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Bookkeeper
💰 Earn $47K-$67K
📚 Some College
⏱️ 12–24 Month Training
📈 -5.8% Job Growth
- Ideal for detail-oriented individuals who enjoy working with numbers and data.
- Ensure financial accuracy and compliance, impacting business success and growth.
- Use advanced accounting software to streamline financial processes and analysis.

What Bookkeepers DoCompute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.
- Operate computers programmed with accounting software to record, store, and analyze information.
- Check figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and proper codes.
- Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Operate 10-key calculators, typewriters, and copy machines to perform calculations and produce documents.
- Receive, record, and bank cash, checks, and vouchers.
Bookkeepers Education, Salary, and GrowthOnly you can decide how much you need to earn — but knowing what it actually costs to live in your area can help. The Family Budget Calculator can guide you.
Minimum EducationSome College
Career ProspectsRisky (Decreasing by 5% or more)
Training Time1 to 2 years
Job Openings170,000 Annually
Median Earnings
$57,470 in California
$49,210 Nationally
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Real Talk Reel
We've curated a playlist for you to get a glimpse into a day in the life of this career.
Is This Career Right For You?
YOU Like
- Influencing or leading others
- Using data or completing tasks
you value
- Accomplishing things
- Having support
- Personal relationships
you are skilled in
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
Go Deeper: Bookkeepers Explained

BookkeeperExplore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.
How Do You Train for This Career?
Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Vocational SchoolA vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.
🎓 Skills-Focused
⏱️ Finish in 6 months - 2 years

Associate's DegreeAn associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.
🎓 College
⏱️ Finish in 2-3 years

Bachelor's DegreeA bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.
🎓 College
⏱️ Finish in 4-5+ years

ApprenticeshipAn apprenticeship typically offers a combination of hands-on training and classroom instruction, leading to practical skills, industry-specific knowledge, and the potential for long-term employment in a specific trade or profession.
🎓 Paid Work
⏱️ Finish in 2-5 years

Workforce Development ProgramA workforce development program typically enhances participants' opportunities to succeed in the workforce through employment skill-building, career counseling, connections to employers, and pathways to high-demand and high-wage jobs.
🎓 Skills-Focused
⏱️ Finish in 6 months - 2 years

Technology BootcampA technology bootcamp typically offers intensive training in specific tech skills, preparing participants for entry-level roles in the tech industry in a relatively short period of time.
🎓 Skills-Focused
⏱️ Finish in Less than a year

Professional UpskillingProfessional upskilling typically results in acquiring new or enhanced skills and knowledge relevant to a participant's current job or desired career path, leading to improved job performance, opportunities for career advancement, and greater employability.
🎓 Skills-Focused
⏱️ Finish in 1 week - 3 months

Fellowship or Service ProgramA fellowship or service program typically provides individuals with opportunities to engage in meaningful community service or social impact work, while encouraging personal growth, developing leadership skills, and creating positive change in society.
🎓 Paid Work
⏱️ Finish in 1-3 years
find training near you
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Updated April 2026. Data sourced from O*NET and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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