Cost of hiring a bookkeeper in Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH
Budget above the national rate here. The median bookkeeper in Boston-Cambridge earned $60,960 a year in May 2025[1], 1.9% above the Massachusetts statewide median of $59,830 and 20.3% above the US median of $50,670. Nationally that is #10 of 521 areas, in the top tenth. With about 21,170 bookkeepers, no area in Massachusetts employs more.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Boston-Cambridge against Massachusetts and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | $41,590 | $60,960 | $82,710 | |
| Massachusetts | $40,760 | $59,830 | $81,080 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Boston-Cambridge earns $50,450–$71,660. The top tenth earns $82,710 or more, 2.0 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.1 times.
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41,590 | $3,466 | $20.00 | $59,414 |
| 25th percentile | $50,450 | $4,204 | $24.25 | $72,071 |
| Median | $60,960 | $5,080 | $29.31 | $87,086 |
| 75th percentile | $71,660 | $5,972 | $34.45 | $102,371 |
| 90th percentile | $82,710 | $6,892 | $39.76 | $118,157 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $10,510 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $10,700, or about $15,286 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.
What a hire really costs in Boston-Cambridge
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $26,126 to the $60,960 median and brings it to $87,086 a year. 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Boston-Cambridge
Of the 17 roles we track in Boston-Cambridge, this one ranks #10 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $114,990 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $43,930.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +88.6% | 18,840 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +68.0% | 32,310 | |
| Accountant | +64.3% | 37,150 | |
| Recruiter | +48.1% | 21,770 | |
| Executive Assistant | +39.9% | 11,290 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +36.8% | 25,310 | |
| Paralegal | +31.0% | 6,300 | |
| Office Manager | +27.9% | 25,630 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +9.8% | 2,500 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 21,170 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -2.7% | 28,540 | |
| HR Assistant | -5.8% | 1,150 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -9.6% | 1,100 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -15.4% | 16,330 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -18.1% | 37,780 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -21.9% | 1,460 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -27.9% | 14,320 |
Other areas in Massachusetts
Across the 7 areas of Massachusetts with data for this job, the median runs from $54,170 in Springfield to $61,770 in the Massachusetts nonmetro area, a gap of $7,600 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Boston-Cambridge | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts (Nonmetro) | +1.3% | 450 | |
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | this area | 21,170 | |
| Barnstable Town, MA | -0.5% | 990 | |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | -7.4% | 490 | |
| Worcester, MA | -7.6% | 2,780 | |
| Pittsfield, MA | -9.3% | 530 | |
| Springfield, MA | -11.1% | 1,430 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH?
About $87,086 a year at the median, or $7,257 a month: $60,960 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Boston-Cambridge?
The median was $60,960 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $41,590, the 90th $82,710, and the middle half earned $50,450 to $71,660.
Is Boston-Cambridge cheaper than the rest of Massachusetts for bookkeepers?
No, it costs more: a median of $60,960 against $59,830 statewide. The Massachusetts nonmetro area pays the most ($61,770) and Springfield the least ($54,170).
How many bookkeepers work in Boston-Cambridge?
BLS counts about 21,170 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in Boston-Cambridge?
Yes: $1,630 a year more at the median. The medians are $60,960 and $59,330.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3031: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433031.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-06.