Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks: Job Description
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.
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What Do Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks Perform?
The core tasks performed by bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks span:
- 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.
- Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Operate 10-key calculators, typewriters, and copy machines to perform calculations and produce documents.
- Receive, record, and bank cash, checks, and vouchers.
- Code documents according to company procedures.
- Perform financial calculations, such as amounts due, interest charges, balances, discounts, equity, and principal.
- Reconcile or note and report discrepancies found in records.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Account Administrator
- Account Clerk
- Account Information Clerk
- Account Receivable Clerk
- Accountant Assistant
- Accountant Clerk
- Accountant Helper
- Accounting Assistant
How Many Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks Are There?
There are about 1,490,368 bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +13.5% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $63,707 |
| Hourly median | $30.63 |
| 10th percentile | $38,496 |
| 25th percentile | $51,102 |
| 75th percentile | $76,313 |
| 90th percentile | $88,918 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $62,470 |
| California | $57,470 |
| Connecticut | $57,290 |
| Massachusetts | $57,120 |
| New Jersey | $56,730 |
| Washington | $56,580 |
| New York | $55,880 |
| Alaska | $54,510 |
| Maryland | $54,080 |
| Colorado | $54,080 |
| Rhode Island | $53,730 |
| Minnesota | $52,350 |
| Delaware | $51,590 |
| Vermont | $51,510 |
| New Hampshire | $50,410 |
| Oregon | $50,180 |
| Maine | $49,510 |
| Nevada | $49,500 |
| Arizona | $49,030 |
| Wisconsin | $48,860 |
| Illinois | $48,840 |
| Virginia | $48,680 |
| Hawaii | $48,400 |
| North Dakota | $48,260 |
| Texas | $48,250 |
| Utah | $48,210 |
| Florida | $47,980 |
| Michigan | $47,680 |
| Georgia | $47,490 |
| Ohio | $47,430 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,390 |
| Iowa | $47,150 |
| Missouri | $46,990 |
| Indiana | $46,880 |
| Idaho | $46,690 |
| North Carolina | $46,640 |
| New Mexico | $46,610 |
| Tennessee | $46,540 |
| South Carolina | $46,300 |
| Nebraska | $46,140 |
| Kansas | $45,920 |
| Wyoming | $45,810 |
| Virgin Islands | $45,760 |
| Montana | $45,600 |
| Kentucky | $45,260 |
| South Dakota | $44,780 |
| Oklahoma | $44,480 |
| Louisiana | $43,550 |
| Alabama | $42,490 |
| West Virginia | $40,080 |
| Arkansas | $40,070 |
| Mississippi | $40,070 |
| Guam | $30,890 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,870 |
Where Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks Earn the Most
Compensation for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $55,905 | 16.3% | 0.99 |
| New England | $55,029 | 4.8% | 1.01 |
| Middle Atlantic | $53,681 | 14.7% | 0.98 |
| Rocky Mountains | $49,918 | 4.1% | 1.06 |
| Great Lakes | $47,988 | 13.6% | 0.96 |
| Plains States | $47,943 | 7.4% | 1.17 |
| Southwest | $47,906 | 12.4% | 0.99 |
| Southeast | $46,263 | 26.2% | 1.08 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $64,480 | 17,670 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $64,340 | 7,750 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $60,720 | 690 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | CA | $60,220 | 1,030 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $59,950 | 2,220 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $59,440 | 1,210 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $59,170 | 87,860 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $58,650 | 1,800 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 211,760 | $50,180 |
| Construction | 129,360 | $51,670 |
| Wholesale Trade | 116,260 | $48,810 |
| Retail Trade | 114,210 | $45,030 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 104,870 | $48,810 |
| Manufacturing | 96,350 | $50,590 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 94,010 | $48,560 |
| Finance and Insurance | 85,770 | $49,570 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks Use
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Medical software: Epic Systems (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Telephone Conversations
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
Getting Started in This Career
Most bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Financial Managers (Supplemental)
- Accountants and Auditors (Supplemental)
- Credit Analysts (Supplemental)
- Loan Officers (Supplemental)
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents (Supplemental)
- Tax Preparers (Supplemental)
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents (Supplemental)
- Bill and Account Collectors (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks typically earn programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 43-3031.00 (Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks).
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