Side-by-side distribution
Bookkeeper
$27,140
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 22.4%
- Live roles
- 107
Controller
$165,000
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 31.4%
- Live roles
- 622
Highest-paying jobs
Bookkeeper & Accounting Support Specialist - (Multi-Client) - LATAM
Bookkeeper & Accounting Support Specialist - (Multi-Client)
Bookkeeper
Bookkeeper
Bookkeeper - Part-time
Full Charge Bookkeeper
Bookkeeper
Bookkeeper
Fractional Legal Bookkeeper (Full Time Role)
Part-Time Events Bookkeeper, Contract Administrator
Highest-paying jobs
Revenue & Accounting Operations Controller
Revenue & Accounting Operations Controller
Corporate Controller
Controller
Partner 36, Corporate Controller
Controller
Controller, Vice President of Accounting
Assistant Controller
Corporate Controller
Assistant Controller
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
HireHawk
|
$18,300 | 6 |
|
Scalesource
|
$100,000 | 2 |
|
Emigrant Bank
|
$75,000 | 1 |
|
The Boutique COO
|
$62,400 | 1 |
|
Latitudeinc
|
$60,320 | 1 |
|
EPIC Brokers
|
$57,200 | 1 |
|
SMB Team
|
$56,160 | 1 |
|
Focus Financial Partners
|
$54,000 | 1 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
Air Apps
|
$43,650 | 9 |
Attivo Partners
|
$182,500 | 5 |
Crosscountry Consulting
|
$172,125 | 4 |
Metropolis
|
$180,000 | 3 |
The Symicor Group
|
$125,000 | 3 |
Cheer Home Care
|
$124,800 | 3 |
| IE Industrial Electric Manufacturing | $68,120 | 3 |
|
Versapay
|
$534,560 | 2 |
Controller salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $216,250 | 16 |
| New York | $192,250 | 23 |
| Denver | $183,750 | 4 |
| Los Angeles | $165,000 | 13 |
| Seattle | $159,997 | 4 |
| Chicago | $158,750 | 6 |
| London | $123,339 | 4 |
| Toronto | $103,672 | 4 |
Bookkeeper vs Controller: which pays more?
The median for Bookkeeper is $27,140 per year (typically $18,000–$56,420), versus $165,000 for Controller ($129,375–$205,125). That puts Controller about 508% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so Bookkeeper and Controller are compared on equal terms regardless of the currency each role was originally posted in. Only roles that publish a salary range feed the medians; numbers refresh every few hours as new roles post and older ones close, so this comparison reflects the market right now rather than a fixed survey. Use it as a directional benchmark when weighing one path against the other.