Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks: 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
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks held more than 2 million jobs in 2004. They are found in all industries and at all levels of government. Local government and the accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services industry are among the individual industries employing the largest numbers of these clerks. A growing number work for employment services firms, the result of an increase in outsourcing of this occupation. About 1 out of 4 bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks worked part time in 2004.
In May 2004, the median wage and salary annual earnings of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks were $28,570. The middle half of the occupation earned between $22,960 and $35,450. The top 10 percent of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks more than $43,570, and the bottom 10 percent earned less than $18,580.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting employment: 4,250 mean earnings: $27,120 (def) (IG) | $16,470 | $20,380 | $25,800 | $32,440 | $40,040 |
| Forestry and Logging employment: 1,250 mean earnings: $25,380 | $14,630 | $19,250 | $23,500 | $29,070 | $36,750 |
| Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry employment: 3,010 mean earnings: $27,840 | $17,120 | $21,040 | $26,880 | $33,270 | $41,120 |
| Mining employment: 9,770 mean earnings: $31,440 (EC) (def) (IG) | $18,660 | $23,990 | $30,030 | $37,550 | $46,800 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: 5,100 mean earnings: $32,610 | $17,550 | $24,700 | $31,430 | $39,910 | $50,030 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) employment: 2,140 mean earnings: $30,220 | $18,490 | $23,620 | $29,050 | $36,120 | $43,760 |
| Support Activities for Mining employment: 2,540 mean earnings: $30,140 | $19,400 | $23,330 | $27,920 | $35,240 | $44,150 |
| Utilities employment: 6,500 mean earnings: $34,520 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,980 | $26,460 | $33,510 | $41,680 | $50,650 |
| Utilities employment: 6,500 mean earnings: $34,520 | $20,980 | $26,460 | $33,510 | $41,680 | $50,650 |
| Construction employment: 150,300 mean earnings: $32,340 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,090 | $24,370 | $31,310 | $39,260 | $46,900 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 42,210 mean earnings: $32,370 | $18,730 | $24,340 | $31,720 | $39,680 | $46,890 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 15,070 mean earnings: $32,980 | $19,820 | $25,070 | $31,790 | $39,950 | $47,730 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 93,020 mean earnings: $32,220 | $19,140 | $24,270 | $31,040 | $38,930 | $46,760 |
| Manufacturing employment: 142,030 mean earnings: $31,890 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,500 | $25,150 | $30,900 | $37,200 | $44,700 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 12,040 mean earnings: $29,960 | $19,700 | $23,810 | $28,710 | $34,890 | $42,760 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing employment: 2,050 mean earnings: $31,950 | $20,280 | $24,910 | $30,730 | $37,360 | $45,320 |
| Textile Mills employment: 1,520 mean earnings: $31,710 | $20,120 | $24,700 | $30,390 | $37,420 | $45,280 |
| Textile Product Mills employment: 1,840 mean earnings: $29,590 | $18,850 | $23,160 | $28,070 | $34,970 | $42,910 |
| Apparel Manufacturing employment: 2,870 mean earnings: $32,920 | $20,520 | $25,070 | $32,180 | $40,430 | $46,530 |
| Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing employment: 400 mean earnings: $29,940 | $19,200 | $23,870 | $27,950 | $35,530 | $43,880 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing employment: 5,780 mean earnings: $29,580 | $19,270 | $23,600 | $28,750 | $34,940 | $42,090 |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: 3,980 mean earnings: $32,880 | $23,210 | $26,970 | $32,020 | $37,310 | $44,430 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities employment: 10,130 mean earnings: $31,840 | $20,340 | $24,760 | $30,480 | $37,900 | $44,870 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing employment: 1,300 mean earnings: $33,860 | $21,220 | $25,930 | $32,710 | $40,800 | $48,460 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 9,420 mean earnings: $33,640 | $23,000 | $26,960 | $32,800 | $39,820 | $45,870 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 6,340 mean earnings: $31,880 | $21,350 | $25,660 | $31,030 | $36,500 | $44,050 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 6,120 mean earnings: $30,910 | $19,840 | $24,400 | $29,980 | $36,430 | $43,600 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 3,400 mean earnings: $31,670 | $20,130 | $25,320 | $31,280 | $36,730 | $44,130 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 19,630 mean earnings: $32,550 | $20,120 | $25,130 | $31,260 | $38,220 | $45,760 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 14,310 mean earnings: $31,590 | $20,050 | $24,930 | $30,570 | $36,680 | $44,720 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 11,510 mean earnings: $34,540 | $23,710 | $28,180 | $33,390 | $40,320 | $47,640 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 4,580 mean earnings: $32,640 | $22,440 | $26,130 | $31,630 | $37,980 | $44,600 