SalaryByCity

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks vs Buyers and Purchasing Agents: Salary Comparison (2024)

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

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

$49,210

Median annual salary

1,455,770 employed nationally

Buyers and Purchasing Agents

$75,650

Median annual salary

486,900 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Buyers and Purchasing Agents professionals earn $26,440 more per year than Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks professionals — that's 53.7% higher. At the 90th percentile, Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks earns $72,660 compared to $127,520 for Buyers and Purchasing Agents.

Salary Range Comparison

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$34,600 – $72,660
Buyers and Purchasing Agents$46,460 – $127,520
$34,600$127,520

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileBookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksBuyers and Purchasing AgentsDifference
10th Percentile$34,600$46,460$-11,860
25th Percentile$41,390$58,670$-17,280
Median (50th)$49,210$75,650$-26,440
75th Percentile$60,220$99,190$-38,970
90th Percentile$72,660$127,520$-54,860
Mean (Average)$52,020$81,720$-29,700

Employment Numbers

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

1,455,770

employed nationwide

Buyers and Purchasing Agents

486,900

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

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

Best Cities for Buyers and Purchasing Agents

CityMedian
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$103,560
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$102,140
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$93,320
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$85,980
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$84,680

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks or Buyers and Purchasing Agents?
Buyers and Purchasing Agents professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $26,440 (53.7% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
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.
What is the salary range for Buyers and Purchasing Agents?
Buyers and Purchasing Agents salaries range from $46,460 (10th percentile) to $127,520 (90th percentile), with a median of $75,650.
How many Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks and Buyers and Purchasing Agents jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,455,770 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks positions and 486,900 Buyers and Purchasing Agents positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Buyers and Purchasing Agents to Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks has a median salary of $49,210 while Buyers and Purchasing Agents earns $75,650. 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