Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Some college, no degree
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks work in a large occupation, with 1,613,000 jobs nationwide. This career centers on organizing and tracking financial information, supported by skills in mathematics, computers and information technology, and strong attention to detail. The role also emphasizes customer service, interpersonal communication, and speaking and listening, reflecting regular interaction with others. The national median annual salary is $49,210, with higher median pay in certain states and metro areas. Despite a projected employment decline of -5.8%, there are still an estimated 170,000 annual openings, which suggests ongoing turnover and replacement needs. People in this field draw on writing and reading skills, adaptability, and project management, along with fine motor abilities for precise tasks. Similar occupations to consider include financial clerks (all other), insurance claims and policy processing clerks, billing and posting clerks, correspondence clerks, and other office and administrative support workers, giving career seekers several related administrative and financial pathways to explore.
The national median annual salary for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks is $49,210, but pay can vary substantially by location. Several states offer notably higher median salaries, including Massachusetts at $59,830, California at $59,230, Washington at $58,620, New York at $58,160, and Colorado at $54,000. Among metro areas, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA stands out with a median salary of $66,130, followed closely by San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA at $65,530. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro also offers a median salary of $60,640, while Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH report median salaries of $59,290 and $60,960, respectively. These figures show that earnings can be higher in certain states and large metro regions, so location decisions can significantly shape earning potential within this career.
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks represent a sizable occupation with 1,613,000 jobs nationwide. However, projected employment growth is -5.8%, indicating an overall decline in the number of positions over the projection period. Even with this negative growth rate, the occupation is expected to have about 170,000 annual openings. These openings reflect ongoing movement in and out of the occupation, such as people changing careers, retiring, or leaving the workforce. For career planners, this combination of declining total jobs and steady openings suggests a dynamic labor market in which new entrants may still find opportunities, especially when they bring strong skills in mathematics, computers and information technology, customer service, and attention to detail. Considering related roles such as financial clerks, billing and posting clerks, and other administrative support positions can also provide additional options if local conditions for this occupation change over time.
Location can strongly influence both opportunity and pay for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks. Among states, California has a median salary of $59,230 with employment of 151,870 and an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts has a slightly higher median salary of $59,830 and an opportunity score of 65.87, while New York offers $58,160 with an opportunity score of 65.78. Washington and Colorado show median salaries of $58,620 and $54,000, with opportunity scores of 56.29 and 56.97, respectively. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA leads with an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $66,130. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro follows closely with an opportunity score of 77.27 and a median salary of $60,640. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA, Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH also show relatively strong opportunity scores and median salaries, giving job seekers multiple high-opportunity regions to consider.
The typical education level for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks is some college, no degree. This suggests that postsecondary coursework can be beneficial even if a formal degree is not completed. Success in this field draws on a combination of technical and interpersonal skills. Mathematics and computers and information technology are central, supporting work with numbers and digital systems. Being detail oriented is also key, as the role involves accuracy and careful review. Customer service, interpersonal skills, and speaking and listening support regular interactions with colleagues or clients. Writing and reading skills help with preparing and understanding documents, while adaptability and project management are useful for handling changing tasks and priorities. Fine motor skills also appear in the skill profile, reflecting the need for precision in certain tasks. Together, this mix of education and skills offers multiple ways to prepare for and develop in the occupation, even without a completed college degree.
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