From junior to manager: these are the 2026 salaries within accounting

Are you working as an accountant and wondering whether your salary is in line with the market? Or are you looking for your first job within accounting but have no idea what salary to expect?

Clarissa Pryce, Manager at recruitment specialist Robert Walters, provides an overview of salaries for the most common roles within accounting, based on the Robert Walters Salary Survey 2026.

Junior accountant

‘A newly graduated junior accountant earns between EUR 2,300 and EUR 2,900 gross per month. Bookkeeper remains a bottleneck profession in 2026, meaning that demand for entry-level professionals in this field is notably high. Temporary positions in particular offer an ideal springboard to gain experience quickly and build a strong CV,’ Clarissa says. 

General Ledger Accountant

The gross monthly salary of a starting GL Accountant is about EUR 200 to 600 higher than that of a Junior Accountant, because the range of tasks is more extensive and includes more responsibilities. Those who opt for a job within GL accounting see their salary rise rapidly: professionals with three to six years' experience earn on average between EUR 3,400 and 4,300 gross per month. A Senior General Ledger Accountant with more than six years' experience can expect an average gross monthly salary of EUR 4,000 to 5,000.

‘If you advance to GL Team Leader or Supervisor and get to coach a team of GL accountants, you can count on an attractive gross monthly salary of around 4,200 - 6,700 EUR per month, supplemented of course by numerous fringe benefits,’ Clarissa adds.

Senior/Chief Accountant 

The job content of Senior or Chief Accountant strongly depends on the type of organisation you work for: an accounting firm, an SME or a large international organisation. Depending on the sector and the size of the organisation, you can count on an average gross monthly salary of EUR 4,300 – 5,800. Clarissa: ‘In most cases, that salary is supplemented by a company car, laptop, mobile phone, meal vouchers and an insurance package.’

Accounting Manager  

As Accounting Manager, you are less actively involved in the day-to-day operational accounting tasks, but have ultimate responsibility for the entire accounting process from A to Z, as well as laying the foundations for the financial analyses that will ultimately determine decisions on the company's growth.

‘With 7 to 15 years of experience in this role, you can expect a gross monthly salary of EUR 5,500 - 8,000. Those with more than 15 years of experience can see their salary go up to EUR 10,500 gross per month,’ Clarissa shares. 

More information

Want to know more about salary trends in the Belgian market? Request access to our free Robert Walters Salary Survey. Looking to move roles? Check out our most recent jobs or contact one of our offices.