How to Become a Bookkeeper in Virginia (2026)

Q: How much do bookkeepers earn in Virginia?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), bookkeepers in Virginia earned a median annual wage of approximately $51,620. Employment concentration in Virginia is roughly 0.88 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

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

Virginia currently employs approximately 31,990 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

Virginia employs about 31,990 bookkeepers earning a median $51,620 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most bookkeepers train through an approved program before entering the field in Virginia.

Compare Bookkeeper Schools in Virginia

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	University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus	70.3	$6,660	$107,963	39%	Yes*	144 mi
2	College of Southern Maryland	53.7	Contact school for pricing	$58,851	33%	Yes*	128 mi
3	Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College	46.5	Contact school for pricing	$40,526	41%	Yes*	125 mi
4	American National University	36.2	Contact school for pricing	$35,696	31%	Yes*	73 mi
5	Career Technical Institute	Not rated	Contact school for pricing	$35,827	63%	Yes*	144 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.

Virginia employs approximately 31,990 bookkeepers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $51,620 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 Virginia, 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 (Virginia): $51,620 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Bookkeeper in Virginia

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

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

What do bookkeepers earn in Virginia? The median annual wage for bookkeepers in Virginia is $51,620 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,610 and experienced professionals can earn $72,860 or more ¹.

How to Become a Bookkeeper in Virginia

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Virginia training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved bookkeeper program in Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	18,550	$59,290	$60,030	$41,520	$79,390
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk	5,880	$48,690	$50,850	$36,040	$65,920
Richmond	4,890	$51,400	$53,580	$37,360	$70,160
Roanoke	1,230	$46,420	$48,790	$34,250	$64,180
Kingsport-Bristol	1,170	$45,670	$46,530	$32,710	$63,570
Lynchburg	890	$47,060	$48,860	$33,160	$64,760
Charlottesville	870	$52,680	$53,850	$37,910	$69,000
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford	720	$51,620	$51,140	$36,750	$65,000
Winchester	550	$48,540	$51,040	$35,300	$62,900
Harrisonburg	500	$47,090	$49,540	$34,610	$64,740
Staunton-Stuarts Draft	400	$48,530	$49,850	$34,510	$66,500

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 Virginia? Virginia currently employs approximately 31,990 bookkeepers ¹. Nationally, bookkeeper employment is projected to grow -5.8% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do bookkeepers earn in Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for bookkeepers in Virginia is $51,620, which is $2,410 above the national median of $49,210 according to BLS data ¹.

In Virginia

Best Trade Schools in Virginia (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Virginia

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)