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 9,170 mean earnings: $31,550 | $20,620 | $25,080 | $30,760 | $36,540 | $44,150 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing employment: 6,200 mean earnings: $29,670 | $19,370 | $23,640 | $28,700 | $34,520 | $42,190 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 9,430 mean earnings: $31,590 | $20,080 | $25,100 | $30,880 | $36,660 | $44,290 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 147,420 mean earnings: $31,340 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,690 | $24,250 | $29,950 | $36,920 | $45,000 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 79,260 mean earnings: $31,780 | $20,020 | $24,720 | $30,610 | $37,240 | $45,060 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 49,470 mean earnings: $30,570 | $19,490 | $23,570 | $28,810 | $35,950 | $44,480 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 18,690 mean earnings: $31,480 | $18,900 | $24,260 | $30,060 | $38,460 | $45,910 |
| Retail Trade employment: 209,170 mean earnings: $27,570 (EC) (def) (IG) | $16,860 | $20,800 | $26,300 | $33,170 | $40,760 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers employment: 48,650 mean earnings: $28,810 | $18,530 | $22,420 | $27,630 | $34,220 | $41,690 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores employment: 15,270 mean earnings: $28,820 | $17,400 | $21,380 | $27,110 | $34,290 | $42,820 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores employment: 9,060 mean earnings: $28,290 | $17,380 | $21,640 | $27,580 | $33,570 | $40,770 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers employment: 24,600 mean earnings: $27,170 | $17,030 | $20,500 | $25,740 | $32,510 | $40,130 |
| Food and Beverage Stores employment: 28,880 mean earnings: $25,670 | $15,850 | $19,200 | $24,060 | $30,360 | $37,310 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores employment: 11,500 mean earnings: $27,900 | $15,230 | $20,860 | $26,820 | $33,670 | $42,190 |
| Gasoline Stations employment: 9,790 mean earnings: $23,750 | $14,070 | $17,910 | $21,890 | $28,170 | $35,810 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores employment: 11,380 mean earnings: $27,890 | $17,880 | $21,050 | $26,660 | $33,730 | $41,270 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores employment: 9,290 mean earnings: $26,440 | $15,960 | $19,920 | $25,130 | $32,140 | $39,560 |
| General Merchandise Stores employment: 15,490 mean earnings: $28,100 | $17,660 | $21,310 | $27,030 | $34,360 | $41,340 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 16,230 mean earnings: $27,400 | $16,700 | $20,970 | $26,010 | $32,660 | $41,050 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 9,020 mean earnings: $29,160 | $18,630 | $22,780 | $28,210 | $34,510 | $41,840 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 41,530 mean earnings: $30,880 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,130 | $23,710 | $29,310 | $36,280 | $45,800 |
| Air Transportation employment: 3,230 mean earnings: $31,830 | $22,510 | $25,950 | $31,160 | $36,940 | $43,510 |
| Rail Transportation employment: 550 mean earnings: $40,520 | $23,260 | $29,990 | $41,190 | $50,860 | $56,180 |
| Water Transportation employment: 700 mean earnings: $33,610 | $21,880 | $26,110 | $32,090 | $39,540 | $48,630 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 15,240 mean earnings: $28,670 | $17,370 | $22,080 | $27,620 | $34,110 | $41,580 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation employment: 2,830 mean earnings: $29,140 | $18,340 | $22,010 | $27,570 | $34,510 | $43,320 |
| Pipeline Transportation employment: 480 mean earnings: $31,660 | $19,440 | $24,240 | $30,650 | $38,500 | $45,400 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation employment: 430 mean earnings: $28,740 | $17,020 | $21,660 | $27,930 | $35,060 | $42,130 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 10,480 mean earnings: $30,850 | $19,590 | $24,320 | $29,290 | $35,860 | $43,890 |
| Postal Service employment: 1,470 mean earnings: $50,810 | $45,630 | $47,560 | $50,760 | $53,960 | $55,880 |
| Couriers and Messengers employment: 1,810 mean earnings: $30,850 | $19,420 | $23,220 | $29,850 | $36,490 | $45,640 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: 4,330 mean earnings: $30,820 | $20,240 | $24,360 | $29,790 | $35,580 | $44,140 |
| Information employment: 42,980 mean earnings: $32,650 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,760 | $24,880 | $31,310 | $39,000 | $46,210 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 14,570 mean earnings: $31,280 | $19,520 | $24,290 | $30,250 | $36,680 | $44,530 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries employment: 4,560 mean earnings: $33,870 | $20,710 | $25,930 | $32,030 | $40,530 | $49,580 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) employment: 4,230 mean earnings: $32,160 | $19,400 | $24,090 | $30,380 | $38,750 | $48,260 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting employment: 320 mean earnings: $33,820 | $20,910 | $26,170 | $32,280 | $38,070 | $45,150 |
| Telecommunications employment: 11,150 mean earnings: $34,250 | $21,330 | $26,560 | $33,390 | $40,790 | $45,950 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 7,450 mean earnings: $32,420 | $18,300 | $23,700 | $30,210 | $38,750 | $48,750 |
