SalaryByCity

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks vs Civil Engineers: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

$49,210

Median annual salary

1,455,770 employed nationally

Civil Engineers

$99,590

Median annual salary

355,410 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Civil Engineers professionals earn $50,380 more per year than Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks professionals — that's 102.4% higher. At the 90th percentile, Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks earns $72,660 compared to $160,990 for Civil Engineers.

Salary Range Comparison

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$34,600 – $72,660
Civil Engineers$65,920 – $160,990
$34,600$160,990

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileBookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksCivil EngineersDifference
10th Percentile$34,600$65,920$-31,320
25th Percentile$41,390$78,790$-37,400
Median (50th)$49,210$99,590$-50,380
75th Percentile$60,220$128,290$-68,070
90th Percentile$72,660$160,990$-88,330
Mean (Average)$52,020$107,050$-55,030

Employment Numbers

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

1,455,770

employed nationwide

Civil Engineers

355,410

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

CityMedian
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$64,480
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$64,340
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$59,170
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$58,400
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$58,390

Best Cities for Civil Engineers

CityMedian
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$130,310
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$129,260
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$126,560
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$109,250
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$108,010

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks or Civil Engineers?
Civil Engineers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $50,380 (102.4% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks?
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks salaries range from $34,600 (10th percentile) to $72,660 (90th percentile), with a median of $49,210.
What is the salary range for Civil Engineers?
Civil Engineers salaries range from $65,920 (10th percentile) to $160,990 (90th percentile), with a median of $99,590.
How many Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks and Civil Engineers jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,455,770 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks positions and 355,410 Civil Engineers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Civil Engineers to Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks has a median salary of $49,210 while Civil Engineers earns $99,590. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS