Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks salary in California
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks in California earn a median of $59,230 a year ($28.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 151,870 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,990 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $50,670. California ranks 4th of 51 states for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 8.3 bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $60,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| 25th percentile | $48,600 | $23.37 |
| Median | $59,230 | $28.48 |
| 75th percentile | $70,600 | $33.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,990 | $39.42 |
| Average (mean) | $60,830 | $29.24 |
Half of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,935.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,467.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,278.08 |
| Weekly | $1,139.04 |
| Hourly | $28.48 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $59,230 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $66,130 | 7,590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $65,530 | 18,100 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $61,960 | 1,120 |
| Napa, CA | $61,710 | 700 |
| Vallejo, CA | $61,180 | 1,040 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $61,140 | 2,040 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $60,170 | 1,900 |
| Salinas, CA | $59,180 | 1,270 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $58,590 | 53,910 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $58,580 | 12,830 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $58,570 | 1,070 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $57,670 | 3,250 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $56,840 | 8,680 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $56,250 | 2,080 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $55,610 | 12,710 |
| Yuba City, CA | $55,210 | 460 |
| Modesto, CA | $55,040 | 1,730 |
| Fresno, CA | $54,170 | 4,310 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $53,170 | 2,580 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $52,920 | 370 |
| Merced, CA | $51,740 | 680 |
| Visalia, CA | $51,200 | 1,390 |
| Redding, CA | $51,090 | 660 |
| Chico, CA | $50,710 | 730 |
| El Centro, CA | $47,960 | 530 |
Highest-paying states for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $65,180 |
| Connecticut | $59,970 |
| Massachusetts | $59,830 |
| California | $59,230 |
| Washington | $58,620 |
| New Jersey | $58,300 |
| New York | $58,160 |
| Alaska | $56,430 |
| Vermont | $54,720 |
| Minnesota | $54,600 |
See Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $56,260 | $27.05 |
| Teller | $46,900 | $22.55 |
| Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks | $65,340 | $31.41 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $57,930 | $27.85 |
| Procurement Clerk | $56,160 | $27.00 |
| Financial Clerks, All Other | $58,100 | $27.93 |
| Gambling Cage Worker | $37,650 | $18.10 |
| Office Clerks, General | $48,460 | $23.30 |
| Customer Service Representative | $49,560 | $23.83 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $55,400 | $26.64 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $77,590 | $37.30 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $54,490 | $26.20 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $46,520 | $22.36 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $44,100 | $21.20 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-3031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks make in California?
The median salary for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks in California is $59,230 a year, or $28.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks make in California?
The top 10% of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks in California earn at least $81,990 a year. The top 25% earn $70,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,600 a year, and a quarter of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks earn $48,600 or less.
How many bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks work in California?
About 151,870 bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.