Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks vs Financial Managers: 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
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Managers professionals earn $112,490 more per year than Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks professionals — that's 228.6% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$34,600 – $72,660
Financial Managers$86,490 – N/A
$34,600$86,490
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | Financial Managers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $34,600 | $86,490 | $-51,890 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,390 | $118,360 | $-76,970 |
| Median (50th) | $49,210 | $161,700 | $-112,490 |
| 75th Percentile | $60,220 | $214,210 | $-153,990 |
| 90th Percentile | $72,660 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $52,020 | $180,470 | $-128,450 |
Employment Numbers
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
1,455,770
employed nationwide
Financial Managers
818,620
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| 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 Financial Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $218,920 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $216,520 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $211,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $188,490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $180,770 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks or Financial Managers?
Financial Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $112,490 (228.6% 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 Financial Managers?
Financial Managers salaries range from $86,490 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $161,700.
How many Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks and Financial Managers jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,455,770 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks positions and 818,620 Financial Managers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Financial Managers 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 Financial Managers earns $161,700. 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