How to Become a Bookkeeper in Illinois (2026)

Q: How much do bookkeepers earn in Illinois?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), bookkeepers in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $49,560.

Q: What is the job outlook for bookkeepers in Illinois?

Illinois currently employs approximately 51,470 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -5.8% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois employs about 51,470 bookkeepers earning a median $49,560 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most bookkeepers train through an approved program before entering the field in Illinois.

Compare Bookkeeper Schools in Illinois

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Moraine Valley Community College	60.0	Contact school for pricing	$51,357	37%	Yes*	74 mi
2	Waubonsee Community College	59.6	Contact school for pricing	$51,678	Not reported	Yes*	60 mi
3	Sauk Valley Community College	59.1	Contact school for pricing	$54,209	50%	Yes*	65 mi
4	Illinois Valley Community College	58.3	$4,200 - $16,385	$48,989	43%	Yes*	22 mi
5	Richland Community College	53.4	Contact school for pricing	$51,785	52%	Yes*	78 mi
6	Kankakee Community College	53.4	$5,220 - $25,830	$50,343	35%	Yes*	57 mi
7	Heartland Community College	51.7	$5,550 - $16,727	$48,942	53%	Yes*	33 mi
8	Elgin Community College	50.2	Contact school for pricing	$54,220	41%	—	77 mi
9	Illinois Central College	50.0	Contact school for pricing	$55,058	Not reported	Yes*	36 mi
10	South Suburban College	48.6	Contact school for pricing	$45,069	Not reported	Yes*	81 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Illinois employs approximately 51,470 bookkeepers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $49,560 ¹. Nationally, bookkeeper employment is projected to grow -5.8% from 2024 to 2034, with about 170,000 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Bookkeeper in Illinois, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school or community college
Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
Median wage (Illinois): $49,560 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Bookkeeper in Illinois

How to become a Bookkeeper in Illinois? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for bookkeepers in Illinois.

How long does it take? bookkeeper training length in Illinois varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do bookkeepers earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for bookkeepers in Illinois is $49,560 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $32,360 and experienced professionals can earn $71,480 or more ¹.

How to Become a Bookkeeper in Illinois

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Illinois training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved bookkeeper program in Illinois that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to bookkeepers in Illinois before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Bookkeeper Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks wages in Illinois vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	35,660	$51,440	$54,100	$36,140	$73,430
St. Louis	9,950	$49,970	$53,400	$37,680	$74,090
Peoria	1,390	$47,670	$49,710	$36,360	$63,740
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	1,360	$47,840	$49,220	$35,900	$62,660
Rockford	1,020	$46,790	$49,480	$35,720	$63,820
Springfield	860	$50,780	$52,600	$36,610	$71,990
Champaign-Urbana	710	$48,830	$51,490	$37,640	$65,870
Paducah	610	$46,310	$48,740	$32,130	$66,620
Bloomington	590	$45,220	$48,210	$35,990	$61,270
Kankakee	400	$47,240	$48,610	$35,140	$64,490
Decatur	330	$48,200	$50,080	$35,540	$64,140
Cape Girardeau	310	$45,810	$48,790	$33,550	$67,640

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for bookkeepers in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 51,470 bookkeepers ¹. Nationally, bookkeeper employment is projected to grow -5.8% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Illinois.

How much do bookkeepers earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for bookkeepers in Illinois is $49,560, which is $350 above the national median of $49,210 according to BLS data ¹.

In Illinois

Illinois Trade Schools 2026: Programs, Costs, Licensing

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Illinois

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)