Career comparison
Billing Clerk vs. Bookkeeper
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Bookkeepers earn more at the median ($50,670 vs. $48,500), while billing clerks usually get to work faster (A few months on the job of training). Billing clerks prepare invoices, post payments and keep customer accounts accurate. Bookkeepers record transactions, reconcile accounts and keep a business’s books accurate.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Billing Clerk | Bookkeeper | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $48,500 ($23.32/hr) | $50,670 ($24.36/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $37,290 – $67,710 | $36,000 – $74,550 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -0.1% (little or no change) | -5.6% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 37,000 | 144,100 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | Some college, no degree |
| Training time | A few months on the job | 3–12 months |
| Key credential | Certified Billing and Coding Specialist | Certified Bookkeeper (AIPB) |
| Work setting | Billing clerks work in offices and remotely.. | Bookkeepers work for small businesses, accounting firms, nonprofits and larger companies, or for themselves serving multiple clients. |
What each job does
Billing Clerk
- Prepare invoices
- Calculate charges
- Post payments
- Fix billing errors
- Answer billing questions
Bookkeeper
- Record transactions in accounting software
- Process accounts payable and receivable
- Reconcile bank and credit card accounts
- Prepare payroll data and track payroll liabilities
- Maintain the general ledger and chart of accounts
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, desk work, remote-friendly work, and steady routines. Both are part of the business & office field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose billing clerk if…
- I like numbers
- I’m accurate
- I’m organized
Choose bookkeeper if…
- I like numbers and keeping things accurate
- I’m comfortable with spreadsheets and software
- I prefer structured, detail-oriented work
Still torn? Take the Billing Clerk fit quiz and the Bookkeeper fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, billing clerk or bookkeeper?
Bookkeepers earn more at the median: $50,670 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 bookkeepers (3–12 months).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects billing clerks to grow -0.1% from 2025–35, compared with -5.6% for bookkeepers.