Big 4 or FAANG: Which Offers Better Salary & Career Growth? Sections Covered What Are Big 4 Companies? Salary Comparison – Who Pays More? Career Growth & Promotions Work-Life Balance, Pressure & Stability Skills Required – Can Every Student Join FAANG or Big 4? Long-Term Career Scope: Which One Wins? Overall Conclusion – Big 4 or FAANG: Which Is Better? Schedule a call Every commerce, finance, IT and business student dreams of working in either the Big 4 (Deloitte, KPMG, EY, PwC) or the FAANG giants (Facebook/Meta, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google). Both offer high salaries, premium work culture and global career exposure.But the big question is — Which one offers better salary, faster promotions and long-term career growth?This detailed 2026 comparison guide breaks down salary, job roles, career growth, work pressure, skill requirements, stability and long-term scope to help you choose the right career path. Big 4 vs FAANG – Quick Comparison Overview (2026) What Are Big 4 Companies? The Big 4 are global leaders in audit, taxation, accounting, consulting and advisory services:Deloitte EY KPMG PwCThese firms hire lakhs of commerce and finance graduates, including ACCA, CMA USA, EA, CA, CPA, and business graduates.What Is FAANG?FAANG refers to the world’s most powerful tech companies:Facebook (Meta) Amazon Apple Netflix GoogleThey hire mainly for software, data, cloud, analytics, finance and product roles.Table 1: Big 4 vs FAANG — Summary Comparison (2026)CategoryBig 4FAANGPrimary DomainFinance, Accounting, Audit, Tax, ConsultingTech, Data, Product, CloudSalary for Freshers (India)₹4–12 LPA₹18–45 LPAGlobal Salary$50,000–$120,000$150,000–$400,000Work PressureHigh during audit seasonVery high, target-drivenGrowth SpeedFast in 3–5 yearsExtremely fast for top performersStabilityVery highModerate – high layoffsCareer PathFinance leadership rolesTech/product leadershipBest ForCommerce & finance graduatesCS/IT/Data professionals Salary Comparison – Who Pays More? Big 4 Salary Structure (India & Global)Big 4 salaries grow steadily with skill + certifications.LevelIndia SalaryGlobal SalaryIntern₹15,000–₹30,000/month$15–$25/hourAssociate₹4–8 LPA$50,000–$70,000Senior Associate₹8–14 LPA$70,000–$90,000Manager₹15–25 LPA$100,000–$140,000Partner₹1–3 Cr+$300,000–$600,000Freshers with ACCA, CMA USA, EA, CPA, CA start with higher packages. FAANG Salary Structure (India & Global)FAANG salaries are the highest in the world.LevelIndia SalaryGlobal SalaryIntern₹70,000–₹1,20,000/month$35–$50/hourSDE/Data Analyst₹18–45 LPA$150,000–$250,000Senior Engineer₹60–90 LPA$250,000–$350,000Manager₹1–1.5 Cr$300,000–$400,000+Director₹2–4 Cr$400,000–$800,000Conclusion:👉 FAANG pays MUCH higher salaries than Big 4, especially in tech-focused roles. 👉 Big 4 pays excellent finance-sector packages but not at FAANG level. Career Growth & Promotions Career Growth in Big 4Big 4 has a structured growth path:LevelTypical Time to PromoteAssociate → Senior Associate2–3 yearsSenior → Assistant Manager1–2 yearsAM → Manager2–3 yearsManager → Senior Manager3–4 yearsSM → Partner10–15 yearsGrowth depends on:performancecertifications (ACCA, CMA USA, CPA, EA)client exposure Career Growth in FAANGFAANG promotions are performance-heavy:LevelPromotion SpeedL3 → L41.5–2 yearsL4 → L52–3 yearsL5 → L63–5 yearsL6 → Manager3–7 yearsFAANG rewards innovation but also has intense performance pressure.Conclusion:👉 Big 4 = predictable, structured growth 👉 FAANG = faster but high-risk, performance-based growth . Latest UpdatesEnrolled Agents Frequently Asked QuestionsEnrolled Agent (EA) Jobs Opportunities and Career ScopeTop 5 Reasons Why You Should Consider Becoming an Enrolled AgentCan I Pursue Enrolled Agent Course in India? Work-Life Balance, Pressure & Stability Big 4 Work PressurePeak seasons: ✔ January–March (Audit season) ✔ Tax filing periodsWork hours: 👉 10–12 hours/day during busy months 👉 7–8 hours/day off-seasonStability: Very high Layoffs: Rare FAANG Work PressureFAANG employees face: ✔ Deadline pressure ✔ Product delivery stress ✔ Frequent evaluations ✔ Competitive environmentWork hours: 👉 10–12 hours/day (often mandatory)Stability: Moderate Layoffs: Common in tech industryConclusion:👉 Big 4 = More stable & predictable 👉 FAANG = High-pressure but high salaryTable 2: Work-Life Balance ComparisonFactorBig 4FAANGWork