| Other Information Services employment: 710 mean earnings: $32,510 | $19,360 | $25,070 | $31,800 | $39,090 | $46,960 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 147,520 mean earnings: $31,250 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,840 | $24,210 | $29,800 | $36,420 | $44,800 |
| Monetary Authorities - Central Bank employment: 980 mean earnings: $32,960 | $23,490 | $26,760 | $31,890 | $37,670 | $45,000 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 81,200 mean earnings: $29,310 | $19,160 | $22,970 | $27,870 | $34,240 | $42,130 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 17,010 mean earnings: $36,580 | $22,600 | $27,980 | $34,630 | $43,360 | $53,540 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 44,940 mean earnings: $32,440 | $21,120 | $25,620 | $31,330 | $38,070 | $45,670 |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles employment: 3,390 mean earnings: $34,760 | $20,950 | $26,580 | $33,710 | $42,220 | $51,020 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 61,640 mean earnings: $31,280 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,610 | $24,280 | $30,010 | $37,170 | $44,970 |
| Real Estate employment: 49,910 mean earnings: $31,790 | $19,980 | $24,860 | $30,560 | $37,830 | $45,520 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 10,780 mean earnings: $29,060 | $19,050 | $21,850 | $27,490 | $34,730 | $42,360 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) employment: 960 mean earnings: $29,330 | $13,260 | $22,220 | $28,630 | $36,600 | $44,200 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 202,070 mean earnings: $32,000 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,120 | $24,090 | $30,880 | $38,870 | $46,740 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 202,070 mean earnings: $32,000 | $19,120 | $24,090 | $30,880 | $38,870 | $46,740 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 70,210 mean earnings: $31,370 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,740 | $24,920 | $30,250 | $36,160 | $44,090 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 70,210 mean earnings: $31,370 | $20,740 | $24,920 | $30,250 | $36,160 | $44,090 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 100,290 mean earnings: $29,880 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,040 | $23,240 | $28,300 | $34,900 | $43,090 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 96,080 mean earnings: $29,790 | $19,010 | $23,200 | $28,210 | $34,790 | $42,920 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 4,200 mean earnings: $32,070 | $19,600 | $24,290 | $30,760 | $38,000 | $46,380 |
| Educational Services employment: 86,950 mean earnings: $31,220 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,580 | $24,970 | $30,500 | $36,480 | $43,730 |
| Educational Services employment: 86,950 mean earnings: $31,220 | $20,580 | $24,970 | $30,500 | $36,480 | $43,730 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 137,650 mean earnings: $30,540 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,660 | $23,940 | $29,510 | $35,750 | $43,370 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 66,590 mean earnings: $31,620 | $19,770 | $24,330 | $30,590 | $37,290 | $44,680 |
| Hospitals employment: 33,450 mean earnings: $30,150 | $20,780 | $24,570 | $29,280 | $34,920 | $41,490 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 15,190 mean earnings: $30,430 | $19,920 | $24,100 | $29,560 | $35,510 | $43,020 |
| Social Assistance employment: 22,420 mean earnings: $28,010 | $17,620 | $21,680 | $26,980 | $33,480 | $40,540 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 25,180 mean earnings: $28,520 (EC) (def) (IG) | $16,990 | $21,600 | $27,370 | $34,340 | $41,920 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 5,980 mean earnings: $30,640 | $18,300 | $23,060 | $29,240 | $36,110 | $44,170 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions employment: 1,890 mean earnings: $29,170 | $19,490 | $23,470 | $28,460 | $34,450 | $41,260 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 17,310 mean earnings: $27,710 | $16,310 | $20,960 | $26,670 | $33,650 | $41,020 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 48,960 mean earnings: $25,980 (EC) (def) (IG) | $16,190 | $20,050 | $24,700 | $30,710 | $37,280 |
| Accommodation employment: 23,930 mean earnings: $25,490 | $16,970 | $20,140 | $24,400 | $29,570 | $35,750 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places employment: 25,030 mean earnings: $26,450 | $15,330 | $19,930 | $25,030 | $31,820 | $39,270 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 72,430 mean earnings: $28,420 (EC) (def) (IG) | $15,190 | $20,760 | $27,270 | $34,780 | $43,370 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 26,370 mean earnings: $27,350 | $15,520 | $20,160 | $25,880 | $33,380 | $42,080 |
| Personal and Laundry Services employment: 9,810 mean earnings: $27,700 | $14,600 | $19,830 | $26,110 | $33,890 | $42,710 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 36,250 mean earnings: $29,390 | $15,150 | $21,770 | $28,800 | $35,750 | $44,210 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 108,480 mean earnings: $31,760 (def) (IG) | $20,470 | $25,360 | $31,370 | $37,830 | $44,130 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 108,480 mean earnings: $31,760 | $20,470 | $25,360 | $31,370 | $37,830 | $44,130 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.