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The differences between general ledger bookkeepers and accounting technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a general ledger bookkeeper and an accounting technician. Additionally, a general ledger bookkeeper has an average salary of $44,940, which is higher than the $41,337 average annual salary of an accounting technician.
The top three skills for a general ledger bookkeeper include reconciliations, general ledger accounts and CPA. The most important skills for an accounting technician are customer service, financial reports, and payroll.
| General Ledger Bookkeeper | Accounting Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $44,940 | $41,337 |
| Hourly rate | $21.61 | $19.87 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 56,765 | 39,972 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 51 | 51 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A general ledger bookkeeper conducts daily recording and maintenance of all of a business' financial transactions. These transactions include purchases, expenses, invoices, sales revenue, and payments, all of which are summarized in the general ledger. They are expected to prepare journal entries and ensure data is accurate. Furthermore, at the end of a specific period, they are expected to transfer the entries to the ledger. They ensure that the transactions reported meet accounting standards.
An accounting technician is responsible for evaluating financial information procedures to support accounting and taxation tasks, verifying the accuracy of account statements for the reference of accountants. Accounting technicians manage the payroll processes, generate invoices, perform account reconciliations, analyze account receivables, prepare budget reports, and monitor the company's financial transactions. Accounting technicians should always adhere to taxation legislation, comply with accounting disciplines, and coordinate with the account management for any findings and concerns, requiring them to have excellent communication and analytical skills.
General ledger bookkeepers and accounting technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| General Ledger Bookkeeper | Accounting Technician | |
| Average salary | $44,940 | $41,337 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $59,000 | Between $31,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | W. R. Berkley |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a general ledger bookkeeper and an accounting technician in terms of educational background:
| General Ledger Bookkeeper | Accounting Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between general ledger bookkeepers' and accounting technicians' demographics:
| General Ledger Bookkeeper | Accounting Technician | |
| Average age | 51 | 51 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7% | Male, 22.7% Female, 77.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 6.6% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 6.5% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |