SalaryByCity

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks vs Medical Assistants: 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

Medical Assistants

$44,200

Median annual salary

793,460 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks professionals earn $5,010 more per year than Medical Assistants professionals — that's 11.3% higher. At the 90th percentile, Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks earns $72,660 compared to $57,830 for Medical Assistants.

Salary Range Comparison

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$34,600 – $72,660
Medical Assistants$35,020 – $57,830
$34,600$72,660

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileBookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksMedical AssistantsDifference
10th Percentile$34,600$35,020$-420
25th Percentile$41,390$37,610+$3,780
Median (50th)$49,210$44,200+$5,010
75th Percentile$60,220$48,160+$12,060
90th Percentile$72,660$57,830+$14,830
Mean (Average)$52,020$44,720+$7,300

Employment Numbers

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

1,455,770

employed nationwide

Medical Assistants

793,460

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 Medical Assistants

CityMedian
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$62,570
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$62,290
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$59,910
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$58,850
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$52,040

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks or Medical Assistants?
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $5,010 (11.3% 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 Medical Assistants?
Medical Assistants salaries range from $35,020 (10th percentile) to $57,830 (90th percentile), with a median of $44,200.
How many Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks and Medical Assistants jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,455,770 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks positions and 793,460 Medical Assistants positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Medical Assistants 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 Medical Assistants earns $44,200. 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