by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping explores Accounting Technology/technician And Bookkeeping. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Provide Technical Administrative Support To Professional Accountants And Other Financial Management Personnel. Includes Instruction In Posting Transactions To Accounts, Record-Keeping Systems, Accounting Software Operation, And General Accounting Principles And Practices. Continue reading for the essential details every accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping programs.
Across the country, accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping is a popular field of study, with 17,375 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping Schools ranking analyzes these 632 schools to determine the best overall colleges for accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping programs later in this article.
Studies in Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2,795 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5,590 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 180 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 8,369 |
People currently working in careers related to accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 25.5% |
| Some college courses | 12.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.6% |
| Master’s degree | 5.7% |
| First professional degree | 2.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 1,690,967 | 13.5% |
| Statistical Assistants | 1,573,967 | 6.9% |
| Brokerage Clerks | 1,304,264 | 6.2% |
| Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks | 221,841 | -3.1% |
| Tax Preparers | 206,607 | 9.5% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $57,191 |
| 4 years | $61,213 |
| 5 years | $69,643 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Tax Preparers | $67,542 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $63,707 |
| Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks | $62,520 |
| Statistical Assistants | $58,190 |
| Brokerage Clerks | $52,416 |
With 632 different accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping school rankings to help you.
Those considering accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Accounting | 58,956 |
| Accounting and Finance | 3,502 |
| Accounting and Business/Management | 1,270 |
| Accounting and Related Services, Other | 554 |
| Auditing | 178 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
