Bookkeeping assistant vs bookkeeper

The differences between bookkeeping assistants and bookkeepers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a bookkeeping assistant and a bookkeeper. Additionally, a bookkeeper has an average salary of $40,337, which is higher than the $38,456 average annual salary of a bookkeeping assistant.

The top three skills for a bookkeeping assistant include data entry, financial reports and credit card statements. The most important skills for a bookkeeper are payroll tax returns, customer service, and reconciliations.

Bookkeeping assistant vs bookkeeper overview

	Bookkeeping Assistant	Bookkeeper
Yearly salary	$38,456	$40,337
Hourly rate	$18.49	$19.39
Growth rate	-5%	-5%
Number of jobs	27,961	38,481
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age	51	51
Years of experience	6	6

Bookkeeping assistant vs bookkeeper salary

Bookkeeping assistants and bookkeepers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Bookkeeping Assistant	Bookkeeper
Average salary	$38,456	$40,337
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $49,000	Between $30,000 And $52,000
Highest paying City	-	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	-	New York
Best paying company	-	NTT Data International L.L.C.
Best paying industry	-	Manufacturing

Differences between bookkeeping assistant and bookkeeper education

There are a few differences between a bookkeeping assistant and a bookkeeper in terms of educational background:

	Bookkeeping Assistant	Bookkeeper
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common major	Accounting	Accounting
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Bookkeeping assistant vs bookkeeper demographics

Here are the differences between bookkeeping assistants' and bookkeepers' demographics:

	Bookkeeping Assistant	Bookkeeper
Average age	51	51
Gender ratio	Male, 15.9% Female, 84.1%	Male, 15.4% Female, 84.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 6.5% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	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%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between bookkeeping assistant and bookkeeper duties and responsibilities

Bookkeeping assistant example responsibilities.

Manage revenue ledger including other subsidiary ledgers and responsible for the reconciliation of various income accounts to ensure accuracy of postings.
Work with all the ACH'S and cash letters.
Manage revenue ledger including other subsidiary ledgers and responsible for the reconciliation of various income accounts to ensure accuracy of postings.
Document, classify and record each transaction in accordance with GAAP standards for review by CPA.
Team with CPA to ensure timely and accurate tax preparation and end of year financial statements.
Utilize PeopleSoft software to enter accounts into a general ledger system and reconciliation software to reconcile general accounts.

Bookkeeper example responsibilities.

Manage AR, prepare deposits and perform basic receptionist/customer service tasks in office.
Perform journal entries, balance ledger, perform bank reconciliations, control inventory, coordinate proper guest accommodation.
Post and update of daily sales and purchases into QuickBooks system.
Execute monthly collection of Medicaid surplus funds from clients on a monthly basis.
Post resident receipts, Medicaid remittance, and process adjusting entries to the A/R detail.
Work closely with QC personnel for the planning of tooling and the flow process of PWB's.

Bookkeeping assistant vs bookkeeper skills

Common bookkeeping assistant skills

Data Entry, 16%
Financial Reports, 7%
Credit Card Statements, 6%
Bank Deposits, 5%
General Ledger, 5%
Bank Reconciliations, 4%

Common bookkeeper skills

Payroll Tax Returns, 12%
Customer Service, 10%
Reconciliations, 10%
Data Entry, 7%
Journal Entries, 5%
Financial Transactions, 4%