SalaryByCity

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks vs Software Developers: 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

Software Developers

$133,080

Median annual salary

1,654,440 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Software Developers professionals earn $83,870 more per year than Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks professionals — that's 170.4% higher. At the 90th percentile, Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks earns $72,660 compared to $211,450 for Software Developers.

Salary Range Comparison

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$34,600 – $72,660
Software Developers$79,850 – $211,450
$34,600$211,450

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileBookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSoftware DevelopersDifference
10th Percentile$34,600$79,850$-45,250
25th Percentile$41,390$103,050$-61,660
Median (50th)$49,210$133,080$-83,870
75th Percentile$60,220$169,000$-108,780
90th Percentile$72,660$211,450$-138,790
Mean (Average)$52,020$144,570$-92,550

Employment Numbers

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

1,455,770

employed nationwide

Software Developers

1,654,440

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 Software Developers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$208,270
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$174,910
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$169,340
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$161,970
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$159,240

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks or Software Developers?
Software Developers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $83,870 (170.4% 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 Software Developers?
Software Developers salaries range from $79,850 (10th percentile) to $211,450 (90th percentile), with a median of $133,080.
How many Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks and Software Developers jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,455,770 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks positions and 1,654,440 Software Developers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Software Developers 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 Software Developers earns $133,080. 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