Side-by-side distribution
Bookkeeper
$33,280
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 17.6%
- Live roles
- 131
Controller
$175,000
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 30.8%
- Live roles
- 610
Highest-paying jobs
Bookkeeper & Accounting Support Specialist - (Multi-Client) - LATAM
Bookkeeper & Accounting Support Specialist - (Multi-Client)
Bookkeeper
Accountant (Bookkeeper)
Office Manager / Bookkeeper
Bookkeeper
Bookkeeper - Part-time
Full Charge Bookkeeper
Bookkeeper
Bookkeeper
Highest-paying jobs
Revenue & Accounting Operations Controller
Controller
Controller
Corporate Controller
Partner 36, Corporate Controller
Assistant Controller
Controller
Assistant Controller
Corporate Controller
Controller
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
HireHawk
|
$18,000 | 5 |
|
Scalesource
|
$100,000 | 2 |
|
Almedia
|
$78,570 | 1 |
|
Emigrant Bank
|
$75,000 | 1 |
|
Latitudeinc
|
$60,320 | 1 |
|
Inspira Education
|
$60,000 | 1 |
|
EPIC Brokers
|
$57,200 | 1 |
|
Qualdoc
|
$55,000 | 1 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
Air Apps
|
$43,650 | 9 |
Crosscountry Consulting
|
$152,000 | 7 |
Attivo Partners
|
$182,500 | 5 |
Metropolis
|
$180,000 | 3 |
The Symicor Group
|
$125,000 | 3 |
Cheer Home Care
|
$124,800 | 3 |
|
a16z
|
$305,000 | 2 |
LangChain
|
$212,500 | 2 |
Controller salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $212,500 | 15 |
| New York | $192,250 | 27 |
| Los Angeles | $177,500 | 13 |
| Seattle | $160,000 | 3 |
| Chicago | $157,500 | 8 |
| Austin | $156,250 | 4 |
| London | $122,469 | 4 |
| Toronto | $100,000 | 7 |
Bookkeeper vs Controller: which pays more?
The median for Bookkeeper is $33,280 per year (typically $18,000–$58,600), versus $175,000 for Controller ($130,625–$209,688). That puts Controller about 426% 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.