The average hourly rate for a bookkeeper in the US is approximately $20 to $30 per hour, with a widely reported median of around $23–$24 per hour as of early 2026. Rates typically range from $16 to over $50 per hour depending on experience, location, and complexity of the work.
The national median pay rate for a full-time bookkeeper is $47,440 per year or $22.81 per hour. However, the average bookkeeper hourly rates across the US ranges from $11.92 in Puerto Rico to $28.91 in Washington DC.
How much does a Bookkeeper make? As of Jan 21, 2026, the average annual pay for a Bookkeeper in the United States is $50,573 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $24.31 an hour. This is the equivalent of $972/week or $4,214/month.
Hourly rates are commonly quoted across the industry, ranging from $25 to $100 per hour. Entry-level bookkeepers can charge $25--$40/hour for basic tasks like data entry, while experienced people handling more complex tasks like payroll or tax compliance may charge $50--$100/hour.
Many bookkeepers charge an hourly rate. This averages around $25 to $100 per hour. This all depends on things like their education, work experience, and the tasks they are expected to perform on the job, in addition to standard accounting functions.
The key difference: bookkeepers handle data entry and basic financial tasks, while accountants provide analysis and strategic advice. Both roles are essential for managing business finances, but they serve different purposes at different stages of your financial management process.
Average base salary
The average salary for a bookkeeper is $26.78 per hour in California. 1.9k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated January 4, 2026).
For example, an accountant with a year or two of experience might earn $60,000 per year while a bookkeeper will earn less than $30,000 per year. More experienced accountants will be able to earn higher salaries but bookkeepers will not see significant salary increases.
Being a full-time or part-time bookkeeper can also affect your earnings: Full-time: These bookkeepers typically receive a fixed annual salary, along with employee benefits like health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plans. Part-time: These bookkeepers are usually paid hourly.
The median hourly wage for white people ages 25 to 64 is $29 per hour compared to $23 per hour for people of color. Men ages 25 to 64 of all races and ethnicities have a median hourly wage of $28 while women's median hourly wage is just $24. Latina women have the lowest median hourly wage at $19 per hour.
The three golden rules of accounting are to (1) debit the receiver and credit the giver, (2) debit what comes in and credit what goes out, and (3) debit expenses and losses, credit income and gains. What are the three types of accounts? The three golden rules of accounting apply to real, personal, and nominal accounts.
So, it's hard to say exactly what you can earn as a freelance bookkeeper in the UK. But a typical hourly rate would be between £10-£25 depending on experience. The average hourly pay for a bookkeeper in the UK is calculated at £11.89 by Payscale, with annual salaries between £18,000 and £36,000.
A freelance bookkeeper typically charges between £20-£40 per hour (Bark.com). According to the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB), the average rate for bookkeepers is £25-£35 per hour, though rates can range from £15-£65 per hour, depending on experience and service level.
The term "full charge" means that these bookkeepers manage all of the business's accounting needs. Besides the typical task of maintaining the business ledger, these bookkeepers prepare financial statements and tax returns, record complex transactions and process timesheets and payroll.
Average base salary
The average salary for a bookkeeper is $23.38 per hour in the United States.
Standard bookkeepers often charge around $25–$75 per hour. Highly certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors or accountants may charge more – commonly $50 to $150 per hour for their expertise.