Cost of hiring a bookkeeper in Houston-Pasadena, TX
Houston-Pasadena pays bookkeepers more than Texas as a whole but less than the country. The median is $49,460 a year[1]: 1.1% above the Texas statewide median of $48,910 and 2.4% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally it ranks #158 of 521 areas. About 26,090 bookkeepers work here, 21% of the Texas total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Houston-Pasadena against Texas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena, TX | $34,730 | $49,460 | $74,010 | |
| Texas | $33,480 | $48,910 | $72,810 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $74,010, 2.1 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Houston-Pasadena earns $41,860–$60,460.
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,730 | $2,894 | $16.70 | $49,614 |
| 25th percentile | $41,860 | $3,488 | $20.12 | $59,800 |
| Median | $49,460 | $4,122 | $23.78 | $70,657 |
| 75th percentile | $60,460 | $5,038 | $29.07 | $86,371 |
| 90th percentile | $74,010 | $6,168 | $35.58 | $105,729 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $11,000 a year in pay and about $15,714 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $7,600 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.
What a hire really costs in Houston-Pasadena
At the $49,460 median, a local hire costs about $70,657 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $21,197 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Houston-Pasadena
Of the 17 roles we track in Houston-Pasadena, this one ranks #10 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $99,510 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $35,350.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +101.2% | 35,550 | |
| Accountant | +72.0% | 28,400 | |
| Executive Assistant | +51.3% | 7,390 | |
| Recruiter | +46.7% | 18,320 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +36.2% | 14,480 | |
| Office Manager | +33.4% | 36,940 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +27.6% | 28,720 | |
| Paralegal | +26.8% | 7,320 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +9.4% | 3,260 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 26,090 | |
| HR Assistant | -1.2% | 1,140 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -5.5% | 33,710 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -7.8% | 1,270 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -10.6% | 20,220 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -18.4% | 65,510 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -20.1% | 4,430 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -28.5% | 17,140 |
Other areas in Texas
Across the 32 areas of Texas with data for this job, the median runs from $39,710 in Laredo to $54,320 in Austin-Round Rock, a gap of $14,610 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Houston-Pasadena | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | +9.8% | 11,900 | |
| Midland, TX | +5.6% | 1,440 | |
| Dallas-Fort Worth, TX | +4.6% | 34,930 | |
| Houston-Pasadena, TX | this area | 26,090 | |
| Odessa, TX | -1.1% | 880 | |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | -2.6% | 8,960 | |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | -3.4% | 380 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Houston-Pasadena, TX?
About $70,657 a year at the median, or $5,888 a month: $49,460 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 Houston-Pasadena?
The median was $49,460 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $34,730, the 90th $74,010, and the middle half earned $41,860 to $60,460.
Is Houston-Pasadena cheaper than the rest of Texas for bookkeepers?
No, it costs more: a median of $49,460 against $48,910 statewide. Austin-Round Rock pays the most ($54,320) and Laredo the least ($39,710).
How many bookkeepers work in Houston-Pasadena?
BLS counts about 26,090 in the May 2025 survey. That is 21% of the Texas total of 122,400.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in Houston-Pasadena?
Yes: $570 a year more at the median. The medians are $49,460 and $48,890.
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.