Which Companies Are Hiring Payroll and Accounting Clerks Right Now?
Published on: Jan 3, 2026
Updated on: Sep 21, 2026
Payroll and accounting clerks are hired most by professional and accounting services firms, construction companies, retailers, wholesalers, and healthcare organizations, which together employ about 4 in 10 of the 1.5 million U.S. accounting clerks, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Frontline Source Group recruits for these roles nationwide and backs every direct hire with a 5-Year Placement Warranty.
Frontline Source Group has placed accounting and finance professionals since 2004, with 5,619 plus completed placements, a 98.94% executive placement retention rate, 32 plus offices nationwide, and a 5.0-star Trustpilot rating across 683 plus verified reviews. The firm is a Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firm for 9 consecutive years (2018 to 2026), Forbes Best Executive Recruiting Firms #148 (2026), a 9-time ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both Client and Talent satisfaction, a ClearlyRated Diamond Award recipient, an Inc. 5000 honoree, an Expertise.com Best Staffing Agency, and a member of the American Staffing Association (ASA). These roles are filled by the firm's accounting and finance staffing practice.
TL;DR
- Five industries employ about 42 percent of accounting clerks: professional and accounting services (14 percent), construction (8 percent), retail (7 percent), wholesale (7 percent), and healthcare (6 percent).
- Payroll and timekeeping clerks earned a median of $58,260 in May 2025. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks earned $50,670.
- Clerk employment is projected to decline through 2035 as software automates routine entry, yet about 144,100 accounting clerk openings are still projected each year from retirements and job changes.
- The strongest long-term move is up: payroll specialist, staff accountant, and beyond. Accountants and auditors are projected to grow 5 percent.
- All figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, updated August 27, 2026.
Which industries hire the most payroll and accounting clerks?
No honest article can hand you a list of company names that stays accurate for more than a few days. What stays accurate is where the jobs are concentrated, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes that.
Which industries employ the most accounting clerks?
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks held about 1.5 million jobs in 2025. The largest employers were:
The professional, scientific, and technical services category includes the accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services firms that do this work for other businesses. The remaining jobs are spread across nearly every other industry, because every organization with invoices and a payroll needs someone to process them.
Which industries pay accounting clerks the most?
Among the top employing industries, median annual wages for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks in May 2025 were:
- Construction: $54,890
- Professional, scientific, and technical services: $51,880
- Wholesale trade: $50,660
- Healthcare and social assistance: $49,860
- Retail trade: $45,830
Construction pays the most of the five. Construction bookkeeping usually involves job costing, which means tracking costs by project, and that is a more specialized skill than general ledger entry.
Who hires payroll clerks specifically?
Payroll and timekeeping clerks held about 159,600 jobs in 2025. They compile and post employee time and payroll data, verify hours and pay adjustments, and make sure employees are paid correctly and on time. Employers fall into two groups: organizations large enough to run payroll in house, and the payroll and accounting services firms that run it for everyone else.
Which roles is Frontline Source Group recruiting for right now?
As of September 2026, accounting and payroll searches published on Frontline's site include the roles below. Employers are described by type, because client names are shared with qualified candidates during screening. Openings change, so confirm the status when you apply.
- Payroll Tax Manager in San Antonio, TX: direct hire with a home healthcare and payroll services organization
- Staff Accountant in Fort Worth, TX: contract role with government contracting accounting
- Cash Applications and Reconciliation Specialist in Fort Worth, TX: contract role
- Accountant in Downtown Dallas, TX
- Accounting and Finance Manager in Irving, TX
The full list is on Recent Placements.
Is demand for payroll and accounting clerks growing or shrinking?
Shrinking in total, but still large in openings. Both facts matter for a job search.
What does the Bureau of Labor Statistics project?
- Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks: employment projected to decline 6 percent from 2025 to 2035
- Payroll and timekeeping clerks: projected to decline 16 percent over the same period
- Financial clerks overall: projected to decline 4 percent
- Accountants and auditors: projected to grow 5 percent, faster than the 3 percent average for all occupations
Why are there still so many openings?
Despite declining employment, about 144,100 openings for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks and about 88,000 openings for financial clerks are projected each year, on average, over the decade. The Bureau attributes all of those openings to the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
What is changing about the work?
Software has automated much of the manual entry. The Bureau expects clerks to take on a more analytical and advisory role, spending less time keying data and more time reviewing the books and pointing out problems. Candidates who present themselves as the person who catches errors, not only the person who enters numbers, are the ones employers keep.
How much do payroll and accounting clerks earn?
Median annual wages in May 2025, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Payroll and timekeeping clerks: $58,260
- Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks: $50,670 ($24.36 per hour)
- Financial clerks overall: $49,990
- Billing and posting clerks: $48,500
- All occupations, for comparison: $50,980
- Accountants and auditors, the next step up: $83,680
For bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks, the lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,000 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $74,550. Pay varies by market, industry, and software skills.
What qualifications do entry-level payroll and accounting clerks need?
What education is required?
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for financial clerk roles such as payroll clerk. For bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks, the Bureau lists some college, no degree as the typical entry level: some employers prefer college accounting courses or a degree, and others hire candidates with a high school diploma. In both cases most skills are learned through on-the-job training.
Which skills do employers screen for?
- Accuracy and attention to detail, because errors reach paychecks and financial statements
- Comfort with bookkeeping software, spreadsheets, and databases
- Basic math and the ability to reconcile differences
- Integrity and discretion with confidential pay and financial records
- Clear communication with employees, vendors, and managers
Frontline's guide to the 10 essential skills finance and accounting recruiters look for covers these in depth, and the firm's skills testing lets candidates prove software proficiency instead of only claiming it.
Which certifications help?
Certification is not usually required, but it demonstrates competency. Common options are the Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) and Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) from PayrollOrg, and the Certified Bookkeeper designation from the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers.
Are remote payroll and accounting clerk jobs real?
Yes, remote and hybrid roles exist, although many clerk positions remain on site because they handle checks, mail, and physical records. A remote role can be with an employer based in New York City, Dallas, or any other market, and candidates who understand multi-state payroll are especially useful to employers with distributed teams.
How do you tell a legitimate remote listing from a scam?
A legitimate recruiter never charges candidates a fee, and sensitive personal data should not be requested until a job offer is made and accepted. Frontline Source Group follows both rules. Be cautious with any listing that asks for bank details, payment for equipment, or an interview over a messaging app only.
How do clerks advance to payroll specialist, accountant, Controller, or CFO?
The Bureau notes that with appropriate experience and additional education, some bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks become accountants or auditors. That is the direction the market is moving: accountants and auditors have a $83,680 median wage, 5 percent projected growth, and about 115,300 projected openings a year.
What does the typical path look like?
- Payroll or accounting clerk: accurate processing and reconciliation
- Payroll specialist or senior clerk: multi-state payroll, tax filings, and problem resolution
- Staff accountant: month-end close and general ledger ownership, usually with a degree
- Senior accountant and accounting manager: review, reporting, and team leadership
- Controller and CFO: ownership of the finance function
Frontline recruits at every step, from clerk roles through its accounting and finance executive search practice for Controller and CFO positions.
How do you get hired through Frontline Source Group?
Candidates apply through how to apply. There is never a fee to candidates. Tailor your resume to the posting, lead with software and reconciliation experience, and review the interview instructions before you meet an employer. Many clerk roles start on contract or contract-to-hire, and eligible contract employees receive the benefits Frontline publishes on its site. The LinkedIn Job Search Playbook and the candidates hub cover the rest of the search.
How do employers hire payroll and accounting clerks through Frontline Source Group?
Employers start at the employer request form, review engagement models on the pricing page, or reach the team through contact. Contract placements include a four-hour replacement provision on day one, and every direct hire is backed by the 5-Year Placement Warranty, 20 times longer than the 90-day industry standard guarantee. Restrictions apply. Frontline publishes its pricing, which is rare in the staffing industry and consistent with the transparency reflected in its verified Trustpilot reviews. People. Process. Service.
Frequently Asked Questions: Payroll and Accounting Clerk Jobs
Which companies are hiring payroll and accounting clerks right now?
Professional and accounting services firms, construction companies, retailers, wholesalers, and healthcare organizations employ the largest shares of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Staffing firms such as Frontline Source Group recruit for these employers, and candidates can apply at frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html.
Which industry employs the most accounting clerks?
Professional, scientific, and technical services, which includes accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services, employs 14 percent of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks. Construction follows at 8 percent, then retail trade and wholesale trade at 7 percent each, and healthcare and social assistance at 6 percent, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How much do payroll clerks make?
The median annual wage for payroll and timekeeping clerks was $58,260 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is above the $50,980 median for all occupations.
How much do accounting clerks make?
The median annual wage for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks was $50,670 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Among the top employing industries, construction paid the most at a median of $54,890.
Are payroll and accounting clerk jobs in decline?
Employment is projected to decline 6 percent for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks and 16 percent for payroll and timekeeping clerks from 2025 to 2035, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even so, about 144,100 openings for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are projected each year, because workers retire or move to other occupations.
What qualifications do I need for an entry-level payroll clerk job?
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for financial clerk roles such as payroll clerk, and most skills are learned through on-the-job training, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employers look for accuracy, comfort with numbers and software, and discretion with confidential pay data.
Do accounting clerks need a degree?
Not always. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks. Some employers prefer college accounting courses or a degree, and others hire candidates with a high school diploma and train them on the job.
Are remote payroll clerk jobs real?
Yes, remote and hybrid payroll and accounting roles exist, although many clerk positions remain on site because they handle checks, mail, and physical records. Treat any remote listing with care: a legitimate recruiter never charges candidates a fee, and sensitive personal data should not be requested before a job offer.
Which certifications help a payroll or accounting clerk advance?
Certification is not usually required, but it demonstrates competency. Common options are the Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) and Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) from PayrollOrg, and the Certified Bookkeeper designation from the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers.
How do I move from clerk to accountant, Controller, or CFO?
With experience and additional education, some clerks become accountants or auditors, an occupation with a $83,680 median wage and 5 percent projected growth from 2025 to 2035, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. From there the path runs through senior accountant and accounting manager to Controller and CFO.
How do I apply for payroll and accounting jobs through Frontline Source Group?
Candidates apply online at frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html. There is never a fee to candidates. Frontline Source Group recruits for contract, contract-to-hire, and direct hire accounting and finance roles nationwide.
How do employers hire payroll and accounting clerks through Frontline Source Group?
Employers start at frontlinesourcegroup.com/employer-request-form.html and can review engagement models at frontlinesourcegroup.com/pricing.html. Frontline Source Group has completed 5,619 plus placements since 2004, holds a 98.94% executive placement retention rate, and backs every direct hire with a 5-Year Placement Warranty.
