Bookkeeper salary in Fresno, CA
The median bookkeeper in Fresno earned $54,170 a year in May 20251. That is 6.9% above the US median of $50,670, even though it is 8.5% below the California statewide median of $59,230. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#61 of 521). About 4,310 bookkeepers work here, 3% of the California total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Fresno, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Fresno against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | $39,090 | $54,170 | $72,780 | |
| California | $41,600 | $59,230 | $81,990 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Fresno earns $45,250–$61,920. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $72,780, only 1.9 times the bottom tenth, against 2.1 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $16,670 wide, against $22,000 across California and $17,950 nationally: employers in Fresno 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 | $39,090 | $3,258 | $18.79 | $50,439 |
| 25th percentile | $45,250 | $3,771 | $21.75 | $58,387 |
| Median | $54,170 | $4,514 | $26.04 | $69,897 |
| 75th percentile | $61,920 | $5,160 | $29.77 | $79,897 |
| 90th percentile | $72,780 | $6,065 | $34.99 | $93,910 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $7,750 a year in pay and about $10,000 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $8,920 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 Fresno, and the California statewide median of $59,230 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Fresno
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $15,727 to the $54,170 median and brings it to $69,897 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Fresno
Of the 17 roles we track in Fresno, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($59,730) and HR assistants ($50,210). Project Coordinator is the highest at $101,030.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +14.1% | 2,170 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +10.3% | 710 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 4,310 | |
| HR Assistant | -7.3% | 310 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -7.5% | 3,870 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the best paid of the 17 roles we track in Fresno (+6.9%); marketing specialists come last (-20.2%). The typical role here is at +1.3%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in Fresno than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 12.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Fresno, 9.1% across California and 8.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $47,960 in El Centro to $66,130 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $18,170 a year. All 6 areas in California with more bookkeepers than Fresno also pay more, among them Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA ($58,590) and San Francisco-Oakland, CA ($65,530).
| Area | Median | vs Fresno | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yuba City, CA | +1.9% | 460 | |
| Modesto, CA | +1.6% | 1,730 | |
| North Coast Region of California (Nonmetro) | +1.1% | 1,300 | |
| Fresno, CA | this area | 4,310 | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | -1.8% | 2,580 | |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | -2.3% | 370 | |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California (Nonmetro) | -2.6% | 1,180 |
Fresno against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Fresno is #55 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 California, Austin-Round Rock and Salem pay just above Fresno and Springfield and Anchorage just below. All four are within $250 a year of the median in Fresno. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Fresno | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem, OR | +0.5% | 2,230 | pay | |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | +0.3% | 11,900 | pay | |
| Fresno, CA | this area | 4,310 | ||
| Springfield, MA | +0.0% | 1,430 | pay | |
| Anchorage, AK | -0.1% | 2,300 | pay | |
| Rochester, NY | -6.1% | 4,380 | jobs | |
| Boise City, ID | -8.3% | 4,190 | jobs | |
| Tulsa, OK | -10.9% | 4,400 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Fresno, CA?
About $69,897 a year at the median, or $5,825 a month: $54,170 in pay plus about $15,727 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Fresno?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $54,170 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $39,090, the 90th $72,780, and the middle half earned $45,250 to $61,920.
Is Fresno cheaper than the rest of California for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $54,170 against $59,230 statewide. The next area up in California is the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area at $54,750, the next down Bakersfield-Delano at $53,170.
How many bookkeepers work in Fresno?
BLS counts about 4,310 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the California total of 151,870. 6 areas in California have more; the closest in size is San Jose-Sunnyvale, with about 7,590.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in Fresno?
Yes: $3,960 a year more at the median. The medians are $54,170 and $50,210.
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.