Is bookkeeping still a good career?
By the Steady Ground team ·
Software can now sort a lot of numbers by itself. So people ask a fair question: is bookkeeping a good career now? The honest answer is yes, for the right person, but it's changing. Here's what the numbers say, and how to be the kind of bookkeeper people still need.
The bad news first
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects bookkeeping jobs for employees to drop by 6% from 2025 to 2035. Part of the reason is software. It now does much of the routine typing in of numbers that used to fill a bookkeeper's day.
If your plan is to type numbers into a computer all day, that job is getting smaller.
The good news
Even with fewer jobs overall, there are still about 144,100 openings a year. They come from people who retire or leave the field. So the jobs are out there.
And those numbers leave out freelance work. Freelancers often work from home for a few small shops at once. No one has official numbers on that kind of work.
What bookkeepers do now
A bookkeeper keeps track of what a business earns and spends. You match the records to the bank statements. You find what doesn't add up. You make reports for the owner or an accountant.
Software handles more of the typing. What's left is the part that needs a person:
- Checking that the software got it right.
- Fixing the messy parts.
- Explaining to an owner what the numbers mean.
That's the work to aim for. It takes judgment, and judgment is harder to replace.
How to stay in demand
- Learn the software. Get to know QuickBooks well.
- Get good at cleanup. Owners with messy books need someone to sort them out.
- Talk in plain words. An owner who understands their numbers will keep you around.
- Know your limits. Payroll and tax filings have legal deadlines and penalties. Learn them well, or pass that work to a specialist until you do.
You can start for free
This is one of the cheapest careers on our site to try. Intuit Academy has a free bookkeeping course and exam for U.S. learners. If you like it, keep going. If not, you've lost nothing but some time.
You don't need a license to do bookkeeping. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says certification usually isn't required either. So wait to pay for a credential until a boss or client wants one.
What bookkeepers earn
The median pay for bookkeepers who are employees is $50,670 a year, or about $24.36 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,000 or less. The top 10% earn about $74,550 or more.
Those numbers leave out people who work for themselves. We found no official figures on what they make. It depends on your clients. You'd also pay for your own software and insurance.
Watch out for these
- Paying for an EIN. If you go freelance, you may need an EIN from the IRS. It's always free. The IRS warns about sites that charge for one.
- Work-from-home offers that want money first. The Federal Trade Commission warns about jobs that charge up front or promise guaranteed work.
- The wrong title. Don't call yourself an accountant or CPA unless you are one. Those words can have legal meanings.
So, is bookkeeping a good career?
It can be, if you like making things add up and you keep learning. It's a quiet, steady skill that can lead to work from home or your own business. Just aim for the work that needs a person, not just a keyboard.
Our bookkeeper guide walks you through each step. If you like money work with a busy season, look at tax preparation. Or take the career quiz.
Quick answers
Is bookkeeping a dying career?
Not dying, but changing. Employee jobs are expected to fall 6% from 2025 to 2035, partly because of software. There are still about 144,100 openings a year.
Can AI replace bookkeepers?
Software already handles much of the routine entry. What's left is checking the work, fixing problems and explaining the numbers, which still takes a person.
Do you need a certificate to be a bookkeeper?
Usually not. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says certification usually isn't required. Intuit Academy offers a free bookkeeping certification you can show employers.
Where these facts come from
We checked these sources when we wrote this post. Rules and fees change, so check them before you pay for anything.