Bookkeeper salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh is a lower-cost market for bookkeepers: the median of $47,250 a year1 is 2.5% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $48,440, and 6.7% below the US median of $50,670. Among US areas it comes in at #277 of 521. About 9,250 bookkeepers work here, 19% of the Pennsylvania total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Pittsburgh, PA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Pittsburgh against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | $35,470 | $47,250 | $68,140 | |
| Pennsylvania | $34,960 | $48,440 | $69,570 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Pittsburgh earns $41,240–$57,820. The top tenth earns $68,140 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.1 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $16,580 wide, against $17,070 across Pennsylvania and $17,950 nationally: employers in Pittsburgh 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 | $35,470 | $2,956 | $17.05 | $45,768 |
| 25th percentile | $41,240 | $3,437 | $19.83 | $53,213 |
| Median | $47,250 | $3,938 | $22.72 | $60,968 |
| 75th percentile | $57,820 | $4,818 | $27.80 | $74,606 |
| 90th percentile | $68,140 | $5,678 | $32.76 | $87,923 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $10,570 over the median, the 25th only $6,010 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $13,639 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 median and the 75th percentile in Pittsburgh, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $48,440 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Pittsburgh
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 $13,718 to the $47,250 median and brings it to $60,968 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 Pittsburgh
Of the 17 roles we track in Pittsburgh, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($52,400) and e-commerce order specialists ($46,580). Project Coordinator is the highest at $99,320.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | +33.7% | 4,940 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +10.9% | 1,130 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 9,250 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -1.4% | 450 | |
| HR Assistant | -2.9% | 480 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #9 of the 17 roles we track in Pittsburgh (-6.7%), between data entry specialists (-6.4%) and accountants (-8.1%). The typical role here is at -6.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 8.8% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Pittsburgh, 8.5% across Pennsylvania and 8.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 20 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $41,730 in Johnstown to $53,500 in Lebanon, a gap of $11,770 a year. The one area in Pennsylvania with more bookkeepers, Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ ($52,710), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Pittsburgh | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, PA | +2.0% | 2,190 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | +0.7% | 1,270 | |
| Gettysburg, PA | +0.0% | 290 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | this area | 9,250 | |
| Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA | -0.8% | 1,840 | |
| Williamsport, PA | -0.9% | 340 | |
| Chambersburg, PA | -1.7% | 420 |
Pittsburgh against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Pittsburgh is #28 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Pennsylvania, Beaumont-Port Arthur and Knoxville pay just above Pittsburgh and Kankakee and Pensacola-Ferry Pass just below. All four are within $70 a year of the median in Pittsburgh. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Pittsburgh | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | +8.3% | 9,000 | jobs | |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | +5.0% | 9,050 | jobs | |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | +1.9% | 8,960 | jobs | |
| Knoxville, TN | +0.1% | 4,510 | pay | |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | +0.0% | 1,370 | pay | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | this area | 9,250 | ||
| Kankakee, IL | -0.0% | 400 | pay | |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass, FL | -0.0% | 1,660 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Pittsburgh, PA?
About $60,968 a year at the median, or $5,081 a month: $47,250 in pay plus about $13,718 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Pittsburgh?
The median was $47,250 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,470, the 90th $68,140, and the middle half earned $41,240 to $57,820.
Is Pittsburgh cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $47,250 against $48,440 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is Gettysburg at $47,250, the next down Scranton-Wilkes-Barre at $46,860.
How many bookkeepers work in Pittsburgh?
BLS counts about 9,250 in the May 2025 survey. That is 19% of the Pennsylvania total of 48,920. Only Philadelphia-Camden has more in Pennsylvania.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in Pittsburgh?
Yes: $670 a year more at the median. The medians are $47,250 and $46,580.
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.