How much does a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk make?
The median bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk in the United States earns $50,670 per year, about $24.36 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 43-3031.
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk salary range
Pay for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $36,000 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $74,550. The average (mean) wage of $53,560 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,000 | $17.31 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $43,520 | $20.92 | |
| Median (50th) | $50,670 | $24.36 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $61,470 | $29.55 | |
| 90th percentile | $74,550 | $35.84 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks (SOC 43-3031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks earn the most in District of Columbia at $65,180 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $42,840. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $65,180 | 1,790 |
| Connecticut | $59,970 | 14,930 |
| Massachusetts | $59,830 | 29,110 |
| California | $59,230 | 151,870 |
| Washington | $58,620 | 32,930 |
| New Jersey | $58,300 | 37,550 |
| New York | $58,160 | 84,280 |
| Alaska | $56,430 | 4,580 |
| Vermont | $54,720 | 2,950 |
| Minnesota | $54,600 | 26,850 |
| Oregon | $54,060 | 21,710 |
| Colorado | $54,000 | 26,140 |
| Maryland | $53,540 | 18,170 |
| Rhode Island | $53,280 | 4,570 |
| New Hampshire | $52,450 | 7,180 |
| Delaware | $51,780 | 4,600 |
| Virginia | $51,620 | 31,990 |
| Arizona | $50,590 | 22,690 |
| Maine | $50,510 | 7,390 |
| Nevada | $50,380 | 15,180 |
| Wisconsin | $50,340 | 25,960 |
| North Dakota | $49,710 | 4,290 |
| Illinois | $49,560 | 51,470 |
| Utah | $49,440 | 12,650 |
| Georgia | $49,350 | 38,700 |
| Florida | $49,330 | 88,670 |
| Michigan | $48,980 | 37,550 |
| Texas | $48,910 | 122,400 |
| Ohio | $48,810 | 45,140 |
| Hawaii | $48,730 | 5,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,440 | 48,920 |
| Idaho | $48,310 | 9,540 |
| Iowa | $48,180 | 14,020 |
| Tennessee | $48,180 | 37,680 |
| New Mexico | $48,080 | 7,780 |
| Missouri | $47,990 | 21,400 |
| South Carolina | $47,940 | 19,980 |
| North Carolina | $47,930 | 48,760 |
| Wyoming | $47,910 | 3,480 |
| Indiana | $47,820 | 29,910 |
| Kansas | $47,290 | 15,380 |
| Montana | $47,270 | 6,980 |
| Nebraska | $47,110 | 10,050 |
| Kentucky | $46,550 | 23,480 |
| South Dakota | $46,340 | 10,200 |
| Oklahoma | $46,180 | 16,490 |
| Louisiana | $44,890 | 18,980 |
| Alabama | $44,640 | 19,890 |
| West Virginia | $42,890 | 7,620 |
| Arkansas | $42,840 | 12,510 |
| Mississippi | $42,840 | 12,160 |
State median wages for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks (SOC 43-3031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
The BLS projects employment of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 5.6%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 1,532,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 1,446,800 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 144,100 openings a year for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk
The typical entry-level education for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks is some college but no degree, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk earns
Employer, industry, seniority, and metro area drive pay. Large organizations and high cost cities pay above small offices and entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $65,180) and the lowest (Mississippi, $42,840) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 1,373,680 people work as bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks in the United States. At $50,670 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk salary FAQ
How much does a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk is $24.36. The middle half of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks earn between $20.92 and $29.55 per hour.
What is the highest bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks earn more than $74,550 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk make a year?
The median annual salary for a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk is $50,670. The average (mean) wage of $53,560 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk a well paid job?
At $50,670 a year, a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 1,373,680 people work as bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks in the United States.
Which state pays bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks at $65,180 a year. Connecticut ($59,970) and Massachusetts ($59,830) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk a good career?
Employment of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks is projected to shrink 5.6% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 144,100 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks as some college but no degree, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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