Bookkeeper / Accounting Clerk
Office Support · $50,670 median · ~8 weeks to start, up to ~1.5 years training · Structurally ineligible for Workforce Pell
How we know this
The wage and outlook figures are verified against the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS/OOH 2025), last reviewed August 20, 2026. We show our sources so you can check every number yourself.
Honest tradeoffs
bls projects steepest decline in corpus
BLS projects -5% growth 2024-2034 for bookkeeping — the STEEPEST DECLINE in the NotCollege corpus, steeper than Machinist's -3%. AI accounting tools displace routine work at accelerating pace. Pure data-entry bookkeeping has acute displacement risk.
ai displacement accelerating
AI accounting tools (QBO AI, Bench, Xero machine learning, ChatGPT/Claude tax assistance) accelerate displacement. Many small businesses can self-manage with AI-augmented tools; others need only quarterly review rather than monthly bookkeeping. The market is shifting.
Wages
Earnings by career stage
range · estimatedResearched estimates by experience level, setting, and region — see the full breakdown below. The BLS median is the one figure verified directly against bls.gov.
Pay by stage & setting
- Entry bookkeeper at small business or staffing agency $31-38K
- Experienced bookkeeper at mid-size company $42-55K
- Full-charge bookkeeper (handles all accounting through trial balance) $50-65K
- Senior bookkeeper / accounting manager $58-78K
- Self-employed bookkeeping service owner highly variable but $60-150K+ with established clients
- Specialty (forensic bookkeeping, payroll, small business advisory) $65-95K. AICPA Accountant-level work ($79K+) typically requires bachelor's degree but bookkeeper-to-accountant transitions possible via experience + ACCA or AIPB credentialing.
Workforce Pell eligibility
Not eligible for Workforce Pell
Training
That's a wide span on purpose: you can start working after a short pre-apprenticeship or entry course, while the longer figure reflects a full apprenticeship. The career ladder below breaks the journey into steps.
Ways in
Paid, on-the-job training combined with classroom hours — you get a wage from day one instead of paying tuition.
Common sponsors: Small business direct hire (rolling), Staffing agencies (Robert Half Accounting, Accountemps), Some major employers offer formal entry programs (rare)
An associate degree or certificate — usually the fastest accredited credential, far cheaper than a four-year school, and often Workforce Pell–eligible.
Credentials you'll earnwith typical prep time
QuickBooks proficiency
No mandatory cert
QuickBooks is industry-standard small business accounting software. Proficiency demonstrable via portfolio + sample work.
Source ↗Cost vs. payoff
- Training cost
- $100–$14,000
- Training pays for itself in
- about 3 months
The low end is the cheapest route in — a paid apprenticeship, community college, or employer-paid program (sometimes free); the high end is a private or for-profit school. The range is about which route you take, not extra certifications.
Getting started — your first moves
- 1
Find an apprenticeship
Apply to a registered apprenticeship — you earn a paycheck from day one while you train, instead of paying tuition.
- 2
Earn your first credential
Study for and pass the QuickBooks proficiency.
- 3
Get hired and grow
Land an entry role and start building experience — pay climbs as you move up the career ladder above.
See it where you live
The figures above are national. Pay and programs vary a lot by state — pick yours and we'll send you straight to the official local data, no guessing.
Career ladder
Bookkeeper / Accounting Clerk (entry)
Entry$38,000Entry; ramping rapidly with QBO proficiency
Training: QuickBooks ProAdvisor cert + portfolio (sample bookkeeping work)
Full-Charge Bookkeeper / Senior
Year 3$52,000Mid-tier; handles full accounting cycle through trial balance
Training: AIPB CB or NACPB CPB + 3 years experience + payroll cert recommended
Self-employed Bookkeeping Service / Specialty
Year 6$80,000Ceiling tier; specialty + advisory work most durable; 10-20 client base typical
Training: Specialty cert (CFE, CPP, industry specialty) + business marketing
In your state
State licensure
No state-specific licensure requirements documented in corpus.
Data limitations
- • BLS OEWS May 2025 detail tables not yet pushed
- • Wage direct verification recommended
- • Per-state and per-MSA bookkeeper wage tables
- • AI displacement trajectory — emerging data on actual employment impact
Common questions
How much does a Bookkeeper / Accounting Clerk make?
The median wage is $50,670 per year (BLS OEWS 2025). Most earn between $36,000 and $74,550. Actual pay varies by region, employer, and experience.
How long does it take to become a Bookkeeper / Accounting Clerk?
Typical training runs about 8 weeks to get started, and up to about 1.5 years to reach the top of the field. This is a non-degree path — no four-year college degree is required. Many people earn a paid wage during an apprenticeship instead of paying tuition.
Do you need a college degree to become a Bookkeeper / Accounting Clerk?
No. Bookkeeper / Accounting Clerk is a non-degree career path — you qualify through training, certification, and/or on-the-job experience rather than a four-year degree.
Is Bookkeeper / Accounting Clerk eligible for Workforce Pell funding?
Not structurally — the typical program runs longer than the federal Workforce Pell hour cap, so it generally won't qualify for Workforce Pell. Other financial aid may still apply.
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