Bookkeeper salary in Ithaca, NY
The median bookkeeper in Ithaca earned $51,610 a year in May 20251. That is 1.9% above the US median of $50,670, even though it is 11.3% below the New York statewide median of $58,160. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#88 of 521). About 490 bookkeepers work here.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Ithaca, NY. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Ithaca against New York and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca, NY | $38,710 | $51,610 | $72,610 | |
| New York | $39,880 | $58,160 | $81,990 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $72,610, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Ithaca earns $45,950–$61,340. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $15,390 wide, against $21,930 across New York and $17,950 nationally: employers in Ithaca 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 | $38,710 | $3,226 | $18.61 | $49,948 |
| 25th percentile | $45,950 | $3,829 | $22.09 | $59,290 |
| Median | $51,610 | $4,301 | $24.81 | $66,594 |
| 75th percentile | $61,340 | $5,112 | $29.49 | $79,148 |
| 90th percentile | $72,610 | $6,051 | $34.91 | $93,690 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $9,730 over the median, the 25th only $5,660 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $12,555 a year in employer cost. 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 Ithaca, and the New York statewide median of $58,160 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Ithaca
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 $14,984 to the $51,610 median and brings it to $66,594 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 Ithaca
Of the 14 roles we track in Ithaca, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between HR assistants ($52,140) and payroll specialists ($51,030). Project Coordinator is the highest at $96,870.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +17.3% | 80 | |
| HR Assistant | +1.0% | 70 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 490 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -1.1% | 40 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -7.0% | 900 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #4 of the 14 roles we track in Ithaca (+1.9%), between HR assistants (+3.0%) and customer support specialists (+1.4%). The typical role here is at +0.1%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 10.0% of the jobs in these 14 roles in Ithaca, 8.2% across New York and 9.3% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in New York
Across the 16 areas of New York with data for this job, the median runs from $47,100 in Watertown-Fort Drum to $60,640 in New York-Newark, a gap of $13,540 a year. Of the 13 areas in New York with more bookkeepers than Ithaca, 7 pay less, the largest of them Rochester, NY ($50,870), the Southwest New York nonmetro area ($49,300) and the Capital/Northern New York nonmetro area ($49,940).
| Area | Median | vs Ithaca | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | +3.7% | 4,170 | |
| Syracuse, NY | +0.8% | 2,980 | |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | +0.0% | 5,890 | |
| Ithaca, NY | this area | 490 | |
| Rochester, NY | -1.4% | 4,380 | |
| Capital/Northern New York (Nonmetro) | -3.2% | 1,830 | |
| Central East New York (Nonmetro) | -4.4% | 1,810 |
Ithaca against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Ithaca is #432 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, but its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside New York, Blacksburg-Christiansburg and Dallas-Fort Worth pay just above Ithaca and Detroit-Warren and Lexington Park just below. All four are within $130 a year of the median in Ithaca. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Ithaca | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longview-Kelso, WA | +9.7% | 490 | jobs | |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | +9.3% | 490 | jobs | |
| Dallas-Fort Worth, TX | +0.2% | 34,930 | pay | |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA | +0.0% | 720 | pay | |
| Ithaca, NY | this area | 490 | ||
| Detroit-Warren, MI | -0.3% | 14,730 | pay | |
| Lexington Park, MD | -0.3% | 360 | pay | |
| Mankato, MN | -1.7% | 490 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Ithaca, NY?
About $66,594 a year at the median, or $5,549 a month: $51,610 in pay plus about $14,984 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Ithaca?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $51,610 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $38,710, the 90th $72,610, and the middle half earned $45,950 to $61,340.
Is Ithaca cheaper than the rest of New York for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $51,610 against $58,160 statewide. The next area up in New York is Buffalo-Cheektowaga at $51,610, the next down Rochester at $50,870.
How many bookkeepers work in Ithaca?
BLS counts about 490 in the May 2025 survey. 13 areas in New York have more; the closest in size is Glens Falls, with about 500.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than a payroll specialist in Ithaca?
Yes: $580 a year more at the median. The medians are $51,610 and $51,030.
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.