Bookkeeper salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
For this job Milwaukee-Waukesha sits right at the US figure, with a median of $50,920 a year1. That is about level with the US median of $50,670, and 1.2% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $50,340. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#104 of 521). It is the largest market for the job in Wisconsin: about 6,750 people, 26% of the Wisconsin total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Milwaukee-Waukesha against Wisconsin and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $35,660 | $50,920 | $67,790 | |
| Wisconsin | $36,350 | $50,340 | $65,460 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $67,790, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Milwaukee-Waukesha earns $46,060–$59,980. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $13,920 wide, against $14,800 across Wisconsin and $17,950 nationally: employers in Milwaukee-Waukesha 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 | $35,660 | $2,972 | $17.14 | $46,013 |
| 25th percentile | $46,060 | $3,838 | $22.14 | $59,432 |
| Median | $50,920 | $4,243 | $24.48 | $65,703 |
| 75th percentile | $59,980 | $4,998 | $28.84 | $77,394 |
| 90th percentile | $67,790 | $5,649 | $32.59 | $87,471 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $9,060 over the median, the 25th only $4,860 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $11,690 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, and the Wisconsin statewide median of $50,340 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Milwaukee-Waukesha
At the $50,920 median, a local hire costs about $65,703 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $14,783 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Milwaukee-Waukesha
Of the 17 roles we track in Milwaukee-Waukesha, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between paralegals ($60,340) and HR assistants ($48,630). Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,350.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +18.8% | 690 | |
| Paralegal | +18.5% | 1,880 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 6,750 | |
| HR Assistant | -4.5% | 610 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -4.6% | 2,220 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #8 of the 17 roles we track in Milwaukee-Waukesha (+0.5%), between administrative assistants (+2.0%) and recruiters (-1.3%). The typical role here is at -1.3%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 8.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Milwaukee-Waukesha, 9.2% across Wisconsin and 8.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Wisconsin
Across the 17 areas of Wisconsin with data for this job, the median runs from $47,540 in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area to $53,240 in Madison, a gap of $5,700 a year. No other area in Wisconsin has as many bookkeepers, and 15 of the other 16 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Milwaukee-Waukesha | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | +4.6% | 3,760 | |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | this area | 6,750 | |
| Appleton, WI | -0.3% | 1,050 | |
| Sheboygan, WI | -1.5% | 410 | |
| Kenosha, WI | -2.3% | 590 | |
| Fond du Lac, WI | -2.3% | 370 | |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | -3.2% | 890 |
Milwaukee-Waukesha against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Milwaukee-Waukesha is #40 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 Wisconsin, Kansas City and Naples-Marco Island pay just above Milwaukee-Waukesha and Santa Fe and Corvallis just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in Milwaukee-Waukesha. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Milwaukee-Waukesha | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | +7.3% | 6,400 | jobs | |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | +0.2% | 1,630 | pay | |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | +0.0% | 8,780 | pay | |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | this area | 6,750 | ||
| Santa Fe, NM | -0.1% | 560 | pay | |
| Corvallis, OR | -0.1% | 370 | pay | |
| Jacksonville, FL | -2.1% | 6,780 | jobs | |
| Oklahoma City, OK | -7.4% | 6,470 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
About $65,703 a year at the median, or $5,475 a month: $50,920 in pay plus about $14,783 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $50,920 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,660, the 90th $67,790, and the middle half earned $46,060 to $59,980.
Is Milwaukee-Waukesha cheaper than the rest of Wisconsin for bookkeepers?
No, it costs more: a median of $50,920 against $50,340 statewide. The next area up in Wisconsin is Madison at $53,240, the next down Appleton at $50,780.
How many bookkeepers work in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
BLS counts about 6,750 in the May 2025 survey. That is 26% of the Wisconsin total of 25,960. No other area in Wisconsin has as many.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Yes: $2,290 a year more at the median. The medians are $50,920 and $48,630.
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.