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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there were over 1.7 million bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks working in the U.S. in 2009.

Bookkeepers have the responsibility of helping ensure a company's financial information is properly managed and recorded. They may be in charge of maintaining the books for an entire company, and may additionally handle payroll, send payments to the bank, prepare invoices and keep track of overdue accounts.

Bookkeepers report strong average wages

The BLS does not have a statistic for bookkeepers alone, but reports that bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks earned mean annual wages of $34,750 in 2009, or about $16.71 an hour. Employment was concentrated across five employers in the field:

1. Accounting, tax prep, bookkeeping and payroll services (99,530 workers): $34,100
2. Management of companies and enterprises (82,860 workers): $35,970
3. Local government (73,790 workers): $35,830
4. Depository credit intermediation (53,520 workers): $32,840
5. Elementary and secondary schools (41,690 workers): $35,540

Bookkeepers earn a median expected salary of $37,840, as of May 2011, according to Salary.com. Those in the lower quartile earned less than $33,164, while those in the upper quartile earned more than $43,189.

Wages for bookkeepers vary greatly based on location, experience and training. Recent bookkeeper salaries as reported to GlassDoor.com in May 2011 ranged from $33,000 at a publishing company to $55,500 at a financial services firm.

Top locations for bookkeepers

Because bookkeepers are so widely valued in business, jobs may be found outside of larger cities and financial centers. Take a look at a few top picks for bookkeepers, plus metropolitan area wages as reported in 2009 by the BLS:

1. Nashville, Tennessee: With the nation's second-lowest cost of living, according to ACCRA (only Kentucky is lower), your salary may stretch further in Tennessee ($33,720).
2. Atlanta, Georgia: This Deep South hub is home to 10 Fortune 500 companies and is located in a state with the ninth-lowest cost of living in the U.S. ($35,830).
3. Phoenix, Arizona: Features three Fortune 500 companies and a cost of living in step with national averages ($36,450).

Training at bookkeeper schools

The BLS notes that postsecondary education is becoming more important for bookkeeping careers, and an associate degree in accounting or business may be required for some jobs.

While no bookkeeper program can guarantee a particular career or salary, training can help prove your interest and ability to hiring managers in the field. Becoming a certified bookkeeper is another way to improve your chances of success in the field; the process requires candidates to have two years of experience and pass an examination.

Career outlook strong for bookkeepers

The job outlook for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks is in line with the average growth pattern for the rest of the nation, according to the BLS. About 212,400 new jobs are expected between 2008 and 2018, for a projected growth of 10 percent. Furthermore, the BLS notes that full-charge bookkeepers are expected to see strong growth, and those who are certified bookkeepers (CBs) are expected to have the best job prospects.

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