For business owners
What a full-time bookkeeper really costs a small business
The salary is only the starting point. Once payroll taxes and benefits are added, a full-time in-house bookkeeper at the national median costs a small business roughly $72,000 a year, before recruiting.
The median pay for bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks in the US is $50,670 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). That is the salary. Once employer payroll taxes and benefits are added, a full-time in-house bookkeeper at that median costs a small business roughly $72,000 a year, before you spend anything on recruiting, equipment or turnover.
That number is not an argument against hiring. It is the number to compare every other option against, and most owners never calculate it.
Start with the salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median of $50,670 a year, or $24.36 an hour, for bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks, as of May 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Expect more for a full-charge bookkeeper who can close the month on their own, and more in high-cost areas.
Add what the employer pays on top
Payroll taxes. As an employer you pay 6.2% Social Security tax and 1.45% Medicare tax on the employee's wages, according to the IRS overview of Social Security and Medicare withholding. On a $50,670 salary that is about $3,876 a year. Federal and state unemployment taxes and workers' compensation insurance come on top, and those vary by state.
Benefits. Health insurance, paid time off, retirement contributions and the legally required items above. The BLS measures this across private industry: in June 2026, benefits were 30% of total employer compensation costs, with wages and salaries the other 70%, according to its employer costs for employee compensation release.
The total
Using that 70/30 split, a $50,670 salary implies total compensation of about $72,400 a year. Spread across 2,080 paid hours, that is roughly $35 an hour, not $24.
| Item | Approximate annual cost |
|---|---|
| Median salary | $50,670 |
| Benefits and legally required costs (about 30% of total) | $21,700 |
| Total compensation | about $72,400 |
| Recruiting, onboarding, software seat, equipment | Extra, one-time or ongoing |
The 30% figure is an average across private industry. Your number depends on your benefits package and your state, so plug in your own.
The costs that do not show up on payroll
Recruiting. Job posts, a recruiter fee if you use one, and the hours you spend interviewing.
Ramp-up. A new bookkeeper spends their first weeks learning your file, your vendors and your process. You pay full salary while they get fast.
Coverage. Vacation and sick days are paid, and the books still need doing.
Turnover. If they leave, you start the whole cycle again, often mid-year.
Management. Someone has to review the work. A bookkeeper without review drifts.
When a full-time in-house bookkeeper is the right call
Sometimes it is. If the role needs someone on site to handle physical mail, cash, inventory counts or in-person vendor relationships, an in-house hire makes sense. The same is true when transaction volume truly needs a full person and you want them in the building.
If you do not need the full 40 hours, a part-time local hire is the usual alternative. We compare that option in outsourced bookkeeper vs part-time local hire.
How the alternatives compare
| Option | Typical cost model | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time in-house bookkeeper | Salary plus about 30% benefits | One person, on site, all year |
| Part-time local bookkeeper | Hourly wage for fewer hours | Limited hours, often limited availability |
| Bookkeeping firm or freelancer | Monthly fee or hourly rate | Shared attention across many clients |
| Dedicated offshore bookkeeper | $2,200 a month plus a one-time setup fee | One person, full-time, on US business hours |
That last row is what we do. We place dedicated, degreed bookkeepers and accountants, based offshore, into US small businesses for 40 hours a week. At $2,200 a month, that is $26,400 a year plus a one-time setup fee, against roughly $72,000 for a median in-house hire. Every operator is QuickBooks certified, and placement usually takes 14 to 21 days from the fit call. The full cost breakdown is in how much an outsourced bookkeeper costs.
Common questions
How much does a full-time bookkeeper cost per year?
At the national median salary of $50,670 (BLS, May 2025), roughly $72,000 a year once employer payroll taxes and benefits are included, before recruiting and equipment. Your figure depends on your state, the person's experience and your benefits.
How much should I pay someone to do my bookkeeping?
For an employee, start from local market pay for the level you need; a bookkeeper who can close the month and produce reports earns more than one who only enters transactions. For outside help, compare the monthly fee against what you would pay in-house, including benefits.
What does an average bookkeeper charge per hour?
The BLS median wage for an employed bookkeeper is $24.36 an hour, but that is pay, not cost. With taxes and benefits, an employee costs closer to $35 per paid hour. Freelancers and firms set their own rates, which vary widely.
Is hiring a full-time bookkeeper worth it?
It is worth it when your books need a full person's time and an on-site employee is the best fit. If you need the hours but not the person in the building, a dedicated remote bookkeeper usually gives you the same capacity for much less.
Do I need a full-time or part-time bookkeeper?
Look at the volume. If transactions, bills, invoices, payroll records and a monthly close add up to most of a week, you need full-time capacity. If they fit in a few hours, part-time or a monthly service is enough.