- Bookkeeper pay and jobs at a glance
- Becoming a bookkeeper, step by step
- The insight: shrinking numbers, steady openings
- Where bookkeepers work and what it pays
- What bookkeepers do all day
- Hours, deadlines and freelance options
- Skills that make a good bookkeeper
- Where it can lead
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To become a bookkeeper in the US, you'll usually need a high school diploma plus some college courses in accounting or a related subject. Most bookkeepers learn the rest on the job, often alongside an experienced clerk, and certification is optional but can help show your skills. Some employers hire with a high school diploma alone.
Bookkeeping is one of the most accessible office careers. There's no license and no required degree, which is why it's popular with career changers and people who want flexible work.
Every figure here comes from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook, read on 26 October 2026. BLS groups bookkeepers with accounting and auditing clerks.
Bookkeeper pay and jobs at a glance
| Measure | BLS figure |
|---|---|
| Median pay (May 2025) | $50,670 a year, $24.36 an hour |
| Lowest 10 in every 100 earned less than | $36,000 |
| Highest 10 in every 100 earned more than | $74,550 |
| Jobs in 2025 | 1,532,400 |
| Projected change 2025 to 2035 | A fall of 6% |
| Openings each year | About 144,100 on average |
Those pay figures are as of October 2026, from the May 2025 BLS wage survey.
Becoming a bookkeeper, step by step
- Finish high school. A diploma or equivalent is the usual baseline.
- Take college courses in accounting. Many employers prefer candidates who've done related coursework. Some people take a bachelor's degree in a field such as business.
- Learn the software. Training on the job often covers specialized accounting software, and some employers provide formal training.
- Get your first role. Expect to work alongside an experienced clerk while you learn the tasks.
- Consider certification. It isn't usually required, but professional certification can help demonstrate competency.
The insight: shrinking numbers, steady openings
BLS projects bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerk jobs to fall 6% from 2025 to 2035, because software has automated many of the tasks. That sounds like a reason to look elsewhere.
But BLS also projects about 144,100 openings a year over the decade, all of them from people moving to other jobs or leaving the labor force. In a field this big, replacement demand keeps the door open. The smart move is to be the bookkeeper who's good with the software, not the one competing with it.
Where bookkeepers work and what it pays
| Industry | Share of jobs | Median pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 14% | $51,880 |
| Construction | 8 in every 100 | $54,890 |
| Retail trade | 7 in every 100 | $45,830 |
| Wholesale trade | 7 in every 100 | $50,660 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 6 in every 100 | $49,860 |
Construction paid the highest median of the industries BLS lists, as of October 2026, and retail the lowest. The professional services group includes accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll firms.
What bookkeepers do all day
BLS describes the core job as computing, classifying and recording data so an organization keeps complete and accurate financial records. In practice, that means:
- Entering (posting) financial transactions into accounting software
- Recording cash, checks and vouchers
- Assigning costs and income to the right accounts
- Producing reports such as balance sheets, income statements and totals by account
- Checking figures, postings and reports for accuracy
- Reconciling and reporting any differences in the records
Some bookkeepers are full-charge bookkeeping clerks who maintain an entire organization's books. Others are accounting clerks who handle specific tasks, such as accounts payable or receivable. If you're starting out, a narrower accounting clerk role is often an easier first step, and it teaches you one part of the books well before you take on the whole set.
Hours, deadlines and freelance options
Most bookkeepers work full time in an office. You may work extra hours at the end of the fiscal year, at tax time or during monthly and yearly audits. Bookkeepers who serve several firms may visit clients' places of business, and many work alone for long stretches.
If you want to work for yourself, this guide to starting freelance bookkeeping from home covers the practical setup, and our comparison of bookkeeping software for small businesses shows the tools your clients are likely to use.
Skills that make a good bookkeeper
- Comfort with numbers and careful attention to detail
- Confidence with accounting software and spreadsheets
- Organisation, so records are complete when deadlines arrive
- Discretion with financial information
- Working independently for long periods
If you're starting with no experience at all, our guide to becoming a remote bookkeeper with no experience walks through first steps.
Where it can lead
With experience and more education, BLS says some bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks become accountants or auditors. That's the natural next step if you enjoy the work and want higher pay and more responsibility.
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My verdict
Bookkeeping is a practical career you can start without a degree or license, and there'll be plenty of openings even as total jobs shrink. Take a few accounting courses, get very good at the software employers use, and aim for industries such as construction where the median pay is higher. If you want to go further later, bookkeeping is a solid stepping stone towards accounting.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a degree to be a bookkeeper?
No. Many employers prefer a high school diploma plus college courses in accounting, and some hire with a high school diploma alone. Some bookkeepers have a bachelor's degree in business.
Do bookkeepers need certification?
It isn't usually required, but professional certification can help demonstrate competency.
How much do bookkeepers make?
BLS reports a median of $50,670 a year for bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks in May 2025, as of October 2026.
Is bookkeeping a dying career?
BLS projects jobs to fall 6% from 2025 to 2035, but it still expects about 144,100 openings a year from people leaving or changing jobs.
How do bookkeepers learn the job?
Most train on the job, often alongside an experienced clerk, and some receive formal training on specialized software.
Can a bookkeeper become an accountant?
Yes. With experience and additional education, some become accountants or auditors.
What is a full-charge bookkeeper?
A full-charge bookkeeping clerk maintains an entire organization's books, while an accounting clerk usually handles specific tasks such as accounts payable or receivable.
Which industry pays bookkeepers the most?
Among the industries BLS lists, construction had the highest median pay, $54,890 in May 2025.
Do bookkeepers work long hours?
Most work full time, with extra hours at the end of the fiscal year, at tax time and during monthly or yearly audits.
