Bookkeeper salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Raleigh-Cary pays bookkeepers close to the national norm. The median is $50,200 a year1, 4.7% above the North Carolina statewide median of $47,930 and about level with the US median of $50,670. Among US areas it comes in at #132 of 521. BLS counts about 7,550 people in this job here, 15% of the North Carolina total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Raleigh-Cary, NC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Raleigh-Cary against North Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $37,650 | $50,200 | $69,230 | |
| North Carolina | $33,710 | $47,930 | $67,290 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Raleigh-Cary earns $43,460–$59,760. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $69,230, only 1.8 times the bottom tenth, against 2.1 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $16,300 wide, against $18,190 across North Carolina and $17,950 nationally: employers in Raleigh-Cary 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 | $37,650 | $3,138 | $18.10 | $48,581 |
| 25th percentile | $43,460 | $3,622 | $20.89 | $56,077 |
| Median | $50,200 | $4,183 | $24.13 | $64,774 |
| 75th percentile | $59,760 | $4,980 | $28.73 | $77,110 |
| 90th percentile | $69,230 | $5,769 | $33.28 | $89,329 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,740 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $9,560, or about $12,335 once benefits are added. 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 Raleigh-Cary, and the North Carolina statewide median of $47,930 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Raleigh-Cary
At the $50,200 median, a local hire costs about $64,774 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $14,574 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 Raleigh-Cary
Of the 17 roles we track in Raleigh-Cary, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($54,100) and HR assistants ($48,640). Project Coordinator is the highest at $102,280.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +23.3% | 2,540 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +7.8% | 590 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 7,550 | |
| HR Assistant | -3.1% | 370 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -3.4% | 7,170 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #7 of the 17 roles we track in Raleigh-Cary (-0.9%), between project coordinators (-0.0%) and paralegals (-1.6%). The typical role here is at -2.0%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 8.6% of the jobs in the 16 of these roles with a job count in Raleigh-Cary, 9.5% across North Carolina and 8.9% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in North Carolina
Across the 18 areas of North Carolina with data for this job, the median runs from $42,910 in Jacksonville to $50,800 in Charlotte-Concord, a gap of $7,890 a year. The one area in North Carolina with more bookkeepers, Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC ($50,800), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Raleigh-Cary | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | +1.2% | 11,740 | |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | +1.2% | 2,570 | |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | this area | 7,550 | |
| Asheville, NC | -2.6% | 2,200 | |
| Winston-Salem, NC | -3.7% | 2,880 | |
| Greenville, NC | -5.0% | 720 | |
| Burlington, NC | -5.5% | 600 |
Raleigh-Cary against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Raleigh-Cary is #38 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 North Carolina, Lewiston-Auburn and Hilton Head Island-Bluffton pay just above Raleigh-Cary and Sheboygan and Tampa-St. Petersburg just below. All four are within $110 a year of the median in Raleigh-Cary. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Raleigh-Cary | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA | +31.7% | 7,590 | jobs | |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC | +0.1% | 850 | pay | |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | +0.1% | 540 | pay | |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | this area | 7,550 | ||
| Sheboygan, WI | -0.1% | 410 | pay | |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL | -0.2% | 12,750 | pay | |
| Jacksonville, FL | -0.7% | 6,780 | jobs | |
| Louisville, KY-IN | -4.4% | 7,730 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
About $64,774 a year at the median, or $5,398 a month: $50,200 in pay plus about $14,574 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Raleigh-Cary?
The median was $50,200 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,650, the 90th $69,230, and the middle half earned $43,460 to $59,760.
Is Raleigh-Cary cheaper than the rest of North Carolina for bookkeepers?
No, it costs more: a median of $50,200 against $47,930 statewide. The next area up in North Carolina is Durham-Chapel Hill at $50,790, the next down Asheville at $48,870.
How many bookkeepers work in Raleigh-Cary?
BLS counts about 7,550 in the May 2025 survey. That is 15% of the North Carolina total of 48,760. Only Charlotte-Concord has more in North Carolina.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in Raleigh-Cary?
Yes: $1,560 a year more at the median. The medians are $50,200 and $48,640.
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.