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The differences between general ledger bookkeepers and charge 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 general ledger bookkeeper and a charge bookkeeper. Additionally, a charge bookkeeper has an average salary of $46,615, which is higher than the $44,940 average annual salary of a general ledger bookkeeper.
The top three skills for a general ledger bookkeeper include reconciliations, general ledger accounts and CPA. The most important skills for a charge bookkeeper are reconciliations, payroll tax returns, and balance sheet.
| General Ledger Bookkeeper | Charge Bookkeeper | |
| Yearly salary | $44,940 | $46,615 |
| Hourly rate | $21.61 | $22.41 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 56,765 | 27,542 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| 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.
A full charge bookkeeper's primary job is to manage and handle all the accounts of a small or medium-sized business. They are responsible for overseeing the accounting duties for a company, including billing customers, preparing bank statements and tax returns, and processing timesheets. Also, a full charge bookkeeper collates and enters vendor expenses, maintains the ledger's accuracy, and process accounts receivables. There are specific requirements you should meet to become a successful full charge bookkeeper, such as having a bachelor's degree in accounting, previous work experience as a charge bookkeeper, and bookkeeping certification.
General ledger bookkeepers and charge bookkeepers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| General Ledger Bookkeeper | Charge Bookkeeper | |
| Average salary | $44,940 | $46,615 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $59,000 | Between $36,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | The Carney Group |
| Best paying industry | - | Construction |
There are a few differences between a general ledger bookkeeper and a charge bookkeeper in terms of educational background:
| General Ledger Bookkeeper | Charge Bookkeeper | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between general ledger bookkeepers' and charge bookkeepers' demographics:
| General Ledger Bookkeeper | Charge Bookkeeper | |
| Average age | 51 | 51 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7% | Male, 13.9% Female, 86.1% |
| 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, 6.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.6% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |