Where AI can help
Transaction imports and recurring classifications can be automated.
Finance · A PICTURE OF THE OCCUPATION
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
Record and check transactions to maintain organized financial information. This does not automatically qualify someone as a licensed accountant.
Observed AI exposureNot measured in this editionAnthropic · March 2026 study
Employment projection-5.6%2025–2035
Education typically neededSome college, no degreeBLS · 2025
What the work looks like
- 01
Operate computers programmed with accounting software to record, store, and analyze information.
- 02
Check figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and proper codes.
- 03
Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.
- 04
Operate 10-key calculators, typewriters, and copy machines to perform calculations and produce documents.
- 05
Receive, record, and bank cash, checks, and vouchers.
An example of an output
A reconciliation explaining differences between internal records and supporting documents.
Editorial example, not a reported worker interview. Tools vary by employer.Work environment
Finance teams and bookkeeping services. Closing periods can concentrate deadlines and checks.
O*NET® 31.0 ↗Pay & demand
Mean annual pay$53,560
Median annual pay$50,670
Mean is the arithmetic average; median is the midpoint of the wage distribution. National occupational figures are not starting-salary promises.
10th percentile$36,000
90th percentile$74,550
Percentiles describe the workforce distribution, not junior and senior salary bands. Excludes self-employed workers; see the source for coverage.
BLS · May 2025 · USD/year ↗People employed in 20251,532,400
Projected openings per year144,100
Includes replacement needs over 2025–2035. These are projections, not open job advertisements.
BLS · 2025–2035 ↗AI & your work
What still needs judgment
Exceptions, missing documentation and reconciliation require criteria and investigation.
The task discussion is editorial interpretation. Only the exposure percentage is reproduced from the study; we do not assign percentages to individual tasks.
Anthropic · March 2026 study ↗You can also develop within this occupation
Use the exercise below to practice a real task, check AI outputs and identify where you need more depth. A career change is one option, not a requirement.
Reconcile fictional transactions and document differences. This occupation also has a declining employment projection; it is not an automatic refuge from AI.
What entry usually requires
- Education typically needed
- Some college, no degree
- Related experience typically needed
- None specified in BLS classification
- Typical on-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Typical requirements in BLS data, not universal hiring rules. Verify the employer’s requirements and any applicable credential or license.
BLS · 2025 ↗Skills to build on
Numerical accuracyorganizationreconciliationcontrols
Tools you may encounter
Spreadsheets · accounting systems · transaction records and reconciliation
Editorial example, not a reported worker interview. Tools vary by employer.
Where you could go next
These are researched starting points, not personalized recommendations or promises of lower AI exposure. Check the destination’s requirements and your own circumstances.
EDITORIAL TRANSITION$116,800 Mean annual pay
Financial and Investment Analysts ↗
Understanding records can be a foundation for studying financial analysis.
- What you can carry over
- Records and numerical checks
- What you would need to learn
- Financial modeling, analysis and higher education
What to consider
A larger change requiring additional education and analytical depth. Analyst pay is not an immediate expectation.
Explore the work before committing
1
Try a practical task
Reconcile fictional transactions and document differences. This occupation also has a declining employment projection; it is not an automatic refuge from AI.
2
Read real job requirements
Use the official occupation title below to search current listings. Check duties, location, experience and compensation. External search results have not been verified as active by this directory.
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSearch external job listings ↗3
Check your assumptions with someone doing the work
Ask which tasks take the most time, how AI changed the routine and what evidence of skill helped them enter. Compare their experience with the published data.
My Next Move ↗Sources & data notes
O*NET® 31.0 · 43-3031.00 ↗BLS · May 2025 · USD/year ↗BLS · 2025–2035 ↗Anthropic · March 2026 study ↗Source & definition ↗
Occupational descriptions adapt the O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. Is my job toast? translated, shortened and supplemented the material. USDOL/ETA has not approved or endorsed these changes. CC BY 4.0 ↗