hours8–12 hours9–12 hoursWeekendsMostly offOften project-basedStressHigh during peakConstant efficiency pressureStabilityVery highModerateBurnout RiskMediumHighRead MoreBCom with ACCA Qualification and Global ScopeACCA Salary in Dubai and Job OpportunitiesACCA Salary in India and Other Countries Skills Required – Can Every Student Join FAANG or Big 4? Skills Required – Can Every Student Join FAANG or Big 4?Who Should Choose Big 4?Ideal for students with:B.Com / BBA / M.Com / MBAACCACMA USAEA (Enrolled Agent)US CPACAKey Skills:AccountingAuditExcelFinancial reportingTaxationEasy entry for commerce & finance students aiming to work in Big 4 firms. Who Should Choose FAANG?Ideal for:B.Tech / MCA / BCA / EngineeringData & AI professionalsCloud / DevOps engineersProduct managersKey Skills:DSA (Data Structures & Algorithms)Python/JavaMachine LearningCloudSystem DesignCommerce students usually cannot enter FAANG tech roles directly.Table 3: Eligibility ComparisonParameterBig 4FAANGDegree RequiredCommerce / FinanceTech / EngineeringEntry DifficultyModerateVery highSkill TypeFinance + AccountingCoding + DataCertifications RequiredACCA / CMA / CPA / EANone, but strong tech skillsSuitable for B.Com?YESNo (except non-tech roles)Read MoreCareer Options After ACCA Qualification : What You Need to KnowTop Institutes to Pursue ACCA Coaching in IndiaBCom with ACCA Qualification and Global Scope Long-Term Career Scope: Which One Wins? Big 4 Long-Term ScopeBig 4 opens doors to:CFO rolesFinance ManagerGlobal accounting careersAudit & consulting leadershipBig MNC finance teamsCareer security: Strong & lifelong FAANG Long-Term ScopeFAANG leads to:Senior engineering rolesProduct & AI leadershipStart-up founder opportunitiesCareer security: Depends on skill upgrading Table 4: Long-Term Career GrowthFactorBig 4FAANGLeadership PotentialVery highVery highSwitching OptionsBanks, MNCs, Global FinanceTech startups, AI firmsInternational MobilityExcellentExcellentSkill Shelf-LifeLong (finance stable)Short (tech changes fast)Latest UpdatesSuccess Stories: CA Professionals Journey to becoming a CPAThe Best CPA Comprehensive GuideUS CPA Eligibility in India - Step-by-Step GuideCPA Canada Requirements - How to pursue CPA Canada after BCom Overall Conclusion – Big 4 or FAANG: Which Is Better? Choose FAANG if you want:✔ Very high salaries ✔ Tech, data, AI or product career ✔ High-speed growth ✔ International exposureBut remember: FAANG requires strong coding and involves high stress + risk.Choose Big 4 if you want:✔ Stable career ✔ Finance, accounting, taxation or consulting profile ✔ Global mobility ✔ Predictable promotions ✔ Work relevant to commerce degreesBoth are excellent—but the best career depends on your background.NorthStar Academy (NSA) – Fastest Route to Big 4 JobsIf you want to join the Big 4 as a fresher, you need the right global certification + practical skills.NorthStar Academy offers India’s best training for:CourseIdeal Career PathACCA (UK)Audit, Accounting, AssuranceCMA USACosting, FP&A, Management AccountingEA (Enrolled Agent)US Taxation (High-paying WFH jobs)US CPAGlobal audit, MNC finance rolesWhy Students Choose NSA:Guaranteed placement assistanceBig 4-focused trainingMock interviews + resume building12,000+ placed learners👉 WhatsApp “Hi” to +91 8147470505 for career guidance & admissions. Trending BlogsCourseLinksACCAACCA vs MBA Which is betterCareer Option after ACCACMA USCMA US Job Opportunities Best CMA booksCPA USCPA Course after Bcom CPA Salary in IndiaEnrolled AgentEnrolled Agent course Job & salaryEnrolled Agent Sample questions Read moreUS CPA Exam Fee - Registration & ExamWhat Are The Requirements for US CPA ExamUS CPA course After MBA in Finance | A Complete Guide Frequently Asked Questions Who pays more – Big 4 or FAANG? FAANG pays much higher salaries, especially for tech roles. Big 4 pays well in the finance domain but not FAANG-level. Can a B.Com or ACCA student join FAANG? No, unless applying for finance or business operations roles. FAANG tech roles require coding skills. Which is better for freshers – Big 4 or FAANG? For commerce students → Big 4 For engineering/data students → FAANG Which has better stability? Big 4. FAANG companies have frequent layoffs. 5. Can Big 4 experience help you move abroad? Yes. Big 4 has the strongest global mobility in finance and audit roles.
