Bookkeeper salary in San Francisco, CA
Median pay, San Francisco Bay Area (SF/Oakland)
$65,530/year
about $31.50 an hour full-time
Middle half earns $57,510 – $78,460
Half of bookkeepers in the San Francisco Bay Area (SF/Oakland) area earn more than $65,530 a year and half earn less. That's 29% higher than the national median of $50,670, and ranks #2 of the 30 big metro areas we track for this job.
Pay range
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $47,010 | $22.60 |
| 25th | $57,510 | $27.65 |
| Median (50th) | $65,530 | $31.50 |
| 75th | $78,460 | $37.72 |
| 90th (top earners) | $94,860 | $45.61 |
*Yearly pay divided by 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the full-time basis BLS uses.
Is your offer fair?
For a bookkeeper job in the San Francisco Bay Area (SF/Oakland) area, here's how an offer compares:
- Below market under $57,510 ($27.65/hr). Fine for a first job in the field, otherwise worth negotiating.
- Typical $57,510 to $78,460 ($27.65 to $37.72/hr). The middle half of what people in this job earn.
- Strong offer over $78,460 ($37.72/hr). Higher than three quarters of workers here.
Before you accept
- Ask which software you'd use (QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite). Experience with it can support a higher offer.
- Full-charge bookkeepers who handle everything through month-end close usually earn more than clerks.
- Part-time and contract bookkeeping is common, so compare by hourly rate.
Also watch for the common warning signs in the posting itself: 15 job posting red flags.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025, San Francisco Bay Area (SF/Oakland). Occupation: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks (SOC 43-3031). Figures cover wage and salary workers and don't include bonuses, benefits or overtime.