human Services and the Superior Court have offices in Camden. These are civil service positions with strong benefits but slower hiring processes.
5. Local Government & Housing Authorities: The City of Camden, the Camden Housing Authority, and the Camden Community Development Corporation hire accountants for public fund management, grant accounting, and budget oversight.
6. Non-Profit & Social Service Agencies: Camden is dense with non-profits (e.g., Rutgers-Camden’s Center for Urban Entrepreneurship, local health clinics). These roles are often grant-dependent and require accountants skilled in fund accounting and compliance.
7. Public Accounting Firms: Smaller local firms (e.g., Foulk & Company, P.C.) and branches of regional firms serve Camden’s business community. This is a common path for obtaining public accounting experience before moving industry.

Insider Tip: The most stable, long-term roles are with Cooper and Rutgers. The state and city jobs offer great pensions but are highly competitive and can be bureaucratic. Non-profits offer mission-driven work but often have lower salaries. For career growth, targeting a senior role at Cooper or Rutgers is a solid strategy.

Getting Licensed in NJ

To practice as a CPA in New Jersey, you must meet the New Jersey Board of Accountancy (NJBOA) requirements. This is non-negotiable for career advancement.

• Educational Requirements: 150 semester hours of college credit, including a bachelor’s degree and 24 credits in accounting and 24 credits in general business. A master’s degree in accounting is the most common, cost-effective path.
• Exam Requirement: Pass all four sections of the Uniform CPA Exam (AUD, FAR, REG, BEC). You must apply for an Authorization to Test (ATT) from the NJBOA.
• Experience Requirement: One year (1,750 hours) of accounting experience under the supervision of a licensed CPA. This can be in public accounting, industry, government, or academia.
• Ethics Exam: Pass the AICPA’s Professional Ethics Exam.

Costs & Timeline:

• Exam Fees: ~$1,000 (for all four sections).
• Educational Review/Prep Course: ~$1,500 - $3,000.
• Application & Licensing Fees: ~$300.
• Total Estimated Out-of-Pocket: $2,800 - $4,300 (excluding tuition).
• Timeline: If you start with the 150-hour requirement met, the process (study for exam, pass, gain experience) typically takes 12-18 months. New Jersey does not require the exam to be passed before gaining experience.

Insider Tip: Many large employers like Cooper and Rutgers offer tuition reimbursement for CPA exam prep and continuing education. Inquire about this during the interview process. The NJCPA offers student memberships and networking events in the Philadelphia/Camden area that are invaluable for finding supervisors for your experience requirement.

Best Neighborhoods for Accountants

Your quality of life in Camden is heavily dependent on where you choose to live. The city is small but has starkly different neighborhoods. Commuting to Philly is also a major factor.

Neighborhood	Vibe & Commute	Approx. 1BR Rent	Why an Accountant Might Live Here
Waterfront/Riverfront	Modern, gentrifying, walkable to Rutgers and Cooper. 10-min walk to jobs.	$1,600 - $2,000	Best for a young professional wanting to live where they work, avoid a commute, and be in a revitalized area.
Cooper Grant	Historic, quiet, near Rutgers-Camden. 5-15 min walk to most jobs.	$1,500 - $1,800	Great for those seeking a quieter, residential feel within the city core. Strong community feel.
Cramer Hill	Residential, more affordable, 10-15 min drive to downtown.	$1,200 - $1,500	For those prioritizing budget over urban buzz. You will need a car.
Haddonfield, NJ (Suburb)	affluent, excellent schools, 20-30 min commute via PATCO or car.	$1,800 - $2,500	The top choice for accountants with families or those prioritizing school quality and safety. A common choice for professionals.
Philadelphia - Univ. City	Vibrant, academic, 20-min SEPTA ride to Camden.	$1,600 - $2,200	For those who want the big city energy of Philly but work in Camden. Excellent for networking in the broader metro.

Insider Tip: The PATCO Hi-Speedline is a game-changer. It connects Camden’s Broadway station to Philadelphia’s City Hall in minutes. Many accountants living in Philly (like Fishtown or Northern Liberties) or the NJ suburbs (like Haddonfield) use it for an easy commute. If you don’t have a car, prioritize living near a PATCO station.

The Long Game: Career Growth

Camden’s accounting market has a distinct "long game." Growth is less about jumping to new employers every two years and more about specialization and internal promotion.

