Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks (SOC 43-3031) earn a median $50,670 a year ($24.36 an hour) in the United States, with 1,373,680 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks do
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks compute, classify, and record numerical data so that an organization's financial records stay complete. Using accounting software on a computer, they enter and code transactions according to company procedures, and they perform calculations such as amounts due, interest charges, balances, and discounts. They examine figures, postings, and documents to confirm that entries are correct, the math is right, and the codes are proper, and they reconcile or report discrepancies found in the records. Some also check the postings that other workers have recorded. They may receive, record, and bank cash, checks, and vouchers, and they follow federal, state, and company policies and procedures. Calculators and other office machines support the work. Accountants and auditors, whose work is analytical rather than routine posting and verifying, and payroll and timekeeping clerks, who have a separate code, are not part of this group.
Typical entry: O*NET survey respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the education level for this occupation.
Also called: Account Administrator, Account Clerk, Account Information Clerk, Account Receivable Clerk, Accountant Assistant.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.31 | $20.92 | $24.36 | $29.55 | $35.84 | $25.75 | 1,373,680 |
| Annual | $36,000 | $43,520 | $50,670 | $61,470 | $74,550 | $53,560 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $22.66 | $26.58 | $31.34 | $37.36 | $45.35 | $32.53 | 1,790 | 2.55 | 0.29 |
| Annual | $47,140 | $55,280 | $65,180 | $77,700 | $94,320 | $67,650 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $20.89 | $23.96 | $28.83 | $34.00 | $39.30 | $29.66 | 14,930 | 8.80 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $43,450 | $49,840 | $59,970 | $70,710 | $81,740 | $61,690 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $19.59 | $23.64 | $28.77 | $33.23 | $38.98 | $29.07 | 29,110 | 8.00 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $40,760 | $49,160 | $59,830 | $69,110 | $81,080 | $60,460 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $20.00 | $23.37 | $28.48 | $33.94 | $39.42 | $29.24 | 151,870 | 8.34 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $41,600 | $48,600 | $59,230 | $70,600 | $81,990 | $60,830 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $21.67 | $23.96 | $28.18 | $31.93 | $37.32 | $28.89 | 32,930 | 9.27 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $45,070 | $49,830 | $58,620 | $66,400 | $77,630 | $60,090 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $20.00 | $23.37 | $28.48 | $33.94 | $39.42 | $29.24 | 151,870 | 8.34 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $41,600 | $48,600 | $59,230 | $70,600 | $81,990 | $60,830 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $16.09 | $19.57 | $23.52 | $29.00 | $35.01 | $24.85 | 122,400 | 8.70 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $33,480 | $40,710 | $48,910 | $60,320 | $72,810 | $51,690 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $17.64 | $20.62 | $23.72 | $28.83 | $34.74 | $25.28 | 88,670 | 8.93 | 1.01 |
| Annual | $36,680 | $42,890 | $49,330 | $59,960 | $72,260 | $52,590 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $19.17 | $22.79 | $27.96 | $33.33 | $39.42 | $28.81 | 84,280 | 8.70 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $39,880 | $47,400 | $58,160 | $69,330 | $81,990 | $59,930 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $15.56 | $20.52 | $23.83 | $28.91 | $34.36 | $24.93 | 51,470 | 8.44 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $32,360 | $42,680 | $49,560 | $60,130 | $71,480 | $51,860 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $23.23 | $28.27 | $31.79 | $37.72 | $46.40 | $33.70 | 7,590 | 6.69 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $48,310 | $58,800 | $66,130 | $78,460 | $96,500 | $70,090 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $22.60 | $27.65 | $31.51 | $37.72 | $45.60 | $33.19 | 18,100 | 7.63 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $47,010 | $57,510 | $65,530 | $78,460 | $94,860 | $69,040 | ||||
