Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of bookkeepers that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of bookkeepers:
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Account Payables Analyst is the highest-paid type of bookkeeper with an average salary of $54,356 and an average hourly rate of $26.13.
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The second highest-paying type of bookkeeper is accounting associate, with an average salary of $50,537.
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The average bookkeeper salary is $40,337 per year, and the average hourly pay is $19.39.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as a bookkeeper, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of bookkeepers are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of bookkeepers:
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Account Payables Analyst
Average Salary: $54,356
An accounts payable analyst is primarily responsible for managing and processing invoices and payments, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. They are also responsible for coordinating with various departments to obtain and acquire data and invoices, submitting payments to external vendors and suppliers, identifying errors and inconsistencies, and providing corrective measures. One may also perform clerical tasks such as producing progress reports and presentations, managing schedules, addressing issues and concerns through calls and correspondence, and resolving them promptly and efficiently.
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Accounting Associate
Average Salary: $50,537
An accounting associate is responsible for supporting the operations of the accounting department, ensuring the stability of the financial services and status of an organization. Accounting associates process invoices, update client accounts on the database, manage financial reports, assist with tax auditing and processing, monitoring the financial statements and activities of the organization, escalate financial disputes, and verify accounts receivable. An accounting associate must have excellent knowledge of the accounting industry, as well as exceptional analytical and time-management skills to perform clerical duties as needed under minimal supervision.
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Junior Accountant
Average Salary: $50,444
Junior accountants maintain the financial records of companies through the analysis of their general ledger accounts and balance sheets. The accountant’s post journal entries, maintain accounts receivable and payable, and update financial statements. They pay payroll every month, reconcile ledgers, and submit payroll taxes. The skills necessary for this job include analytical skills, problem-solving, information confidentiality, and proficiency in accounting software and technology. They are also expected to be detail-oriented.
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Account Associate
Average Salary: $48,927
An account associate is responsible for supporting the accounting and finance department in performing accounting operations, bookkeeping functions, and other related clerical tasks. Account associates analyze and sort financial statements accordingly, assist on payroll processing, evaluate account reconciliations and receivables, create financial reports, and updating recent account information on the database. They also handle clients’ inquiries and concerns, routing calls to the appropriate accounting staff or department. An account associate must have excellent analytical and communication skills, as well as comprehensive knowledge of the accounting principles.
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Accounting Administrator
Average Salary: $48,068
An accounting administrator is responsible for reviewing and analyzing account statements, managing deposits, and resolving bank discrepancies and financial disputes. Accounting administrators handle the efficient and accurate cash flow within an organization, including payroll release and filing of petty cash. They maintain an organized record of payments and billing statements for reference and audit purposes to generate reports for the management. An accounting administrator must have extensive knowledge of the accounting principles, as well as excellent communication and analytical skills to perform duties effectively, even under minimal supervision.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various bookkeeper that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Bookkeepers
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for bookkeepers.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Bookkeeper Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid bookkeeper job?
The highest-paid bookkeeper job is an account payables analyst. Account Payables Analysts earn an average salary of $54,356, which is $ 26.13 hourly.
An accounts payable analyst is primarily responsible for managing and processing invoices and payments, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. They are also responsible for coordinating with various departments to obtain and acquire data and invoices, submitting payments to external vendors and suppliers, identifying errors and inconsistencies, and providing corrective measures. One may also perform clerical tasks such as producing progress reports and presentations, managing schedules, addressing issues and concerns through calls and correspondence, and resolving them promptly and efficiently.
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What is a good salary for a bookkeeper?
A good salary for a bookkeeper is $40,337 or more. The average bookkeeper salary is $40,337, so those making at least $40,337 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average bookkeeper salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as a bookkeeper, the average entry level salary is $28,506, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $40,337 average, as this includes all bookkeepers of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Bookkeeper jobs pay well?
No, bookkeeper jobs don’t pay well. As in any industry, some bookkeeper jobs pay better than others, but the average bookkeeper salary of $40,337 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many bookkeeper jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of bookkeepers earning $53,471 a year on average.
Bookkeepers’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as a bookkeeper. Do your research on the going rate for a bookkeeper in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do bookkeepers get paid the most?
Bookkeepers get paid the most in Delaware. In Delaware, bookkeepers earn an average annual salary of $44,991 and an average hourly wage of $21.63.
Following DE, the states with the highest-paid bookkeepers are New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, with average annual salaries of $48,079, $46,977, and $47,205 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid bookkeeper salaries are:
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Washington, DC – $48,188
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New York, NY – $48,135
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Boston, MA – $47,119
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Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
