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Occupation Profile
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

What do they do?

Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.
Typical interests of people in this field:
Conventional, Enterprising

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What does this information tell me?

This description can give you a quick overview of what you might do if you worked in this job.

“Typical interests of people in this field” shows the main types of interests related to this occupation, based on categories from the Interest Assessment. You’ll see one, two, or three “interest types” that are strongest for the occupation.

You can read more about these interest types and learn more about your own interests by taking the Interest Assessment.

You can use this information to see if this career might be a good match for what you are interested in and like to do. 

What is the source of this information?

The occupation description and the related interests come from O*NET OnLine’s Occupation Information.

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Also known as

  • Account Clerk
  • Accounting Assistant
  • Accounting Associate
  • Accounting Clerk
  • Accounting Specialist
  • Accounting Technician
  • Accounts Payable Clerk
  • Accounts Payable Specialist
  • Accounts Payables Clerk
  • Accounts Receivable Clerk
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What does this information tell me?

This is a list of other names for the occupation you selected. Sometimes different employers, industries, or parts of the country use different names for the same career.

You can use these names as substitutes for the career name when you’re looking for more information online or searching for job postings.

What is the source of this information?

These alternate titles come from O*NET OnLine’s Occupation Information.

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Career video

https://reentry.careeronestop.org/CDN/OccVids/OccupationVideos/43-3031.00.mp4
Transcript:It takes detail orientation, math skills, and personal integrity to run the numbers for an entire organization… or even a small part of one. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks bring those qualities to work producing financial records… so that organizations know exactly how much money they’ve spent, what is owed to them, and their total profits and losses. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks use specialized computer accounting software to enter information from receipts or bills. They may handle payroll, billing, purchasing, and monitor overdue bills. Effective bookkeeping requires regular communication with clients as well. Some clerks are full-charge bookkeepers who oversee an entire organization’s books. Others, especially at larger companies, are accounting clerks who handle specific tasks. They all use basic math throughout the day. Most bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks work full time, in offices, although part-time schedules are not uncommon. Additional hours may be required for audits, during tax season, or to meet end-of-fiscal-year deadlines. Although a high school diploma or equivalent is required, most employers prefer candidates with some college coursework in accounting. On-the-job training can last up to one year. Clerks must have basic math and computer skills, including knowledge of spreadsheets and bookkeeping software.
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What does this information tell me?

This career video gives more information about the career you selected.

You can view the complete video script by clicking “View Transcript” above.

This video is one of hundreds of downloadable career videos in CareerOneStop’s Video Library.

What is the source of this information?

These career videos were produced by CareerOneStop (newer videos) or by a national video consortium, which includes many state workforce agencies. Data and information the videos are from the Occupational Outlook Handbook and O*NET OnLine’s Occupation Information.

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How much does it pay?

Hourly wages for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks in United States


Wage Chart for Occupation
$18.65 $27.90


Wage Chart legend for lowest 25 percent
  One out of four earn less than $18.65
Wage Chart legend for middle 50 percent
  Half earn between $18.65 and $27.90
Wage Chart legend for highest 25 percent
  One out of four earn more than $27.90


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What does this information tell me?

This chart shows you a range of how much most workers in this occupation earn per hour, in the location that you selected.

The lower rate on the left shows what 25 percent of all workers in this field earn less than, and 75 percent earn more than. If you are just starting out, you can assume you might make closer to this amount than the higher amount, although this is not necessarily a “starting wage.” Often workers with more experience and training earn wages at the higher end.

You can learn more about wages for this and other occupations by clicking “See more wages” above.

What is the source of this information?

The wage information comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program, a semi-annual survey that provides wage and employment statistics for the nation, each state, and sub-state regions.

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Will there be jobs?

Image. Employment outlook for this occupation
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.

This occupation is:
  • Projected to have a large number of job openings


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What does this information tell me?

Outlook information can tell you whether a career is expected to be in demand in the future—that is, whether there are likely to be job openings if you choose this career. Please note that this does not account for the impacts of the current pandemic. Many occupations are likely to have very different outlooks due to the rapidly changing economy. When new outlook information is developed, it will be reflected here.

Careers can have one of three outlooks:

  • A Bright outlook means new job opportunities are very likely in the future
  • An Average outlook means that a small number of new job opportunities are likely in the future (less than an 8 percent increase)
  • A Below average outlook means new job opportunities are less likely in the future

You can also view local job listings in this field by clicking "Find job openings" above. This can help you see if local businesses are hiring—another way of looking at demand.

What is the source of this information?

This information comes from O*NET Bright Outlook occupations and My Next Move career outlook designations (based on Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2022-32). It is only available at a national level, so even if you selected a state, you’ll only see this information for the whole country.

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How much education do you need?

Typical education needed for entry: Some college, no degree
Chart. Percent of workers in this field by education level attained

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What does this information tell me?

There are two pieces of information here:

  • The first sentence tells you the typical level of education that you would need to start in this career. You can use this to see if you have, or want to get, the education level usually needed for this career.
  • The chart shows you the range of education levels that people who currently work in this field have. You can use this to see if you fit in this range.

Note that these two may be different since the chart includes ALL people who work in this field and not just those getting started.

For example, sometimes career requirements change. People already in the field may not be required to have the higher level of education that new workers need.

You can search for programs that lead to the education needed for this career in your local area, by clicking “Find local training” above.

What is the source of this information?

These data come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, Education and training assignments by detailed occupation, 2022; and Educational attainment for workers 25 years and older by detailed occupation, 2018-19.

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What you might do in a day
  • Maintain financial or account records.
  • Operate computers or computerized equipment.
  • Execute sales or other financial transactions.
  • Verify accuracy of financial or transactional data.
  • Compile data or documentation.
  • Perform personal bookkeeping services.
  • Operate computers programmed with accounting software to record, store, and analyze information.
  • Prepare and process payroll information.
  • Check figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and proper codes.
  • Prepare bank deposits by compiling data from cashiers, verifying and balancing receipts, and sending cash, checks, or other forms of payment to banks.
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What does this information tell me?

This is a list of typical tasks that people in this career might do on the job.  You can use this list to get an idea of whether this career might be a good fit for you.

Click on “More tasks” to see more detailed examples of activities for this career.

You can also use this list to help you prepare for a job interview. Or, if you’ve already held a job like this, you can copy these tasks to use on your resume.

What is the source of this information?

This information comes from O*NET OnLine's Occupation Information. The first five items on the list are O*NET’s Detailed Work Activities. The second five, shown after you click “More tasks,” are O*NET‘s Tasks.

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