Bookkeeper salary

Q: How much does a bookkeeper make?

The average bookkeeper salary in the United States is $40,337. Bookkeeper salaries typically range between $30,000 and $52,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for bookkeepers is $19.39 per hour. Bookkeeper salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Bookkeepers earn the highest average salary in New York.

Q: What state pays Bookkeepers the most?

New York pays Bookkeepers the most in the United States, with an average salary of $48,148 per year, or $23.15 per hour.

Q: How do I know if I'm being paid fairly as a bookkeeper?

You know if you are being paid fairly as a bookkeeper if your pay is close to the average pay for the state you live in. For example, if you live in New York you should be paid close to $48,079 per year.

Q: What is a good starting salary for a Bookkeeper?

A good starting salary for a bookkeeper is $31,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a bookkeeper in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for bookkeepers is $40,168, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a bookkeeper can vary by state.

Q: Do bookkeepers make good money?

Yes, bookkeepers make good money. The median annual bookkeeper salary is $40,000 per year, with a median hourly rate of $19. However, bookkeeping salaries vary depending on the individual's education, level of experience, and industry.

Q: How much does a beginner bookkeeper make?

A beginner bookkeeper makes around $30,000 a year. The median annual bookkeeper salary is $40,000 per year, with a median hourly rate of $19. However, bookkeeping salaries vary depending on the individual's education, level of experience, and industry.

Q: How much does a bookkeeper make a year?

A bookkeeper makes $40,000 a year, on average. This means they have a median hourly rate of just over $19. However, bookkeeping salaries vary depending on the individual's education, level of experience, and industry.

Q: How much should I pay a bookkeeper per hour?

You should pay a bookkeeper between $20 and $40 an hour. The actual rate a company pays its bookkeeper largely depends on what the company needs from a bookkeeper. More financially complex business models may require a business to pay more for a bookkeeper who has more experience and skill.

Quoted expert

Alyson Ma Ph.D.

Average bookkeeper salary

$40,337

$19.39 hourly rate

Entry-level bookkeeper salary

$30,000 yearly salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Understanding Bookkeeper Salaries

As of October 2025, the average salary for a bookkeeper stands at $40,337 annually. Salaries in this profession range based on various factors, including experience, geographic location, and the industry sector. For example, entry-level bookkeepers may earn around $35,000, while those with several years of experience can expect salaries exceeding $50,000.

Factors Influencing Salary

The salary for bookkeepers can significantly differ by state. For instance, bookkeepers in California may earn upwards of $45,000 annually, while those in Texas may see averages closer to $38,000. Additionally, specialized roles such as tax bookkeepers or those working in corporate finance often command higher salaries due to the specific skills required.

Career Advancement

To enhance earning potential, pursuing certifications such as Certified Bookkeeper or QuickBooks ProAdvisor can be beneficial. These qualifications not only improve job prospects but also pave the way for advancement into higher-paying positions, including senior accountant roles.

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Bookkeeper salary by:

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Where can a Bookkeeper earn more?

Compare salary by location

67k

47k

27k

Columbus, OH$48,188

Raleigh, NC$37,003

Compare salary by company

74k

54k

34k

14k

NTT Data International L.L.C.$61,327

Weber Murphy Fox Architects$44,304

Bookkeeper salaries by experience level

Experience level	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
Entry-level bookkeeper	$28,500	$13.70
Mid-level bookkeeper	$40,700	$19.57
Senior-level bookkeeper	$53,500	$25.71

Bookkeeper salary estimates from across the web

Based on the latest salary information compiled by Zippia, Salary.com, Glassdoor, Ziprecruiter, SalaryExpert, Comparably and CareerExplorer, the average salary for a bookkeeper typically falls between $40,337 and $50,232.

zippia

$40,337yearly

glassdoor[1]

$49,282yearly

comparably[2]

$43,076yearly

Salary.com[3]

$43,971yearly

ZipRecruiter[4]

$48,001yearly

SalaryExpert[5]

$50,232yearly

CareerExplorer[6]

$45,560yearly

Average bookkeeper salary by state

The highest-paying states for bookkeepers are New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The lowest average bookkeeper salary states are Arkansas, Nebraska, and West Virginia.

