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The differences between bookkeepers and junior accountants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a bookkeeper, becoming a junior accountant takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a junior accountant has an average salary of $50,444, which is higher than the $40,337 average annual salary of a bookkeeper.
The top three skills for a bookkeeper include payroll tax returns, customer service and reconciliations. The most important skills for a junior accountant are reconciliations, general ledger accounts, and account reconciliations.
| Bookkeeper | Junior Accountant | |
| Yearly salary | $40,337 | $50,444 |
| Hourly rate | $19.39 | $24.25 |
| Growth rate | -5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 38,481 | 57,892 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 51 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
Bookkeepers are employees who are in charge of the company's general ledger. They are well-versed in basic accounting principles, and they apply these in their work. Bookkeepers manage the entry of items in the general ledger, assign items into their proper categories, and ensure that the entries are balanced. They also act as auditors by checking the accuracy and veracity of the receipts or vouchers in their possession before entering them into the system. Bookkeepers ensure that their files are up to date and free of errors.
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.
Bookkeepers and junior accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Bookkeeper | Junior Accountant | |
| Average salary | $40,337 | $50,444 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $52,000 | Between $38,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | NTT Data International L.L.C. | Fuhu |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Construction |
There are a few differences between a bookkeeper and a junior accountant in terms of educational background:
| Bookkeeper | Junior Accountant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between bookkeepers' and junior accountants' demographics:
| Bookkeeper | Junior Accountant | |
| Average age | 51 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 15.4% Female, 84.6% | Male, 39.6% Female, 60.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 6.6% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 16.6% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |