State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks earn a median of $50,670 per year ($24.36/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 5.8% through 2034, with about 170,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Some college, no degree.
SOC 43-3031Office and Administrative SupportLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $50,670
- Projected growth
- -5.8%
- Openings a year
- 170,000
- Typical education
- Some college
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Account Clerk, Accounting Assistant, Accounting Associate, Accounting Clerk, Accounting Specialist, Accounting Technician.
How much do Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks make?
10th percentile$36,000
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$43,520
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$50,670
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$61,470
Upper quartile
90th percentile$74,550
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $50,670 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $24.36/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $53,560 |
| People employed | 1,373,680 |
Versus all US occupations
At $50,670, the median for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks sits in line with the $50,980 median across all US occupations.
Versus office and administrative support occupations
Inside the Office and Administrative Support group, where the middle occupation pays $48,500, this is 4% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $74,550 or more while the bottom 10% earn $36,000, a gap of 2.1×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 31% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $65,180, and still leads at $59,308 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $65,180 | $59,308 | 1,790 |
| Connecticut | $59,970 | $57,881 | 14,930 |
| Massachusetts | $59,830 | $56,573 | 29,110 |
| California | $59,230 | $53,495 | 151,870 |
| Washington | $58,620 | $54,778 | 32,930 |
| New Jersey | $58,300 | $53,582 | 37,550 |
| New York | $58,160 | $53,891 | 84,280 |
| Alaska | $56,430 | $55,129 | 4,580 |
| Vermont | $54,720 | $55,861 | 2,950 |
| Minnesota | $54,600 | $55,363 | 26,850 |
Is Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk a growing career?
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks-5.8%
All US occupations3.1%
-5.8% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Declining
BLS projects employment of Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks to change -5.8% over 2024–2034, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.1%. That is 94,300 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 170,000 openings are projected each year, 10.5% of the 1,613,400 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Technological change is expected to reduce demand for these workers. Software innovations have automated many of the tasks performed by bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks. As a result, the same amount of work can be done with fewer employees, which is expected to lead to job losses over the projections decade.
With more automation of routine tasks, bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are expected to take on a more analytical and advisory role over the decade. For example, rather than entering data by hand, these workers may focus on analyzing their clients’ books and pointing out potential areas for efficiency gains.
How to become a Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk
No US state licenses bookkeeping, accounting or auditing clerks, and no certification is required to do the work. Entry is an employer decision: a high school diploma, usually with some college accounting coursework, and the rest learned on the job. The two credentials people search for, the AIPB Certified Bookkeeper and the NACPB Certified Public Bookkeeper, are voluntary and issued by membership associations. NACPB calls its credential a "license", which is a source of real confusion: it is not a government licence and no state board stands behind it.
The credential path, step by step
- Meet the employer education bar
Employers generally prefer candidates who have a high school diploma and have completed college courses in a related subject such as accounting. Some candidates take a bachelor's degree in a field such as business. Others are hired with the diploma alone.
- Learn the work on the job
Clerks typically receive training on the job, often working alongside an experienced clerk, plus formal training on the specialised accounting software the employer uses.
- Decide whether a voluntary certification is worth it
BLS records certification as "not usually required". It is a signal to employers and clients, not a permission to practise, so the question is whether the people hiring you care.
- For the AIPB Certified Bookkeeper: experience first, then four exam parts
AIPB requires evidence of at least 2 years of full-time bookkeeping experience, or 3,000 hours of part-time or freelance experience, submitted before or after you pass. The national certification exam has four parts, administered at Prometric test centres, with a passing grade of 75 percent on each part, and you must sign the Certified Bookkeeper Code of Ethics.
- For the NACPB Certified Public Bookkeeper: courses, exams and supervised hours
NACPB requires the Accounting Fundamentals course plus the Bookkeeping Certification exam and the QuickBooks Fundamentals course plus the Intuit QuickBooks Certification exam, though an associate or bachelor's degree in accounting can be submitted in substitution. It also requires one year (2,000 hours) of bookkeeping experience supervised by a qualified bookkeeper, CPB, CPA or accountant, a three-part licence exam scored at 75 percent or better on each part, and agreement to its Code of Professional Conduct.
- Treat the clerk role as a step, not a ceiling
With appropriate experience and additional education, bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks may become accountants or auditors. Clerks who meet an employer's education and experience requirements sometimes move directly into junior accounting positions.
Exams you have to pass
AIPB Certified Bookkeeper Examination (CB exam)
A four-part national examination covering adjusting entries, error correction, payroll, depreciation, inventory, and internal controls and fraud prevention. The passing grade is 75 percent on each part. Passing alone does not confer the designation: the experience evidence and the signed Code of Ethics are separate requirements.
Administered by American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers, at Prometric test centres.
NACPB Certified Public Bookkeeper Licence Examination (CPB exam)
A three-part examination, 50 multiple-choice questions per part with two hours allowed for each, requiring a minimum of 75 percent on every part.
Administered by National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers.
- How long the training takes
No required programme. Clerks are trained after they are hired.
The delay, where there is one, is experience rather than schooling: AIPB wants 2 years of full-time or 3,000 hours of part-time bookkeeping work, and NACPB wants one year (2,000 hours) under a qualified supervisor. Employers generally prefer some college accounting coursework, which is a matter of a few courses rather than a degree.
