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The differences between bookkeepers and secretaries 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 secretary takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a bookkeeper has an average salary of $40,337, which is higher than the $36,442 average annual salary of a secretary.
The top three skills for a bookkeeper include payroll tax returns, customer service and reconciliations. The most important skills for a secretary are customer service, telephone calls, and payroll.
| Bookkeeper | Secretary | |
| Yearly salary | $40,337 | $36,442 |
| Hourly rate | $19.39 | $17.52 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 38,481 | 69,315 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 51 | 50 |
| 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.
Secretaries are employees who are responsible for many of the administrative needs of the office. They are usually assigned to executives or to a specific department. They manage schedules and appointments, often handling the calendar in the office. They are also responsible for keeping files organized, whether physical or digital copies. During office meetings, secretaries are in charge of documenting the minutes of the meeting and highlighting the action steps that need to be taken. They may also be assigned to check on concerned departments who need to present deliverables in the next office meeting.
Bookkeepers and secretaries have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Bookkeeper | Secretary | |
| Average salary | $40,337 | $36,442 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $52,000 | Between $26,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | NTT Data International L.L.C. | Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Government |
There are a few differences between a bookkeeper and a secretary in terms of educational background:
| Bookkeeper | Secretary | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between bookkeepers' and secretaries' demographics:
| Bookkeeper | Secretary | |
| Average age | 51 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 15.4% Female, 84.6% | Male, 10.1% Female, 89.9% |
| 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, 9.4% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 3.9% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 6% |