Category
Business & Finance
What It Is
Manages day-to-day financial records for small businesses: invoices, payroll, reconciliations.
Best For
Detail-oriented, organized people who prefer steady, predictable work over sales-driven roles.
Avoid If
You dislike repetitive, detail-heavy tasks or spreadsheet-based work.
Degree Required
No degree. Certificate program or self-study (QuickBooks certification) is sufficient for most small-business roles.
Skills Needed
Attention to detail, basic accounting principles, QuickBooks/Xero software proficiency, organization.
Training Path
QuickBooks or Xero certification course, often combined with a bookkeeping certificate from a community college.
Certs / Licenses
QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification; NACPB or AIPB bookkeeper certification (optional but valued).
Time to First Job
2-6 months of study and certification.
Cost to Enter
$200-$2,000 for courses and certification.
Income Range
General estimate: $38,000-$50,000 employed full-time, or $25-$50/hour freelance/part-time. Corrected 2026-07-14 against BLS: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks, median $49,210 (May 2024).
First Job Titles
Bookkeeper, Accounting Clerk.
Companies Hiring
Small businesses directly, bookkeeping/accounting firms, remote bookkeeping services.
Best Next Step
Get QuickBooks Online certified (free official course) and build 2-3 sample client files for your portfolio.