- Continuing education
Not required
None is required to work as a clerk. The voluntary credentials set their own: AIPB requires 60 continuing professional education credits every three years from the date of certification, and NACPB requires 24 hours of continuing professional education each year beginning the first year after the licence is issued.
Licensing and state variation
Not a state license
No state licenses this occupation, and there is no state board, no reciprocity question and no scope-of-practice statute to check. The only thing that reliably confuses people is vocabulary: NACPB issues what it calls a Certified Public Bookkeeper "license", renewable annually and expiring on 31 December, but it is a private credential from a membership association rather than a government licence, and losing it does not stop you working. AIPB is explicit that its Certified Bookkeeper designation is a voluntary certification.
Who governs the credential
- American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) — Awards the Certified Bookkeeper (CB) designation, a voluntary certification with an experience requirement, a four-part national examination at Prometric, a Code of Ethics and a continuing education obligation.
- National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB) — Issues the Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) credential, which it calls a licence, based on its own courses and examinations plus supervised experience. It is a private membership credential, not a credential issued by any state.
Credential detail for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks · checked August 23, 2026
- AIPB: Certification Program · checked August 23, 2026
- AIPB: The Certified Bookkeeper (CB) Designation · checked August 23, 2026
- NACPB: Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) License · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Entry requirements vary for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks. Some employers require or prefer that workers have taken college courses or have a degree in accounting or a related field. Others may hire workers who have a high school diploma. These workers also learn some of their skills on the job.
| Typical entry-level education | Some college, no degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks.
- High School Diploma40.9%
- Post-Secondary Certificate20.8%
- Bachelor's Degree12.2%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)8.5%
- Master's Degree6.5%
What does a Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk do?
Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks compute, classify, and record data to help organizations keep complete and accurate financial records.
Day-to-day tasks
- Operate computers programmed with accounting software to record, store, and analyze information.
- Check figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and proper codes.
- Operate 10-key calculators, typewriters, and copy machines to perform calculations and produce documents.
- Perform general office duties, such as filing, answering telephones, and handling routine correspondence.
- Reconcile or note and report discrepancies found in records.
- Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Debit, credit, and total accounts on computer spreadsheets and databases, using specialized accounting software.
- Receive, record, and bank cash, checks, and vouchers.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks work full time. They may work extra hours to meet deadlines at the end of the fiscal year, during tax time, or when monthly or yearly accounting audits are performed.
Where the work happens
- Indoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day
Physical demands
- Seated for more than half the working day
Working with people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks work
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 13% |
|---|---|
| Construction | 8% |
| Wholesale trade | 7% |
| Retail trade | 7% |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 7% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Mathematics3.4/5
- Reading Comprehension3.3/5
- Active Listening3.3/5
- Critical Thinking3.3/5
- Writing3.1/5
- Speaking3.1/5
- Monitoring3.0/5
- Active Learning2.8/5
Transferable skills
- Time Management3.0/5
- Coordination2.9/5
- Service Orientation2.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.9/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.8/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.8/5
- Persuasion2.3/5
- Negotiation2.3/5
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realistic1.6
Investigative2.2
Artistic1.0
Social1.5
Enterprising2.9
Conventionalprimary7.0
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk: frequently asked questions
How much do Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks make?
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks earn a median of $50,670 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), close to the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $24.36/hr. The middle half earn between $43,520 and $61,470. The top 10% earn $74,550 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk?
Not necessarily. BLS lists "some college, no degree" as the typical entry-level education for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 40.9% hold high school diploma.
Is Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 5.8% over 2024–2034, a loss of 94,300 jobs (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 170,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk do?
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks compute, classify, and record data to help organizations keep complete and accurate financial records. A core O*NET task: operate computers programmed with accounting software to record, store, and analyze information. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Data base user interface and query software, Document management software.
Which states pay Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks the most?
The highest state medians for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks are District of Columbia ($65,180), Connecticut ($59,970), Massachusetts ($59,830) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk?
O*NET scores Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks highest on the Conventional interest area, which means organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ESTJ, ISFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become a Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk?
No required programme. Clerks are trained after they are hired. The delay, where there is one, is experience rather than schooling: AIPB wants 2 years of full-time or 3,000 hours of part-time bookkeeping work, and NACPB wants one year (2,000 hours) under a qualified supervisor. Employers generally prefer some college accounting coursework, which is a matter of a few courses rather than a degree.
Do you need a license to work as a Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk?
Not a state license. No state licenses this occupation, and there is no state board, no reciprocity question and no scope-of-practice statute to check. The only thing that reliably confuses people is vocabulary: NACPB issues what it calls a Certified Public Bookkeeper "license", renewable annually and expiring on 31 December, but it is a private credential from a membership association rather than a government licence, and losing it does not stop you working. AIPB is explicit that its Certified Bookkeeper designation is a voluntary certification.
What exams and certifications apply to a Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk?
The CB exam (AIPB Certified Bookkeeper Examination) and the CPB exam (NACPB Certified Public Bookkeeper Licence Examination). A four-part national examination covering adjusting entries, error correction, payroll, depreciation, inventory, and internal controls and fraud prevention. The passing grade is 75 percent on each part. Passing alone does not confer the designation: the experience evidence and the signed Code of Ethics are separate requirements.