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The differences between bookkeepers and librarians 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 librarian takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a librarian has an average salary of $53,096, 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 librarian are library services, customer service, and library materials.
| Bookkeeper | Librarian | |
| Yearly salary | $40,337 | $53,096 |
| Hourly rate | $19.39 | $25.53 |
| Growth rate | -5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 38,481 | 1,264 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 51 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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.
Librarians are trained in the field of information science so they can assist people in search of information. They direct and develop information systems and programs for the public. It is their job to make sure that the data is well-organized to meet every library user's needs. Their library work focuses on three main aspects, including user services, administrative services, and technical services. Typically, librarians work in schools, government, or local libraries.
Bookkeepers and librarians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Bookkeeper | Librarian | |
| Average salary | $40,337 | $53,096 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $52,000 | Between $38,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Alaska |
| Best paying company | NTT Data International L.L.C. | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Education |
There are a few differences between a bookkeeper and a librarian in terms of educational background:
| Bookkeeper | Librarian | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Library Science |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | New York University |
Here are the differences between bookkeepers' and librarians' demographics:
| Bookkeeper | Librarian | |
| Average age | 51 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 15.4% Female, 84.6% | Male, 31.3% Female, 68.7% |
| 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, 6.4% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 4.9% White, 77.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 16% |