Bookkeeper salary in Anchorage, AK
Of the 3 areas in Alaska with BLS pay data for this job, Anchorage has the lowest median: $54,100 a year1. That is 4.1% below the Alaska statewide median of $56,430, and 6.8% above the US median of $50,670. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#63 of 521). It is the largest market for the job in Alaska: about 2,300 people, 50% of the Alaska total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Anchorage, AK. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Anchorage against Alaska and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | $38,910 | $54,100 | $75,290 | |
| Alaska | $40,000 | $56,430 | $76,800 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $75,290, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Anchorage earns $47,030–$62,390. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $15,360 wide, against $17,090 across Alaska and $17,950 nationally: employers in Anchorage pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,910 | $3,242 | $18.71 | $50,206 |
| 25th percentile | $47,030 | $3,919 | $22.61 | $60,684 |
| Median | $54,100 | $4,508 | $26.01 | $69,806 |
| 75th percentile | $62,390 | $5,199 | $30.00 | $80,503 |
| 90th percentile | $75,290 | $6,274 | $36.20 | $97,148 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $8,290 a year in pay and about $10,697 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $7,070 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $50,670 falls between the 25th percentile and the median in Anchorage, and the Alaska statewide median of $56,430 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Anchorage
At the $54,100 median, a local hire costs about $69,806 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $15,706 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for bookkeepers we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Anchorage
Of the 17 roles we track in Anchorage, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between HR assistants ($54,900) and administrative assistants ($48,150). Project Coordinator is the highest at $99,580.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +14.5% | 190 | |
| HR Assistant | +1.5% | 130 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 2,300 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -11.0% | 2,560 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -13.0% | 1,680 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #4 of the 17 roles we track in Anchorage (+6.8%), between sales development representatives (+8.4%) and payroll specialists (+6.3%). The typical role here is at -0.1%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in Anchorage than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 12.9% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Anchorage, 14.4% across Alaska and 8.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Alaska
Across the 3 areas of Alaska with data for this job, the median runs from $54,100 in Anchorage to $59,320 in Fairbanks-College, a gap of $5,220 a year. No other area in Alaska has as many bookkeepers, and none of the others pays less.
| Area | Median | vs Anchorage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College, AK | +9.6% | 470 | |
| Alaska (Nonmetro) | +6.3% | 1,740 | |
| Anchorage, AK | this area | 2,300 |
Anchorage against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Anchorage is #101 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Alaska, Springfield and Fresno pay just above Anchorage and Baltimore-Columbia and Yakima just below. All four are within $540 a year of the median in Anchorage. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Anchorage | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem, OR | +0.6% | 2,230 | jobs | |
| Fresno, CA | +0.1% | 4,310 | pay | |
| Springfield, MA | +0.1% | 1,430 | pay | |
| Anchorage, AK | this area | 2,300 | ||
| Baltimore-Columbia, MD | -1.0% | 8,540 | pay | |
| Yakima, WA | -1.0% | 940 | pay | |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | -13.4% | 2,220 | jobs | |
| Wilmington, NC | -15.5% | 2,300 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Anchorage, AK?
About $69,806 a year at the median, or $5,817 a month: $54,100 in pay plus about $15,706 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Anchorage?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $54,100 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $38,910, the 90th $75,290, and the middle half earned $47,030 to $62,390.
Is Anchorage the cheapest area in Alaska for bookkeepers?
Yes. Its median of $54,100 is the lowest of 3 areas in Alaska. The Alaska nonmetro area is next at $57,510.
How many bookkeepers work in Anchorage?
BLS counts about 2,300 in the May 2025 survey. That is 50% of the Alaska total of 4,580. No other area in Alaska has as many.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in Anchorage?
Yes: $5,950 a year more at the median. The medians are $54,100 and $48,150.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3031: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.