What to Know About Hiring and Salary Trends in Internal Audit

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Internal auditors have a unique vantage point in an organization. They can see across various departments and processes, closely observing how they operate and interact to achieve business goals. Their eagle’s-eye view, combined with their independence, make them invaluable advisers to senior executives and boards of directors.

Internal auditors can offer objective insights and recommendations, helping the business identify risks, improve processes, drive efficiency, strengthen governance and more. However, internal audit’s role as a strategic adviser and not just a provider of assurance services to the business is relatively new.

In its 20th anniversary edition of Internal Auditing Around the World, global consulting firm Protiviti* explains that internal audit has evolved significantly in recent years, “changing from a compliance-focused function to one that serves as a strategically aligned and valued-adding partner to the organization.” Protiviti also notes many internal audit departments have become “launchpads for innovation,” firmly shaking off their image as “backward-looking functions.”

The upshot for professionals who want to work in internal audit? Now is a good time to consider finding your niche in this challenging but rewarding field. It’s a dynamic profession ripe with continuous learning opportunities — but not routine work. It can also open the door to other exciting careers. Here’s a closer look at what the internal audit path offers.

Internal auditors typically enjoy variety in their work, whether it’s evaluating financial controls, assessing cybersecurity risks, helping to evaluate new technology investments for digital transformation projects, or assessing nonfinancial risks for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting.

Additionally, internal audit professionals often find their skill set is transferable across industries and geographies. This versatility can lead to exciting career prospects, from moving into senior leadership roles to transitioning into areas like risk management, consulting or even becoming an external auditor.

The hiring outlook for internal audit professionals is promising as organizations — especially those in highly regulated industries like finance and healthcare — continue to prioritize risk management, compliance and operational improvements. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6% growth rate in jobs for auditors and accountants from 2023 to 2033. That is faster than the average for all occupations, according to the BLS.

What type of compensation can you expect to earn in the internal auditing profession in the year ahead? Here’s an overview of midpoint starting salaries for the internal audit jobs, from entry-level to director, listed in the latest Salary Guide From Robert Half:

Entry-level internal auditor – corporate accounting: $63,000

Internal auditor – 1-3 years’ experience – corporate accounting: $84,750

Senior internal auditor – corporate accounting: $103,250

Manager of internal audit – corporate accounting: $131,750

Director of internal audit: $199,000

Keep in mind that other factors, including your skills and experience, market and the size of the firm you work for, can influence what you might earn in as an internal auditor. For more projected salaries, and details on where our salary data comes from, see our 2025 Salary Guide.

To succeed in an internal audit career today, you will need a solid mix of technical and soft skills. Strong communication abilities, written and verbal, are especially important, as internal auditors must often interact with a wide range of people from all levels of an organization — and external parties, too.

As for technical abilities, that skill set for internal auditors encompasses much more today than it did just a few years ago. The need for technology skills, for example, has many internal audit functions facing “an ongoing talent crunch,” according to Protiviti’s 2023 Next-Generation Internal Audit Survey.

Some examples of skills and knowledge consistently in demand in the field of internal auditing include:

Risk management

Internal auditors must be adept at identifying and assessing risks across various business functions. From a compliance standpoint alone, understanding risk management allows auditors to assess the likelihood and impact of noncompliance, reducing legal and financial penalties.

Internal auditors with strong risk management skills can also help protect a company’s financial and physical assets by identifying weaknesses in internal controls and suggesting improvements.

Data analytics

Data analytics is now a core competency for internal auditors. This capability allows internal auditors to move beyond traditional compliance checks and add value by offering data-backed insights that can help drive business performance.

For example, data analytics tools enable internal auditors to perform continuous monitoring of transactions and operations, providing real-time insights into areas such as fraud detection, process inefficiencies and compliance breaches.

Cybersecurity and data security

With the rise of cyber threats, internal auditors are called upon more often to assess an organization’s IT controls and related security measures. Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks, network security and regulatory requirements related to data security and privacy, like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), is becoming essential for internal auditors.

Earning relevant certifications demonstrates a commitment to learning and career development. It can also improve your job prospects and increase your earning potential as an internal auditor.

The certified internal auditor (CIA) credential, for instance, is the gold standard for professionals in the internal audit profession. Offered by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), the CIA demonstrates a high level of expertise in internal audit principles and practices.

Other top certifications for internal auditors include:

Certified information systems auditor (CISA): Issued by ISACA, this designation is a must-have credential for auditors specializing in IT audit, cybersecurity and risk management.

Chartered global management accountant (CGMA): Recognized globally, the CGMA focuses on management accounting and business strategy and is valuable for auditors working in strategic advisory roles.

Chartered financial analyst (CFA): Offered by the CFA Institute, this globally recognized certification is considered one of the most prestigious credentials in the field of investment management and finance.

Certified fraud examiner (CFE): This certification provided by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) is ideal for auditors focusing on fraud prevention and detection.

CPA: This widely recognized and respected finance and accounting certification is especially relevant for auditors who work in financial services or are focused on financial reporting.

Attaining relevant certifications like the CISA or the certified information security management (CISM) can also open the door to IT auditing, which focuses on assessing an organization’s information systems, technology infrastructure and cybersecurity measures. Gaining practical experience in IT and growing knowledge in areas like IT governance are also vital for the IT auditing career path.

See Robert Half’s Salary Guide for projected compensation levels for IT auditor jobs in 2025.

If you’re considering a career in internal audit, know that you’ll be entering a field that is demanding — and far from static. As the profession becomes more tech-driven and multidisciplinary, continuous learning will be an essential endeavor for internal auditor practitioners.

Start now by keeping up to date with the latest industry trends, emerging risks and technological advancements. That includes learning to work effectively with AI, which is playing a significant role in the automation of routine tasks in internal audit, from data collection to risk assessments.

AI tools, including generative AI capabilities, can help auditors dig deeper into data and processes to flag irregularities that might otherwise go unnoticed in manually conducted audits. They can also focus more attention on higher-level issues, such as evaluating the root cause of risks or providing strategic insights to the business.

The rapid rise of AI is even creating additional career tracks in internal audit, like AI auditor. According to the 2025 Salary Guide From Robert Half, AI auditors are responsible for automating auditing processes to better detect anomalies and identify risks. Skills needed for this emerging role include deep knowledge of audit processes, data analysis and fluency with machine learning.

While a background in finance and accounting is often a requirement for many internal audit jobs, other experience and skills are also highly valued — and needed — in the internal audit function today. Technology skills and business acumen are top among them.

To learn more about what today’s employers are looking for when hiring internal auditors, explore our current job listings.

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