Bookkeeper salary in the United States
National median pay
$50,670/year
about $24.36 an hour full-time
Middle half earns $43,520 – $61,470
National pay range
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $36,000 | $17.31 |
| 25th | $43,520 | $20.92 |
| Median (50th) | $50,670 | $24.36 |
| 75th | $61,470 | $29.55 |
| 90th (top earners) | $74,550 | $35.84 |
*Yearly pay divided by 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the full-time basis BLS uses.
Pay by city
Highest median pay: San Jose ($66,130). Lowest of the cities we track: Pittsburgh ($47,250).
| Metro area | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $66,130 | $58,800 – $78,460 |
| San Francisco, CA | $65,530 | $57,510 – $78,460 |
| Boston, MA | $60,960 | $50,450 – $71,660 |
| New York, NY | $60,640 | $49,820 – $73,770 |
| Seattle, WA | $60,460 | $51,480 – $69,980 |
| Washington, DC | $59,290 | $49,210 – $66,580 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $58,590 | $48,030 – $67,710 |
| San Diego, CA | $58,580 | $48,940 – $70,150 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $57,790 | $48,140 – $63,280 |
| Denver, CO | $57,510 | $47,990 – $68,860 |
| Portland, OR | $57,040 | $48,360 – $64,620 |
| Sacramento, CA | $56,840 | $48,300 – $64,290 |
| Austin, TX | $54,320 | $44,850 – $63,750 |
| Baltimore, MD | $53,570 | $45,930 – $62,530 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $52,710 | $46,250 – $62,560 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $51,980 | $46,580 – $60,320 |
| Dallas, TX | $51,720 | $45,190 – $61,840 |
| Detroit, MI | $51,480 | $44,720 – $60,340 |
| Chicago, IL | $51,440 | $45,620 – $61,610 |
| Atlanta, GA | $51,170 | $43,930 – $61,760 |
| Nashville, TN | $50,810 | $45,130 – $61,320 |
| Charlotte, NC | $50,800 | $43,940 – $60,730 |
| Miami, FL | $50,300 | $44,210 – $60,350 |
| Tampa, FL | $50,090 | $44,450 – $60,970 |
| St. Louis, MO | $49,970 | $45,360 – $60,600 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $49,960 | $43,570 – $59,810 |
| Houston, TX | $49,460 | $41,860 – $60,460 |
| Orlando, FL | $48,460 | $41,620 – $59,280 |
| San Antonio, TX | $48,150 | $40,950 – $58,770 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $47,250 | $41,240 – $57,820 |
Pay depends a lot on location, so compare an on-site job with its local figures. For fully remote jobs, national pay is usually the fairest comparison.
🏆 Best paying cities for bookkeepers, after cost of living →
Is your offer fair?
$
- Below market under $43,520 ($20.92/hr). Fine for a first job in the field, otherwise worth negotiating.
- Typical $43,520 to $61,470 ($20.92 to $29.55/hr). The middle half of what people in this job earn.
- Strong offer over $61,470 ($29.55/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.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025. Occupation: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks (SOC 43-3031). Figures cover wage and salary workers and don't include bonuses, benefits or overtime.