• Specialty Premiums:

  • Healthcare Accounting (Cooper): This is the premium specialty in Camden. Expertise in Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement, capital project accounting, and non-profit reporting commands a 10-15% salary premium over generalists.
  • Non-Profit/Grant Management: High demand but lower pay. The skillset is transferable to larger foundations in Philly.
  • Government Accounting: Requires patience with bureaucracy but offers unparalleled job security and pension benefits.

• Advancement Paths:

  • Public Accounting: Start at a local firm, get your CPA, then move to industry (e.g., from a small firm to a Controller role at a Camden-based manufacturing company).
  • Industry (Healthcare/Higher Ed): The classic path: Staff Accountant -> Senior Accountant -> Accounting Manager -> Controller/Director at Cooper or Rutgers. This is the most stable and lucrative path within Camden.
  • Government/Non-Profit: Climb the ladder within a specific agency, gaining deep institutional knowledge. The ceiling is lower than in corporate, but the schedule and benefits are often better.

• 10-Year Outlook: With a 4% job growth, Camden won’t see explosive expansion. However, the retirements of older CPAs in the post-war generation will create vacancies. The key to growth is to specialize in healthcare or education accounting and build a network within the Philly metro. Your long-term earning potential may be higher by using Camden as a stepping stone to a Philadelphia-based role after 5-7 years, while benefiting from the lower initial cost of living.

The Verdict: Is Camden Right for You?

Pros	Cons
Lower Cost of Living: Your $86,983 salary goes further here than in most NJ metro areas.	City Challenges: Crime, poverty, and struggling public schools are real issues that affect daily life and property values.
Stable Major Employers: Cooper and Rutgers offer long-term, secure career tracks.	Limited Job Market: Only 142 jobs in the metro. You must be strategic and often need a CPA for the best roles.
Proximity to Philadelphia: Easy access to a much larger job market, cultural scene, and networking opportunities.	Competition from Philly: For remote/hybrid roles, you compete with a larger pool of Philly-based accountants.
Strong Public Sector & Non-Profit Hub: Good for mission-driven work and government pensions.	Slower Growth: 4% growth means you must actively seek promotions or change roles to increase salary.

Final Recommendation:
Camden is right for you if: You are early-to-mid career, willing to live in a transitional city (or commute from a suburb), and are targeting stable employers like Cooper University Health Care. You value affordability and a launchpad into the broader Philadelphia region.

Camden is not right for you if: You prioritize top-tier school districts, a vibrant, crime-free urban environment, or are seeking a high-growth tech/startup accounting scene. In those cases, consider living in the Philly suburbs and working remotely or commuting to a different city.

FAQs

1. Is it safe to live and work in Camden?
Camden has one of the highest crime rates in the nation, but it's highly neighborhood-specific. The Waterfront, Cooper Grant, and Rutgers-Camden campus are generally safe, especially during the day. Most professionals live in these areas or in nearby suburbs. The key is situational awareness; violent crime is often concentrated in specific residential blocks away from the core business and university districts.

2. Do I need a car to be an accountant in Camden?
If you live on the Waterfront or in Cooper Grant and work at Cooper or Rutgers, you can walk or take a short SEPTA ride. If you live in a suburb or Cramer Hill, you will need a car for commuting and errands. Many Camden accountants do not own a car and rely on walking, biking, and the PATCO line for regional travel.

3. What's the best path to a high salary in Camden?
The most reliable path is to get your CPA license and specialize in healthcare accounting. Target a senior role at Cooper University Health Care, which pays at the top of the local market. After 5-7 years, leverage that experience for a Controller role in a larger Philadelphia-based company while still living in a lower-cost Camden suburb.

4. How competitive is the job market for non-CPAs?
Very competitive for the best roles. For staff accountant positions, a bachelor’s degree and 1-2 years of experience are often the minimum, but having your CPA (or being a candidate) makes you stand out. In the non-profit sector, you can find roles without a CPA, but salary ceilings are lower. For the most stability and growth, the CPA is the key credential.

5. Are there opportunities for remote accounting work from Camden?
Yes, but it’s nuanced. Many local employers (Cooper, Rutgers, state agencies) are adopting hybrid models. However, fully remote roles from national companies are also an option, as you’re in the Philadelphia time zone with good internet infrastructure. The challenge is that local accounting salaries are benchmarked against the Camden market, not the national market, so a remote role based in NYC or SF would likely pay more. You may need to negotiate based on your local CPA credentials and experience.