| New Haven, CT | Hourly | $21.63 | $24.23 | $30.24 | $35.96 | $39.30 | $30.35 | 2,900 | 10.32 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $44,980 | $50,400 | $62,890 | $74,790 | $81,740 | $63,130 | ||||
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | Hourly | $20.87 | $24.27 | $29.79 | $37.41 | $47.51 | $31.31 | 1,120 | 11.35 | 1.29 |
| Annual | $43,410 | $50,480 | $61,960 | $77,800 | $98,820 | $65,120 | ||||
| Napa, CA | Hourly | $22.00 | $26.65 | $29.67 | $35.00 | $40.95 | $30.83 | 700 | 8.98 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $45,760 | $55,430 | $61,710 | $72,800 | $85,170 | $64,120 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $20.50 | $23.95 | $29.15 | $35.47 | $40.99 | $30.15 | 77,010 | 8.11 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $42,650 | $49,820 | $60,640 | $73,770 | $85,260 | $62,710 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $19.55 | $23.09 | $28.17 | $32.55 | $38.22 | $28.69 | 53,910 | 8.60 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $40,660 | $48,030 | $58,590 | $67,710 | $79,500 | $59,670 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $17.37 | $21.93 | $24.73 | $29.62 | $35.30 | $26.01 | 35,660 | 7.90 | 0.89 |
| Annual | $36,140 | $45,620 | $51,440 | $61,610 | $73,430 | $54,100 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $17.78 | $21.73 | $24.86 | $29.73 | $36.05 | $26.36 | 34,930 | 8.63 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $36,980 | $45,190 | $51,720 | $61,840 | $74,970 | $54,820 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $16.70 | $20.13 | $23.78 | $29.07 | $35.58 | $25.13 | 26,090 | 7.93 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $34,730 | $41,860 | $49,460 | $60,460 | $74,010 | $52,280 | ||||
Top industries employing bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services employ 7.2% of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks nationally (98,500 jobs) at a median $49,220 a year ($23.66 an hour), followed by Management of Companies and Enterprises (5.2%) and Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (4.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services NAICS 541200 | 98,500 | 7.2% | $49,220 | $23.66 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 71,290 | 5.2% | $51,200 | $24.62 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 63,840 | 4.6% | $52,300 | $25.15 |
| Real Estate NAICS 531000 | 50,020 | 3.6% | $53,470 | $25.71 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 40,550 | 3.0% | $51,680 | $24.85 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (1,373,680). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $45,560 for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks in May 2021 and $50,670 in May 2025, with employment of 1,509,370 and 1,373,680.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $45,560 | $21.90 | 1,509,370 |
| May 2022 | $45,860 | $22.05 | 1,550,750 |
| May 2023 | $47,440 | $22.81 | 1,501,910 |
| May 2024 | $49,210 | $23.66 | 1,455,770 |
| May 2025 | $50,670 | $24.36 | 1,373,680 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $31.34 | $65,180 | $47,140 | $94,320 | 1,790 | 2.55 | 0.29 |
| 2 | Connecticut profile | $28.83 | $59,970 | $43,450 | $81,740 | 14,930 | 8.80 | 1.00 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $28.77 | $59,830 | $40,760 | $81,080 | 29,110 | 8.00 | 0.91 |
| 4 | California profile | $28.48 | $59,230 | $41,600 | $81,990 | 151,870 | 8.34 | 0.94 |
| 5 | Washington profile | $28.18 | $58,620 | $45,070 | $77,630 | 32,930 | 9.27 | 1.05 |
| 6 | New Jersey profile | $28.03 | $58,300 | $41,000 | $78,910 | 37,550 | 8.76 | 0.99 |
| 7 | New York profile | $27.96 | $58,160 | $39,880 | $81,990 | 84,280 | 8.70 | 0.98 |
| 8 | Alaska profile | $27.13 | $56,430 | $40,000 | $76,800 | 4,580 | 14.07 | 1.59 |
| 9 | Vermont profile | $26.31 | $54,720 | $41,720 | $74,970 | 2,950 | 9.69 | 1.10 |
| 10 | Minnesota profile | $26.25 | $54,600 | $37,800 | $73,450 | 26,850 | 9.10 | 1.03 |
| 11 | Oregon profile | $25.99 | $54,060 | $37,750 | $74,600 | 21,710 | 11.03 | 1.25 |
| 12 | Colorado profile | $25.96 | $54,000 | $37,250 | $77,540 | 26,140 | 9.10 | 1.03 |
| 13 | Maryland profile | $25.74 | $53,540 | $39,500 | $75,600 | 18,170 | 6.58 | 0.74 |
| 14 | Rhode Island profile | $25.61 | $53,280 | $39,880 | $76,210 | 4,570 | 9.11 | 1.03 |
| 15 | New Hampshire profile | $25.22 | $52,450 | $36,400 | $72,260 | 7,180 | 10.51 | 1.19 |
| 16 | Delaware profile | $24.89 | $51,780 | $38,130 | $71,410 | 4,600 | 9.49 | 1.07 |
| 17 | Virginia profile | $24.82 | $51,620 | $36,610 | $72,860 | 31,990 | 7.78 | 0.88 |
| 18 | Arizona profile | $24.32 | $50,590 | $37,440 | $68,170 | 22,690 | 7.00 | 0.79 |
| 19 | Maine profile | $24.28 | $50,510 | $40,000 | $69,990 | 7,390 | 11.53 | 1.31 |
| 20 | Nevada profile | $24.22 | $50,380 | $36,650 | $71,890 | 15,180 | 9.78 | 1.11 |
| 21 | Wisconsin profile | $24.20 | $50,340 | $36,350 | $65,460 | 25,960 | 8.83 | 1.00 |
| 22 | North Dakota profile | $23.90 | $49,710 | $37,340 | $66,040 | 4,290 | 9.98 | 1.13 |
| 23 | Illinois profile | $23.83 | $49,560 | $32,360 | $71,480 | 51,470 | 8.44 | 0.96 |
| 24 | Utah profile | $23.77 | $49,440 | $35,910 | $66,580 | 12,650 | 7.29 | 0.82 |
| 25 | Georgia profile | $23.73 | $49,350 | $32,810 | $71,810 | 38,700 | 7.92 | 0.90 |
| 26 | Florida profile | $23.72 | $49,330 | $36,680 | $72,260 | 88,670 | 8.93 | 1.01 |
| 27 | Michigan profile | $23.55 | $48,980 | $36,250 | $67,480 | 37,550 | 8.53 | 0.97 |
| 28 | Texas profile | $23.52 | $48,910 | $33,480 | $72,810 | 122,400 | 8.70 | 0.98 |
| 29 | Ohio profile | $23.47 | $48,810 | $36,110 | $67,330 | 45,140 | 8.13 | 0.92 |
| 30 | Hawaii profile | $23.43 | $48,730 | $35,760 | $65,090 | 5,220 | 8.32 | 0.94 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania profile | $23.29 | $48,440 | $34,960 | $69,570 | 48,920 | 8.07 | 0.91 |
| 32 | Idaho profile | $23.23 | $48,310 | $34,690 | $72,870 | 9,540 | 11.12 | 1.26 |
| 33 | Iowa profile | $23.17 | $48,180 | $33,240 | $66,490 | 14,020 | 8.99 | 1.02 |
| 34 | Tennessee profile | $23.16 | $48,180 | $35,000 | $67,730 | 37,680 | 11.49 | 1.30 |
| 35 | New Mexico profile | $23.12 | $48,080 | $35,660 | $70,890 | 7,780 | 8.94 | 1.01 |
| 36 | Missouri profile | $23.07 | $47,990 | $34,570 | $68,180 | 21,400 | 7.29 | 0.83 |
| 37 | South Carolina profile | $23.05 | $47,940 | $33,370 | $68,870 | 19,980 | 8.67 | 0.98 |
| 38 | North Carolina profile | $23.04 | $47,930 | $33,710 | $67,290 | 48,760 | 9.87 | 1.12 |
| 39 | Wyoming profile | $23.03 | $47,910 | $33,850 | $67,710 | 3,480 | 12.40 | 1.40 |
| 40 | Indiana profile | $22.99 | $47,820 | $33,010 | $66,960 | 29,910 | 9.34 | 1.06 |
| 41 | Kansas profile | $22.74 | $47,290 | $32,130 | $64,130 | 15,380 | 10.70 | 1.21 |
| 42 | Montana profile | $22.73 | $47,270 | $34,270 | $63,980 | 6,980 | 13.64 | 1.54 |
| 43 | Nebraska profile | $22.65 | $47,110 | $33,060 | $62,460 | 10,050 | 9.82 | 1.11 |
| 44 | Kentucky profile | $22.38 | $46,550 | $30,090 | $66,930 | 23,480 | 11.74 | 1.33 |
| 45 | South Dakota profile | $22.28 | $46,340 | $35,730 | $59,140 | 10,200 | 22.30 | 2.52 |
| 46 | Oklahoma profile | $22.20 | $46,180 | $31,530 | $66,100 | 16,490 | 9.65 | 1.09 |
| 47 | Louisiana profile | $21.58 | $44,890 | $28,760 | $65,220 | 18,980 | 9.81 | 1.11 |
| 48 | Alabama profile | $21.46 | $44,640 | $30,460 | $60,250 | 19,890 | 9.41 | 1.07 |
| 49 | West Virginia profile | $20.62 | $42,890 | $30,890 | $58,560 | 7,620 | 10.87 | 1.23 |
| 50 | Arkansas profile | $20.60 | $42,840 | $28,130 | $62,230 | 12,510 | 9.60 | 1.09 |
| 51 | Mississippi profile | $20.60 | $42,840 | $28,210 | $62,390 | 12,160 | 10.46 | 1.18 |
Part of Office and Administrative Support Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 43-3031 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 43-3031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 43-3031.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.