Bookkeeping Hourly Rates by State: 2026 Wage Data

When hiring staff, the primary metric businesses analyze is bookkeeping hourly rates. Understanding these wage benchmarks is vital for ensuring you offer competitive pay without overspending on labor. While the national median hovers around $23/hour, local economic factors such as cost of living and labor shortages create a wide disparity in actual pay rates across the US. Note: If you are looking for total business budgeting or outsourcing packages, please see our guide on Total Bookkeeping Costs for Small Business.

1. Breakdown of a Bookkeeper’s Hourly Wage

Definition: The hourly rate is the gross wage paid to a bookkeeper for 60 minutes of work. However, the “billable rate” a freelancer charges is often 2-3x higher than an employee’s wage to cover their self-employment overhead.

What Drives the Hourly Rate Up?

2. National Hourly Rates & Annual Salaries (2026 Data)

According to the latest BLS statistics, the median annual wage for bookkeeping clerks is roughly $45,560, which breaks down to $21.90 per hour. The “True Cost” Trap: That $21.90/hr is just the base wage. When you add payroll taxes (7.65%), health benefits, paid time off, and equipment, the effective hourly cost to the business owner is often closer to $35.00+ per hour.

3. 2026 State-by-State Hourly Rates (Verified BLS Data)

Below is the detailed breakdown of median hourly wages for bookkeepers across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates (latest official release).

4. Billing Models: The Hidden Cost of “Fixed” Pricing

While fixed-rate billing is often marketed as the “safe” choice for budgeting, it frequently comes with a hidden markup. To protect themselves from scope creep, fixed-fee firms often inflate their prices to account for risk—meaning you pay a premium for “safety” even during your slow months. Furthermore, many modern bookkeeping firms base their fixed pricing tiers on your monthly operating expenses. This creates a scenario where your bookkeeping fee could jump simply because you bought new equipment or increased ad spend, even if your actual bookkeeping transaction volume didn’t change. In contrast, an hourly model with a trustworthy bookkeeping service ensures you come out ahead by paying strictly for the work performed, not an arbitrary revenue bracket.

5. How Do Hourly Rates Compare to Top Services?

When searching for the best bookkeeping services, you will find that premium providers like Pilot.com or Bench.co charge effective rates of $150+ per hour (often disguised as high monthly fees). In contrast, Maxim Liberty offers the transparency of an hourly-style model with the predictability of a fixed monthly package. For a detailed breakdown of how we stack up against the competition, read our full review of the best bookkeeping services.