State view
County view

Average salary:

Highest paying states for bookkeepers

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	Delaware	$44,991	$21.63
2	New York	$48,079	$23.11
3	Connecticut	$46,977	$22.59
4	Massachusetts	$47,205	$22.69
5	Alaska	$45,253	$21.76
6	District of Columbia	$48,148	$23.15
7	New Jersey	$46,773	$22.49
8	Oregon	$41,419	$19.91
9	Maryland	$44,494	$21.39
10	Illinois	$40,846	$19.64
11	Minnesota	$40,965	$19.69
12	Washington	$44,515	$21.40
13	Pennsylvania	$40,209	$19.33
14	Vermont	$40,247	$19.35
15	New Hampshire	$40,115	$19.29
16	California	$43,976	$21.14
17	Rhode Island	$40,629	$19.53
18	Nevada	$38,053	$18.29
19	Texas	$39,159	$18.83
20	Wisconsin	$38,412	$18.47
21	Ohio	$37,663	$18.11
22	Tennessee	$36,228	$17.42
23	Virginia	$40,593	$19.52
24	Florida	$37,832	$18.19
25	Colorado	$38,740	$18.63
26	Arizona	$38,035	$18.29
27	Michigan	$37,537	$18.05
28	Hawaii	$43,889	$21.10
29	Georgia	$38,301	$18.41
30	Wyoming	$37,247	$17.91
31	Maine	$37,099	$17.84
32	Utah	$36,016	$17.32
33	Missouri	$36,784	$17.68
34	North Carolina	$36,655	$17.62
35	Idaho	$36,245	$17.43
36	North Dakota	$35,169	$16.91
37	Indiana	$35,575	$17.10
38	Iowa	$35,192	$16.92
39	South Carolina	$36,194	$17.40
40	Nebraska	$32,648	$15.70
41	Kentucky	$34,725	$16.69
42	Alabama	$35,248	$16.95
43	Montana	$31,625	$15.20
44	Oklahoma	$35,248	$16.95
45	South Dakota	$34,114	$16.40
46	Kansas	$33,563	$16.14
47	Arkansas	$32,660	$15.70
48	Louisiana	$34,478	$16.58
49	West Virginia	$32,418	$15.59
50	New Mexico	$30,682	$14.75
51	Mississippi	$31,329	$15.06

Top bookkeeper jobs near you

Highest paying cities for bookkeepers

The highest-paying cities for bookkeepers are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Boston, MA.

Rank	City	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	Washington, DC	$48,188	$23.17
2	New York, NY	$48,135	$23.14
3	Boston, MA	$47,119	$22.65
4	Seattle, WA	$44,733	$21.51
5	Baltimore, MD	$44,673	$21.48
6	Los Angeles, CA	$43,510	$20.92
7	Portland, OR	$41,285	$19.85
8	Chicago, IL	$40,943	$19.68
9	Minneapolis, MN	$40,940	$19.68
10	Philadelphia, PA	$40,458	$19.45
11	San Antonio, TX	$39,589	$19.03
12	Denver, CO	$38,756	$18.63
13	Milwaukee, WI	$38,505	$18.51
14	Atlanta, GA	$38,259	$18.39
15	Tucson, AZ	$38,099	$18.32
16	Miami, FL	$37,964	$18.25
17	Las Vegas, NV	$37,915	$18.23
18	Portland, ME	$37,291	$17.93
19	Columbus, OH	$37,226	$17.90
20	Raleigh, NC	$37,003	$17.79

Bookkeepers are the most in-demand in these five cities:

Bookkeeper salary details

A bookkeeper's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $52,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average bookkeeper salary graph, trends, and summary

What is a bookkeeper's salary?

Percentile	Annual salary	Monthly salary	Hourly rate
90th Percentile	$52,000	$4,333	$25
75th Percentile	$46,000	$3,833	$22
Average	$40,337	$3,361	$19
25th Percentile	$35,000	$2,917	$17
10th Percentile	$30,000	$2,500	$14

Highest paying bookkeeper jobs

The highest paying types of bookkeepers are account payables analyst, accounting associate, and junior accountant.

Job title	Annual salary	Monthly salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
Account Payables Analyst	$54,356	$4,530	$26.13	73,985
Accounting Technician	$41,337	$3,445	$19.87	39,972
Accounts Payable Administrator	$41,860	$3,488	$20.12	79,272
Accounting Administrator	$48,068	$4,006	$23.11	97,934
Accounting Coordinator	$44,639	$3,720	$21.46	63,129
Accounting Internship	$30,642	$2,554	$14.73	80,299

How would you rate the starting salaries for bookkeepers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?

Alyson Ma Ph.D.

Chair and Professor, University of San Diego

Economics is a combination of critical thinking, problem-solving, and quantitatively analyzing relationships using data. Students studying Economics are trained to interpret the big picture and present complex information about how an economy functions. Given the analytical and quantitative skills, it is not surprising that Economics majors earn higher than average starting salaries. The preliminary 2020 data shows an average salary of $63k for Economics and Business Economics Majors at USD.

Coupled with work experience, students trained in Economics also outpace their peers to advance in their careers. According to Monster.com, a major in Economics ranks third on the fast track to $100K. Additionally, the Wall Street Journal shows that Economics has the highest Mid-Career 90th Percentile Salary for those with a bachelor's degree at $210,000.

A cautionary note is that Economics is not for everyone. Students who gravitate toward Economics tend to be fascinated by the world around them. They are the analytical type and appreciate the logical beauty of math. If you asked many 'why' questions when you were little, then Economics might be for you.

Top companies hiring bookkeepers now:

Which companies pay bookkeepers the most?

Bookkeeper salaries at NTT Data International L.L.C. And Latin American Montessori Bilingual Public Charter School are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average bookkeeper salary at companies like Lewistown Hospital and CSG are highly competitive.

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate
1	NTT Data International L.L.C.	$61,327	$29.48
2	Latin American Montessori Bilingual Public Charter School	$55,289	$26.58
3	Lewistown Hospital	$54,404	$26.16
4	CSG	$51,297	$24.66
5	CBIZ	$50,007	$24.04
6	Monster Products	$48,815	$23.47
7	Town & Country Markets	$47,860	$23.01
8	World Learning	$46,538	$22.37
9	E. & J. Gallo Winery	$46,051	$22.14
10	GPAC	$45,981	$22.11
11	Armanino	$45,553	$21.90
12	United Natural Foods	$45,287	$21.77
13	Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt LLP	$45,237	$21.75
14	CyberCoders	$45,144	$21.70
15	Mollie Stone's Markets	$44,959	$21.61
16	Staffing.com	$44,793	$21.54
17	Regional Medical Center- Orangeburg	$44,531	$21.41
18	Mayo Clinic	$44,445	$21.37
19	UMiami Health System	$44,317	$21.31
20	Weber Murphy Fox Architects	$44,304	$21.30

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$41,000$40,600$40,200$39,800$39,400$39,000

MaleFemale

Bookkeeper salary by industry

The average bookkeeper salary varies across industries:

The average bookkeeper salary in the manufacturing industry is $42,063, the highest of any industry.
The average bookkeeper salary in the finance industry is $41,862.
Bookkeepers in the hospitality industry earn an average salary of $37,930, the lowest of any industry.

Highest paying industries for bookkeepers

Rank	Industry	Average salary	Hourly rate
1	Manufacturing	$42,063	$20.22
2	Finance	$41,862	$20.13
3	Professional	$41,631	$20.01
4	Retail	$38,113	$18.32
5	Hospitality	$37,930	$18.24

High paying bookkeeper jobs

Bookkeeper salary trends

The average bookkeeper salary has risen by $7,295 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average bookkeeper earned $33,042 annually, but today, they earn $40,337 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for bookkeepers over the last decade.

Compare bookkeeper salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average bookkeeper salary over time

Compare bookkeeper salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Bookkeeper salary by year

Year	Avg. salary	Hourly rate	% Change
2025	$40,300	$19.39	+2.8%
2024	$39,200	$18.85	+2.4%
2023	$38,300	$18.40	+2.5%
2022	$37,300	$17.94	+2.2%
2021	$36,500	$17.55	+3.0%

Recently added bookkeeper salaries

Company	Job	Location	Date added	Salary
Peopleready	Bookkeeper	Charleston, WV	06/30/2025	$33,392
Opsource Staffing	Bookkeeper	Greenville, SC	06/29/2025	$31,305
Keystone Insurers Group, Inc.	Bookkeeper	Aurora, IL	06/29/2025	$30,000
Get It-Hospitality	Bookkeeper-Remote \| WFH	Ames, IA	06/29/2025	$41,740
Get It-Finance	Bookkeeper/Accountant-(Hybrid)-Remote	Tampa, FL	06/29/2025	$55,000
Get It-Finance	Bookkeeper-Royal OAK, MI, USA	Royal Oak, MI	06/29/2025	$40,000
Get It-Finance	Accounts Receivable Bookkeeper	Garden City, NY	06/29/2025	$40,000
Get It-Finance	Bookkeeper-	Louisville, KY	06/29/2025	$40,000
Get It-Hospitality	Bookkeeper-Remote \| WFH	Washington, DC	06/29/2025	$45,000
Get It-Finance	Bookkeeper [USA]-Remote \| WFH	Concord, NC	06/29/2025	$40,000

Bookkeeper salary FAQs

What state pays Bookkeepers the most?

How do I know if I'm being paid fairly as a bookkeeper?

What is a good starting salary for a Bookkeeper?

Do bookkeepers make good money?

How much does a beginner bookkeeper make?

How much does a bookkeeper make a year?

How much should I pay a bookkeeper per hour?

Have more questions? See all answers to common office and administrative questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

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