upper level job

Hourly Wage for Accounting Clerk I Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Accounting Clerk I?

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for an Accounting Clerk I in the United States is $21, which translates to an annual salary of about $42,888.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $23 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $18 to $22 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $17 per hour

Key Factors That Influence Accounting Clerk I Salaries

An Accounting Clerk I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Accounting Clerk I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Accounting Clerk I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Accounting Clerk I (0-1 years): $42,888
  • Accounting Clerk II (1-3 years): $48,664
  • Accounting Clerk III (3-5 years): $54,748
  • Accounting Clerk IV (5-7 years): $61,164
  • Accounting Supervisor (7+ years): $89,554
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Accounting Clerk I0-1 years$42,888
Accounting Clerk II1-3 years$48,664
Accounting Clerk III3-5 years$54,748
Accounting Clerk IV5-7 years$61,164
Accounting Supervisor7+ years$89,554

Top Paying Cities for Accounting Clerk I

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $54,095
  • San Francisco: $53,502
  • Oakland: $52,375

What Skills Can Increase an Accounting Clerk I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 2.23% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Credit Card (Mentioned in 2.75% Job Postings): A credit card is a type of credit facility, provided by banks that allow customers to borrow funds within a pre-approved credit limit.
  • Microsoft Excel (Mentioned in 1.21% Job Postings): Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet developed by Microsoft for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. It features calculation or computation capabilities, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 2.23%
Credit Card 2.75%
Microsoft Excel 1.21%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Accounting Clerk I's salary.

  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Finance and Accounting: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Consulting $48,463
13%
Finance and Accounting $48,463
13%
Presentation $48,463
13%

Accounting Clerk I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Accounting Clerk I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $48,011. While startup companies pay approximate $40,616.

Accounting Clerk I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $40,616
Growth Stage 51~500 $42,956
Established 501~5000 $46,363
Enterprise 5000+ $48,011

Accounting Clerk I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Accounting Clerk I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Healthcare sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Accounting Clerk positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Accounting Clerk I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Accounting Clerk I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$49,321$24.015%
Healthcare$48,035$23.012%
Business Services$47,177$23.010%
Insurance$46,319$22.08%
MFG Nondurable$45,890$22.07%

How Education impacts an Accounting Clerk I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Accounting Clerk I enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Accounting Clerk I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $43,582 and $46,266.

Accounting Clerk I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Accounting Clerk I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.0%
High School 29.4%
Associates 25.8%
Bachelors 37.6%
Masters 4.8%
Doctorate 0.3%

Accounting Clerk I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Accounting Clerk I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$38,408
Average $42,888/year
$45,584
$3,201
Average $3,574/month
$3,799
$739
Average $825/week
$877
$18
Average $21/hour
$22
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $45,584 $3,799 $877 $22
Average $42,888 $3,574 $825 $21
25th Percentile $38,408 $3,201 $739 $18

Most common benefits for Accounting Clerk I

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Accounting Clerk I

Here are companies hiring for Accounting Clerk I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Accounting Clerk I

1. What are the responsibilities of Accounting Clerk I?

Performs routine accounting activities such as data entry, maintenance of the general ledger, preparation of various accounting statements and financial reports. Reviews, codes, and verifies transactions including billings, invoices, checks, and journal entries. Assists in completing moderately complex calculations using spreadsheets and other software tools. Reconciles accounts and bank statements. Has a basic understanding of bookkeeping and accounting principles. Requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.

2. What are the skills of Accounting Clerk I

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Customer Service: Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.

2.)

Credit Card: A credit card is a type of credit facility, provided by banks that allow customers to borrow funds within a pre-approved credit limit.

3.)

Microsoft Excel: Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet developed by Microsoft for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. It features calculation or computation capabilities, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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