Employment

Accounting, bookkeeping, and auditing clerks work in nearly all industries and at all levels of government. State and local government, educational services, healthcare, and the accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services industries are among the individual industries employing the largest numbers of these clerks.

Employment of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks is projected to grow by 14 percent nationally during the 2010-2020 decade, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. This occupation is one of the largest growth occupations in the economy, with about 259,000 new jobs expected nationally over the projections decade.

In May 2010, the median annual wages nationally of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks were $34,030. The middle half of the occupation earned between $26,350 and $40,130. The top 10 percent of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks earned more than $51,470, and the bottom 10 percent earned less than $21,270.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition (http://www.bls.gov/oco/)