SalaryByCity

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks vs Retail Salespersons: 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

Retail Salespersons

$34,580

Median annual salary

3,800,250 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks professionals earn $14,630 more per year than Retail Salespersons professionals — that's 42.3% higher. At the 90th percentile, Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks earns $72,660 compared to $47,930 for Retail Salespersons.

Salary Range Comparison

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$34,600 – $72,660
Retail Salespersons$25,600 – $47,930
$25,600$72,660

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileBookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksRetail SalespersonsDifference
10th Percentile$34,600$25,600+$9,000
25th Percentile$41,390$29,140+$12,250
Median (50th)$49,210$34,580+$14,630
75th Percentile$60,220$37,850+$22,370
90th Percentile$72,660$47,930+$24,730
Mean (Average)$52,020$37,150+$14,870

Employment Numbers

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

1,455,770

employed nationwide

Retail Salespersons

3,800,250

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 Retail Salespersons

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$43,040
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$42,490
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$39,180
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO$37,500
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$37,350

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks or Retail Salespersons?
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $14,630 (42.3% 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 Retail Salespersons?
Retail Salespersons salaries range from $25,600 (10th percentile) to $47,930 (90th percentile), with a median of $34,580.
How many Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks and Retail Salespersons jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,455,770 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks positions and 3,800,250 Retail Salespersons positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Retail Salespersons 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 Retail Salespersons earns $34,580. 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