Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
Also called: Account Administrator, Account Clerk, Account Information Clerk, Account Receivable Clerk, Accountant Assistant, Accountant Clerk, Accountant Helper, Accounting Assistant
Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete.
What bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks do
Typical tasks
- Operate computers programmed with accounting software to record, store, and analyze information.
- Check figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and proper codes.
- Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Operate 10-key calculators, typewriters, and copy machines to perform calculations and produce documents.
- Receive, record, and bank cash, checks, and vouchers.
- Code documents according to company procedures.
- Perform financial calculations, such as amounts due, interest charges, balances, discounts, equity, and principal.
- Reconcile or note and report discrepancies found in records.
- Perform general office duties, such as filing, answering telephones, and handling routine correspondence.
- Access computerized financial information to answer general questions as well as those related to specific accounts.
- Classify, record, and summarize numerical and financial data to compile and keep financial records, using journals and ledgers or computers.
- Debit, credit, and total accounts on computer spreadsheets and databases, using specialized accounting software.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks salary
The median annual wage for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks is $50,670 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $36,000 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $74,550. The mean annual wage is $53,560.
The mean hourly wage of $25.00 is 3.4× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $50,670 → in 3 years $53,000 → in 5 years $54,600 → in 10 years $58,800 (10-year range $50,600–$68,300). The model assumes pay growth of +1.5% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks United States | 経理事務 Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $50,670 | ¥5.12M ≈ $32,575 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $58,800 | ¥5.50M |
| Outlook score | 30 | 32 |
| AI replacement risk | 84% Very high | 89% Very high |
| Workers | 1.4M | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 3 — medium preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★☆☆☆ Fairly easy (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.