SalaryByCity

Accountants and Auditors vs Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Accountants and Auditors

$81,680

Median annual salary

1,448,290 employed nationally

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

$49,210

Median annual salary

1,455,770 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Accountants and Auditors professionals earn $32,470 more per year than Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks professionals — that's 66.0% higher. At the 90th percentile, Accountants and Auditors earns $141,420 compared to $72,660 for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks.

Salary Range Comparison

Accountants and Auditors$52,780 – $141,420
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$34,600 – $72,660
$34,600$141,420

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileAccountants and AuditorsBookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksDifference
10th Percentile$52,780$34,600+$18,180
25th Percentile$64,660$41,390+$23,270
Median (50th)$81,680$49,210+$32,470
75th Percentile$106,450$60,220+$46,230
90th Percentile$141,420$72,660+$68,760
Mean (Average)$93,520$52,020+$41,500

Employment Numbers

Accountants and Auditors

1,448,290

employed nationwide

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

1,455,770

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Accountants and Auditors

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$121,630
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$105,750
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$105,100
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$99,440
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$99,380

Best Cities for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

CityMedian
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$64,480
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$64,340
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$59,170
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$58,400
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$58,390

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Accountants and Auditors or Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks?
Accountants and Auditors professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $32,470 (66.0% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Accountants and Auditors?
Accountants and Auditors salaries range from $52,780 (10th percentile) to $141,420 (90th percentile), with a median of $81,680.
What is the salary range for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks?
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks salaries range from $34,600 (10th percentile) to $72,660 (90th percentile), with a median of $49,210.
How many Accountants and Auditors and Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,448,290 Accountants and Auditors positions and 1,455,770 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks to Accountants and Auditors?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Accountants and Auditors has a median salary of $81,680 while Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks earns $49,210. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS