Cost of hiring a bookkeeper in Denver-Aurora, CO
Denver-Aurora is the most expensive place in Colorado to hire a bookkeeper. The median is $57,510 a year[1], 6.5% above the Colorado statewide median of $54,000 and 13.5% above the US median of $50,670. Nationally that is #30 of 521 areas, in the top tenth. It is the largest market for the job in Colorado: about 14,100 people, 54% of the Colorado total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Denver-Aurora against Colorado and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora, CO | $42,330 | $57,510 | $80,700 | |
| Colorado | $37,250 | $54,000 | $77,540 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $80,700, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Denver-Aurora earns $47,990–$68,860.
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,330 | $3,528 | $20.35 | $60,471 |
| 25th percentile | $47,990 | $3,999 | $23.07 | $68,557 |
| Median | $57,510 | $4,792 | $27.65 | $82,157 |
| 75th percentile | $68,860 | $5,738 | $33.11 | $98,371 |
| 90th percentile | $80,700 | $6,725 | $38.80 | $115,286 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $9,520 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $11,350, or about $16,214 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 Denver-Aurora
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $24,647 to the $57,510 median and brings it to $82,157 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 Denver-Aurora
Of the 17 roles we track in Denver-Aurora, this one ranks #10 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $116,740 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $43,680.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +103.0% | 20,710 | |
| Accountant | +73.9% | 22,720 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +72.2% | 17,000 | |
| Recruiter | +43.5% | 12,520 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +40.2% | 24,480 | |
| Paralegal | +40.0% | 3,740 | |
| Office Manager | +37.6% | 14,710 | |
| Executive Assistant | +18.3% | 5,930 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +12.6% | 1,580 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 14,100 | |
| HR Assistant | -2.5% | 950 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -13.3% | 1,320 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -13.5% | 15,350 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -15.5% | 23,560 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -16.9% | 5,980 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -21.9% | 680 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -24.0% | 5,480 |
Other areas in Colorado
Across the 10 areas of Colorado with data for this job, the median runs from $46,840 in Colorado Springs to $57,510 in Denver-Aurora, a gap of $10,670 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Denver-Aurora | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora, CO | this area | 14,100 | |
| Boulder, CO | -0.3% | 1,440 | |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | -7.3% | 1,760 | |
| Northwest Colorado (Nonmetro) | -8.6% | 1,350 | |
| Greeley, CO | -11.9% | 1,020 | |
| Southwest Colorado (Nonmetro) | -14.3% | 1,250 | |
| Pueblo, CO | -15.1% | 480 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Denver-Aurora, CO?
About $82,157 a year at the median, or $6,846 a month: $57,510 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 do bookkeepers earn in Denver-Aurora?
The median was $57,510 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $42,330, the 90th $80,700, and the middle half earned $47,990 to $68,860.
Is Denver-Aurora the most expensive area in Colorado for bookkeepers?
Yes. Its median of $57,510 is the highest of 10 areas in Colorado. Boulder comes next at $57,330.
How many bookkeepers work in Denver-Aurora?
BLS counts about 14,100 in the May 2025 survey. That is 54% of the Colorado total of 26,140.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in Denver-Aurora?
Yes: $1,410 a year more at the median. The medians are $57,510 and $56,100.
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.