Career comparison
Accountant vs. Billing Clerk
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Accountants earn more at the median ($83,680 vs. $48,500), while billing clerks usually get to work faster (A few months on the job of training). Accountants prepare and examine financial records, taxes and reports that guide business decisions. Billing clerks prepare invoices, post payments and keep customer accounts accurate.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Accountant | Billing Clerk | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $83,680 ($40.23/hr) | $48,500 ($23.32/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $56,020 – $144,090 | $37,290 – $67,710 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.0% (faster than average) | -0.1% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 115,300 | 37,000 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 4+ years | A few months on the job |
| Key credential | CPA | Certified Billing and Coding Specialist |
| Work setting | Accountants work in public accounting firms, corporations, government agencies, nonprofits and their own practices. | Billing clerks work in offices and remotely.. |
What each job does
Accountant
- Prepare and analyze financial statements
- Record journal entries and reconcile accounts
- Prepare tax returns and tax planning
- Audit financial records and test internal controls
- Prepare budgets, forecasts and variance analyses
Billing Clerk
- Prepare invoices
- Calculate charges
- Post payments
- Fix billing errors
- Answer billing questions
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, desk work, steady routines, and remote-friendly work. Both are part of the business & office field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose accountant if…
- I enjoy working with numbers and finding answers in data
- I’m detail-oriented and careful
- I value a stable, respected profession
Choose billing clerk if…
- I like numbers
- I’m accurate
- I’m organized
Still torn? Take the Accountant fit quiz and the Billing Clerk fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, accountant or billing clerk?
Accountants earn more at the median: $83,680 versus $48,500 for billing clerks, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Billing Clerks typically train faster (A few months on the job) than accountants (4+ years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects accountants to grow +5.0% from 2025–35, compared with -0.1% for billing clerks.