Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks vs Lawyers: 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?
Lawyers professionals earn $101,950 more per year than Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks professionals — that's 207.2% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$34,600 – $72,660
Lawyers$72,780 – N/A
$34,600$72,780
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | Lawyers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $34,600 | $72,780 | $-38,180 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,390 | $99,760 | $-58,370 |
| Median (50th) | $49,210 | $151,160 | $-101,950 |
| 75th Percentile | $60,220 | $215,420 | $-155,200 |
| 90th Percentile | $72,660 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $52,020 | $182,760 | $-130,740 |
Employment Numbers
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
1,455,770
employed nationwide
Lawyers
747,750
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 Lawyers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $215,090 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $205,900 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $203,450 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $194,740 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $191,880 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks or Lawyers?
Lawyers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $101,950 (207.2% 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 Lawyers?
Lawyers salaries range from $72,780 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $151,160.
How many Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks and Lawyers jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,455,770 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks positions and 747,750 Lawyers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Lawyers 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 Lawyers earns $151,160. 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