SalaryByCity

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks vs Computer Hardware Engineers: 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

Computer Hardware Engineers

$155,020

Median annual salary

75,710 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Computer Hardware Engineers professionals earn $105,810 more per year than Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks professionals — that's 215.0% higher. At the 90th percentile, Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks earns $72,660 compared to $223,820 for Computer Hardware Engineers.

Salary Range Comparison

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$34,600 – $72,660
Computer Hardware Engineers$85,430 – $223,820
$34,600$223,820

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileBookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksComputer Hardware EngineersDifference
10th Percentile$34,600$85,430$-50,830
25th Percentile$41,390$115,500$-74,110
Median (50th)$49,210$155,020$-105,810
75th Percentile$60,220$185,380$-125,160
90th Percentile$72,660$223,820$-151,160
Mean (Average)$52,020$156,770$-104,750

Employment Numbers

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

1,455,770

employed nationwide

Computer Hardware Engineers

75,710

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 Computer Hardware Engineers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$197,090
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$174,070
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$172,920
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$170,570
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$169,230

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks or Computer Hardware Engineers?
Computer Hardware Engineers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $105,810 (215.0% 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 Computer Hardware Engineers?
Computer Hardware Engineers salaries range from $85,430 (10th percentile) to $223,820 (90th percentile), with a median of $155,020.
How many Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks and Computer Hardware Engineers jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,455,770 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks positions and 75,710 Computer Hardware Engineers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Computer Hardware Engineers 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 Computer Hardware Engineers earns $155,020. 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