Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks compute, classify, and record data to help organizations keep complete and accurate financial records.
Is bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks a good career?
It scores 29/100 and ranks #150 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- High volume of openings — about 170,000 a year
Possible tradeoffs
- Pays below the U.S. median wage ($50,670 vs $61,390)
- Employment is projected to decline (-5.8% through 2034)
What bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks earn between $43,520 and $61,470 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks jobs
Future Opportunities: Payroll and Taxes Customer Care Advocate
Head of Partner Growth, Embedded Payroll
How to become a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk
- Typical education
- Some college, no degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow decline through 2034.
Education
Employers generally prefer to hire candidates who have a high school diploma and have completed college courses in related subjects, such as accounting. Some candidates choose to get a bachelor's degree in a field such as business.
Training
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks typically receive training on the job. For example, they might work alongside an experienced clerk to learn how to do their tasks. They also may receive formal training, such as that related to specialized computer software.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
Although not usually required, some bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks may choose to earn professional certification, which can help to demonstrate competency in their field.
Advancement
With appropriate experience and additional education, some bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks may become accountants or auditors.
Important qualities
Analytical skills. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks must be able to evaluate financial records and identify issues.
Computer skills. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks need to be comfortable using computer spreadsheets and bookkeeping software.
Detail oriented. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are responsible for producing accurate financial records, which requires them to pay close attention in order to recognize and avoid making errors.
Integrity. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks have control of an organization’s financial documentation, which they must use properly and keep confidential. It is vital that they keep records transparent and guard against misusing an organization’s funds.
Math skills. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks deal with numbers daily and should be comfortable with basic arithmetic.
Related occupations
How much do bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks make?
The national median wage is $50,670 a year, with the middle half earning between $43,520 and $61,470 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 29 of 100 and ranks #150 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -5.8% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk?
The typical entry-level education is some college, no degree.
Where do bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks earn the most?
Among states, District of Columbia pays the highest median ($65,180). Local pay for every state and metro is below.