Bookkeeper salary and cost of hiring in Pennsylvania
The median bookkeeper in Pennsylvania earned $48,440 a year in May 2025[1], 4.4% below the US median of $50,670. That puts Pennsylvania at #31 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3031. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-16.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $34,960 | $48,440 | $69,570 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Pennsylvania earns $41,840–$58,910; the top tenth earns $69,570 or more, 2.0 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Pennsylvania median that makes about $69,200 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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].
Pay by metro area in Pennsylvania
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon, PA | $58,080 | 560 | |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $62,560 | 22,660 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $58,680 | 2,430 | |
| Reading, PA | $58,620 | 1,260 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $57,810 | 2,450 | |
| Lancaster, PA | $58,360 | 2,190 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | $58,090 | 1,270 | |
| Gettysburg, PA | $55,190 | 290 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $57,820 | 9,250 | |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $55,040 | 1,840 | |
| Williamsport, PA | $53,830 | 340 | |
| Chambersburg, PA | $55,040 | 420 | |
| State College, PA | $55,480 | 490 | |
| Erie, PA | $51,430 | 920 | |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $52,730 | 1,420 | |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $50,960 | 1,200 | |
| Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $52,000 | 1,450 | |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $51,240 | 1,190 | |
| Altoona, PA | $50,350 | 470 | |
| Johnstown, PA | $48,770 | 410 |
Lebanon, PA pays the most ($53,500) and Johnstown, PA the least ($41,730): $11,770 a year apart for the same job.
What a bookkeeper does
A bookkeeper records the company's transactions, reconciles bank accounts, keeps receivables and payables in order and prepares the books for the accountant.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | +0.8% | |
| Hawaii | +0.6% | |
| Pennsylvania | +0.0% | |
| Idaho | -0.3% | |
| Iowa | -0.5% |
Questions
How much does a bookkeeper earn in Pennsylvania?
The median was $48,440 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $41,840 to $58,910.
What does it cost to employ a bookkeeper in Pennsylvania?
About $69,200 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Pennsylvania do bookkeepers earn the most?
Lebanon, PA, with a median of $53,500 a year.
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. Data checked 2026-10-16.