The salary of a bookkeeper will vary according to region of the country.  As of March 2006, the median income for a bookkeeper in the Midwest was 33,633 dollars per year for a bookkeeper.  The bottom 25th percentile of the field was earning 29,522 dollars per year and the top 75th percentile of the field was earning 38,795 dollars per year.  The median income for a bookkeeper in the South was 34,060 dollars per year.  The bottom 25th percentile was 32,769 dollars per year and the top 75th percentile was 39,287 dollars per year.  The median income for a bookkeeper on the West Coast was 37,333 dollars per year.  The bottom 25th percentile were earning 32,769, while the top 75th percentile were earning 43,062.  And on the East Coast the median salary for a bookkeeper was 40,136 dollars per year.  The bottom 25th percentile were earning 35,236 dollars per year, and the top 75th percentile were earning 46,296.

With every advancement will come an increase in salary.  For example, a bookkeeper that works their way up to Accounting Director will earn a median salary of 112,813 dollars per year.  The bottom 25th percentile of accounting directors will earn 95,590 and the top 75th percentile will earn 134,140.  This is based on the Midwest data, and will likely increase with different regions of the country.

Employment of bookkeepers is predicted to grow more slowly than average for all occupations through 2014.  More job openings will come from replacement needs than from job growth.  Each year, many jobs will become obtainable as bookkeepers transfer to other occupations or leave the work force.  The many opportunities of this occupation ensure plentiful job openings, including many opportunities for part-time and temporary employment.

The continuing trend of office automation and computerization will lead to the slower-than-average increase in the field of bookkeeping.  This is despite a growing economy and more financial transactions.  Furthermore, companies of all sizes continue to downsize and consolidate many bookkeeping functions.  Additionally, much of this work will continue to be outsourced to lower-wage foreign companies.  Therefore, those bookkeepers who are certified or whom can carryout a wider range of responsibilities will be in more of a demand than specialized clerks.

However, demand for full-charge bookkeepers is expected to rise through 2012.  These bookkeepers can be called upon to do much of the work of accountants, as well as perform a widespread variety of financial dealings, from payroll to billing.  Certified bookkeepers and those with numerous years of accounting and/or bookkeeping experience will have the best job prospects.