Bookkeeper salary in Athens-Clarke County, GA
Athens-Clarke County is a lower-cost market for bookkeepers: the median of $47,360 a year1 is 4.0% below the Georgia statewide median of $49,350, and 6.5% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally it ranks #271 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 820 people in this job here, 2% of the Georgia total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Athens-Clarke County, GA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Athens-Clarke County against Georgia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $30,360 | $47,360 | $63,020 | |
| Georgia (US state) | $32,810 | $49,350 | $71,810 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $63,020, 2.1 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Athens-Clarke County earns $38,920–$53,280. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $14,360 wide, against $19,600 across Georgia and $17,950 nationally: employers in Athens-Clarke County 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 | $30,360 | $2,530 | $14.60 | $39,174 |
| 25th percentile | $38,920 | $3,243 | $18.71 | $50,219 |
| Median | $47,360 | $3,947 | $22.77 | $61,110 |
| 75th percentile | $53,280 | $4,440 | $25.62 | $68,748 |
| 90th percentile | $63,020 | $5,252 | $30.30 | $81,316 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $8,440 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $5,920, or about $7,639 once benefits are added. 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 median and the 75th percentile in Athens-Clarke County, and the Georgia statewide median of $49,350 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Athens-Clarke County
At the $47,360 median, a local hire costs about $61,110 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,750 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 Athens-Clarke County
Of the 15 roles we track in Athens-Clarke County, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between paralegals ($48,840) and HR assistants ($43,820). Project Coordinator is the highest at $82,430.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +4.6% | 400 | |
| Paralegal | +3.1% | 200 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 820 | |
| HR Assistant | -7.5% | 40 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -20.2% | 980 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the best paid of the 15 roles we track in Athens-Clarke County (-6.5%); sales development representatives come last (-29.2%). The typical role here is at -16.4%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in Athens-Clarke County than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 10.4% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Athens-Clarke County, 7.6% across Georgia and 8.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Georgia
Across the 18 areas of Georgia with data for this job, the median runs from $42,800 in Columbus to $51,170 in Atlanta-Sandy Springs, a gap of $8,370 a year. Of the 7 areas in Georgia with more bookkeepers than Athens-Clarke County, 5 pay less, the largest of them Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($46,450), the South Georgia nonmetro area ($44,210) and the North Georgia nonmetro area ($45,210).
| Area | Median | vs Athens-Clarke County | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah, GA | +4.8% | 1,350 | |
| Gainesville, GA | +2.3% | 810 | |
| Hinesville, GA | +0.3% | 130 | |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | this area | 820 | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | -1.9% | 1,640 | |
| Warner Robins, GA | -2.6% | 400 | |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | -3.4% | 720 |
Athens-Clarke County against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Athens-Clarke County is #319 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Georgia, Sioux City and Missoula pay just above Athens-Clarke County and Birmingham and Idaho Falls just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Athens-Clarke County. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Athens-Clarke County | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | +6.3% | 820 | jobs | |
| Missoula, MT | +0.1% | 760 | pay | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | +0.1% | 690 | pay | |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | this area | 820 | ||
| Birmingham, AL | -0.1% | 5,430 | pay | |
| Idaho Falls, ID | -0.1% | 830 | pay | |
| Jackson, TN | -4.5% | 800 | jobs | |
| Lake Charles, LA | -5.9% | 830 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Athens-Clarke County, GA?
About $61,110 a year at the median, or $5,092 a month: $47,360 in pay plus about $13,750 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Athens-Clarke County?
The median was $47,360 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,360, the 90th $63,020, and the middle half earned $38,920 to $53,280.
Is Athens-Clarke County cheaper than the rest of Georgia for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $47,360 against $49,350 statewide. The next area up in Georgia is Hinesville at $47,490, the next down Augusta-Richmond County at $46,450.
How many bookkeepers work in Athens-Clarke County?
BLS counts about 820 in the May 2025 survey. That is 2% of the Georgia total of 38,700. 7 areas in Georgia have more; the closest in size is Columbus, with about 920.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in Athens-Clarke County?
Yes: $3,540 a year more at the median. The medians are $47,360 and $43,820.
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.