SalaryByCity

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks vs Firefighters: 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

Firefighters

$59,530

Median annual salary

332,240 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Firefighters professionals earn $10,320 more per year than Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks professionals — that's 21.0% higher. At the 90th percentile, Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks earns $72,660 compared to $101,330 for Firefighters.

Salary Range Comparison

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$34,600 – $72,660
Firefighters$34,490 – $101,330
$34,490$101,330

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileBookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksFirefightersDifference
10th Percentile$34,600$34,490+$110
25th Percentile$41,390$44,180$-2,790
Median (50th)$49,210$59,530$-10,320
75th Percentile$60,220$77,410$-17,190
90th Percentile$72,660$101,330$-28,670
Mean (Average)$52,020$63,890$-11,870

Employment Numbers

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

1,455,770

employed nationwide

Firefighters

332,240

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 Firefighters

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$164,940
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$121,270
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$108,320
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$105,250
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$102,220

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks or Firefighters?
Firefighters professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $10,320 (21.0% 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 Firefighters?
Firefighters salaries range from $34,490 (10th percentile) to $101,330 (90th percentile), with a median of $59,530.
How many Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks and Firefighters jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,455,770 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks positions and 332,240 Firefighters positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Firefighters 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 Firefighters earns $59,530. 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