SalaryByCity

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks vs Compliance Officers: 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

Compliance Officers

$78,420

Median annual salary

397,770 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Compliance Officers professionals earn $29,210 more per year than Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks professionals — that's 59.4% higher. At the 90th percentile, Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks earns $72,660 compared to $130,030 for Compliance Officers.

Salary Range Comparison

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$34,600 – $72,660
Compliance Officers$46,230 – $130,030
$34,600$130,030

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileBookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksCompliance OfficersDifference
10th Percentile$34,600$46,230$-11,630
25th Percentile$41,390$59,130$-17,740
Median (50th)$49,210$78,420$-29,210
75th Percentile$60,220$104,800$-44,580
90th Percentile$72,660$130,030$-57,370
Mean (Average)$52,020$84,980$-32,960

Employment Numbers

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

1,455,770

employed nationwide

Compliance Officers

397,770

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 Compliance Officers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$118,490
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$104,000
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$102,500
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$98,190
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$96,280

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks or Compliance Officers?
Compliance Officers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $29,210 (59.4% 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 Compliance Officers?
Compliance Officers salaries range from $46,230 (10th percentile) to $130,030 (90th percentile), with a median of $78,420.
How many Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks and Compliance Officers jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,455,770 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks positions and 397,770 Compliance Officers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Compliance Officers 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 Compliance Officers earns $78,420. 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