Best paying cities for bookkeepers, after cost of living
After cost of living, bookkeeper pay goes furthest in San Jose (worth $59,900) and least far in Miami (worth $44,046).
| # | Metro area | Median pay | Prices (US = 100) | Worth | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $66,130 | 110.4 | $59,900 | +18% |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $65,530 | 115.6 | $56,687 | +12% |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $60,960 | 108.3 | $56,288 | +11% |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $54,320 | 98.1 | $55,372 | +9% |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $57,790 | 104.8 | $55,143 | +9% |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $59,290 | 108.9 | $54,444 | +7% |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $60,460 | 111.1 | $54,419 | +7% |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $57,510 | 105.8 | $54,357 | +7% |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $57,040 | 105.4 | $54,118 | +7% |
| 10 | New York, NY | $60,640 | 112.6 | $53,854 | +6% |
| 11 | Sacramento, CA | $56,840 | 106.7 | $53,271 | +5% |
| 12 | Nashville, TN | $50,810 | 96.3 | $52,762 | +4% |
| 13 | St. Louis, MO | $49,970 | 95.1 | $52,545 | +4% |
| 14 | San Diego, CA | $58,580 | 111.9 | $52,350 | +3% |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $50,800 | 97.3 | $52,210 | +3% |
| 16 | Los Angeles, CA | $58,590 | 113.6 | $51,576 | +2% |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $52,710 | 102.6 | $51,374 | +1% |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | $51,480 | 100.3 | $51,326 | +1% |
| 19 | Baltimore, MD | $53,570 | 104.5 | $51,263 | +1% |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $51,170 | 100.1 | $51,119 | +1% |
| 21 | San Antonio, TX | $48,150 | 94.7 | $50,845 | 0% |
| 22 | Phoenix, AZ | $51,980 | 103.3 | $50,319 | −1% |
| 23 | Dallas, TX | $51,720 | 103.1 | $50,165 | −1% |
| 24 | Houston, TX | $49,460 | 98.6 | $50,162 | −1% |
| 25 | Pittsburgh, PA | $47,250 | 94.7 | $49,894 | −2% |
| 26 | Las Vegas, NV | $49,960 | 100.2 | $49,860 | −2% |
| 27 | Chicago, IL | $51,440 | 103.6 | $49,653 | −2% |
| 28 | Tampa, FL | $50,090 | 100.9 | $49,643 | −2% |
| 29 | Orlando, FL | $48,460 | 101.4 | $47,791 | −6% |
| 30 | Miami, FL | $50,300 | 114.2 | $44,046 | −13% |
U.S. median for bookkeepers: $50,670. "Worth" is the median adjusted for local prices: what that pay buys at average U.S. prices, using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 (Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks, SOC 43-3031); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024. Median pay for wage and salary workers, excluding bonuses, benefits and overtime. Metro areas, not city limits.