Accounting and Related Services at Southern Careers Institute-Pharr

Pharr, TX · Private for-profit · Certificate

with a smaller student body of 629 in Pharr, TX.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $22,081 place Southern Careers Institute-Pharr below the $35,807 national median for Accounting and Related Services — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 18% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Accounting and Related Services career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

With first-year pay of $22,081 far exceeding the $8,507 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #157 ranking among 176 Accounting and Related Services programs places Southern Careers Institute-Pharr in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 23% earnings increase from $22,081 to $27,062 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

The 5 apprenticeship pathways connected to Accounting and Related Services reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

52 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
45
Low End
52
Score
54
High End
Earnings $22,081/yr (-38% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (38% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$281K
5.2% annual growth
Viable Career Paths
13 of 14
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Median Debt at Graduation
$8,507
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$27,062
23% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Accounting and Related Services graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Financial managers $161,700 +14.8% 50%
Financial risk specialists $106,000 +6.5% 47%
Financial and investment analysts $101,350 +5.7% 54%
Financial managers
$161,700
+14.8% growth 50% AI-proof
Financial risk specialists
$106,000
+6.5% growth 47% AI-proof
Financial and investment analysts
$101,350
+5.7% growth 54% AI-proof

View all 14 career paths with full salary data →

About Accounting and Related Services Careers

Your career will likely start in a role like a bookkeeping or accounting clerk, where your day-to-day involves using software like QuickBooks to reconcile bank statements, manage invoices, and process payroll for a small business or as part of a larger corporate team. You’ll be the person ensuring the financial data is accurate and organized.

Read the full Accounting and Related Services career guide →

Compare & Explore

Accounting and Related Services Overview

Accounting and Related Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at Southern Careers Institute-Pharr

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Accounting and Related Services at Southern Careers Institute-Pharr?
This program scores 52/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Accounting and Related Services programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI affect Accounting and Related Services careers?
With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $231,017 in decade earnings vs $280,560 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Southern Careers Institute-Pharr a good choice for Accounting and Related Services despite lower starting pay?
Lower starting pay at Southern Careers Institute-Pharr may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Are there apprenticeship options for Accounting and Related Services?
There are 5 registered apprenticeships connected to Accounting and Related Services occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Accounting and Related Services workers?
With approximately 451,900 annual openings across mapped careers, Accounting and Related Services offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →