Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
SOC Code: 43-3031.00
Office & Admin SupportBookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks form the backbone of financial record-keeping across virtually every industry and organization. With a median salary of $49,210, this accessible career provides a stable entry point into the financial services profession without requiring a four-year degree. These professionals ensure that financial transactions are properly recorded, classified, and reconciled, maintaining the accuracy that businesses depend on for decision-making, tax compliance, and regulatory reporting.
Salary Overview
Median
$49,210
25th Percentile
$41,390
75th Percentile
$60,220
90th Percentile
$72,660
Salary Distribution
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Growth Rate
-5.8%
New Openings
170,000
Outlook
Decline
Key Skills
Knowledge Areas
What They Do
- Operate 10-key calculators, typewriters, and copy machines to perform calculations and produce documents.
- Debit, credit, and total accounts on computer spreadsheets and databases, using specialized accounting software.
- Check figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and proper codes.
- Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Code documents according to company procedures.
- Perform financial calculations, such as amounts due, interest charges, balances, discounts, equity, and principal.
- Perform general office duties, such as filing, answering telephones, and handling routine correspondence.
- Access computerized financial information to answer general questions as well as those related to specific accounts.
Tools & Technology
★ = Hot Technology (in-demand)
Education Requirements
Typical entry-level education: High School Diploma
Related Careers
Top Career Pivot Targets
View all 45 →Careers with the highest skill compatibility from Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks.
A Day in the Life
A bookkeeping clerk's typical day centers on recording financial transactions, processing invoices, and reconciling accounts using accounting software like QuickBooks, Xero, or enterprise systems such as SAP and Oracle. Morning tasks often include processing accounts payable by verifying vendor invoices, matching purchase orders with receiving documents, and preparing payment batches for approval. Accounts receivable duties involve generating customer invoices, posting incoming payments, following up on past-due balances, and preparing aging reports for management review. Throughout the day, clerks enter journal entries, update general ledger accounts, and categorize expenses according to the organization's chart of accounts. Bank reconciliation is a critical recurring task, requiring clerks to match transactions between bank statements and internal records to identify discrepancies. Month-end and year-end closing periods are the busiest times, when clerks prepare financial statements, gather documentation for auditors, and ensure all transactions are properly recorded within the correct accounting period. Many clerks also handle payroll processing, benefits administration, and petty cash management depending on the organization's size and structure.
Work Environment
Bookkeeping clerks work primarily in office environments, spending most of their time at computer workstations using accounting software, spreadsheets, and financial databases. The work is sedentary and detail-oriented, requiring sustained concentration and accuracy when processing high volumes of numerical data and financial transactions. Standard business hours are the norm for most positions, though month-end, quarter-end, and tax season deadlines periodically require extended hours to complete closing procedures and reporting. The atmosphere is typically quiet and professional, with clerks working either independently or as part of small accounting teams within larger organizations. Remote work has become increasingly available in bookkeeping, as cloud-based accounting software enables clerks to perform most functions from home offices with secure internet connections. Bookkeeping positions exist in organizations of every size across all industries, from small family businesses and nonprofit organizations to large corporations, government agencies, and public accounting firms.
Career Path & Advancement
Entry into bookkeeping typically requires a high school diploma supplemented by postsecondary coursework in accounting, bookkeeping, or business studies, though some positions prefer an associate degree. Community college programs and vocational schools offer certificate and associate degree programs in accounting and bookkeeping that provide the foundational knowledge employers seek. Professional certifications significantly enhance career prospects, with the Certified Bookkeeper designation from the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers and the Certified Public Bookkeeper credential from the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers being the most recognized. With experience and additional education, clerks can advance to full-charge bookkeeper positions managing complete accounting cycles for small to mid-sized organizations. Further advancement paths lead to accounting technician, staff accountant, and accounting supervisor roles, particularly for those who pursue a bachelor's degree in accounting. Some experienced bookkeepers establish independent practices serving multiple small business clients, building entrepreneurial careers with flexible schedules and diversified income streams.
Specializations
Bookkeeping clerks can concentrate their expertise in several distinct functional areas within the accounting department. Accounts payable specialists focus on vendor management, invoice processing, payment timing optimization, and expense categorization across organizations with high transaction volumes. Accounts receivable specialists concentrate on billing, collections, credit management, and cash application for companies with complex customer payment structures. Payroll clerks specialize in wage calculations, tax withholdings, benefits deductions, and compliance with federal, state, and local employment tax regulations. General ledger clerks focus on journal entries, account reconciliation, financial statement preparation, and supporting the monthly closing process. Some clerks specialize in industry-specific bookkeeping for sectors like construction, healthcare, nonprofit, or real estate that have unique accounting requirements and reporting standards. Tax preparation specialists within bookkeeping teams focus on organizing financial data for income tax returns, sales tax filings, and payroll tax reports.
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- ✓Bookkeeping is one of the most accessible financial careers, typically requiring only a high school diploma and postsecondary certificate rather than an expensive four-year degree.
- ✓Positions exist in virtually every industry and geographic location, providing exceptional flexibility in choosing where to work and what sector to serve.
- ✓Standard business hours are common, offering predictable schedules and better work-life balance than many other financial services careers.
- ✓The growing availability of remote bookkeeping positions allows clerks to work from home, reducing commuting costs and increasing schedule flexibility.
- ✓Independent bookkeeping provides an entrepreneurial path with low startup costs, allowing experienced professionals to build client portfolios and set their own rates.
- ✓The work provides daily satisfaction from maintaining order, solving discrepancies, and knowing that accurate financial records support sound business decisions.
- ✓Bookkeeping serves as an excellent stepping stone to more advanced accounting, finance, and management roles with additional education and certification.
Challenges
- ✗The median salary of $49,210 is modest compared to other financial professions, and wage growth can plateau without advancing into more senior accounting roles.
- ✗Automation and AI-powered accounting tools are reducing demand for routine data entry and transaction recording tasks, creating long-term job displacement concerns.
- ✗The work can become repetitive and monotonous, particularly during high-volume data entry periods and routine reconciliation cycles.
- ✗Month-end, quarter-end, and tax season deadlines create periodic stress and extended hours that disrupt normal work schedules.
- ✗Errors in financial records can have serious consequences including incorrect financial statements, tax penalties, and audit findings that create personal accountability pressure.
- ✗The sedentary nature of desk-based computer work throughout the day can contribute to physical health issues including eye strain and repetitive stress injuries.
- ✗Limited advancement opportunities exist without pursuing additional education such as a bachelor's degree in accounting or professional certifications like the CPA.
Industry Insight
The bookkeeping profession is undergoing significant transformation driven by automation, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence technologies. Cloud-based accounting platforms have shifted the industry toward real-time financial processing, automated bank feeds, and machine learning-powered transaction categorization that reduce manual data entry requirements. While automation eliminates some routine tasks, it simultaneously elevates the bookkeeper's role toward analysis, exception handling, advisory services, and technology management. Small business formation continues to grow, creating sustained demand for bookkeeping services from entrepreneurs who need affordable financial management but cannot justify hiring full-time accountants. The gig economy and freelance bookkeeping sector are expanding rapidly, with virtual bookkeeping firms and independent practitioners serving clients remotely across geographic boundaries. Regulatory complexity around sales tax, employment classification, and international transactions is increasing, requiring bookkeepers to maintain broader knowledge than in previous decades. Integration of payment platforms, e-commerce systems, and banking APIs with accounting software is creating new technical competency requirements for modern bookkeeping professionals.
How to Break Into This Career
Aspiring bookkeeping clerks should begin by completing coursework in accounting fundamentals, either through community college programs, vocational schools, or reputable online platforms that offer certificates in bookkeeping and accounting. Gaining proficiency in popular accounting software such as QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, and Microsoft Excel is essential, as employers consistently list these as required skills in job postings. Volunteer bookkeeping for small nonprofits, community organizations, religious institutions, or family businesses provides practical experience and reference letters that strengthen job applications. Temporary staffing agencies that specialize in accounting and finance placements offer an excellent entry path, as many bookkeeping positions begin as temporary assignments that convert to permanent employment. Pursuing the Certified Bookkeeper or Certified Public Bookkeeper designation demonstrates professional commitment and may provide a competitive edge over candidates without credentials. Developing attention to detail through practice with data entry exercises, reconciliation projects, and financial statement analysis helps build the precision mindset essential for success in the profession.
Career Pivot Tips
Bookkeeping clerks develop financial literacy, organizational skills, and attention to detail that transfer productively to many adjacent careers. The accounting knowledge gained provides a direct foundation for advancing into staff accountant, financial analyst, and auditing positions with additional education or certification such as a CPA or CMA. Data entry speed, accuracy, and database management skills translate to administrative coordinator, office manager, and operations support roles across any industry. Payroll processing experience creates pathways to human resources specialist and benefits administration positions that combine financial precision with employee services. Experience with financial software and reporting prepares bookkeepers for roles in business intelligence, financial systems administration, and ERP implementation consulting. Customer-facing skills developed through accounts receivable collections and vendor management qualify bookkeepers for client services, procurement, and contract administration positions. Some bookkeepers transition to tax preparation specialist or enrolled agent careers, leveraging their understanding of financial documentation and tax compliance to serve individual and small business taxpayers.
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