Bookkeeper salary in Rochester, NY
Rochester pays bookkeepers close to the national norm. The median is $50,870 a year1, 12.5% below the New York statewide median of $58,160 and about level with the US median of $50,670. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#108 of 521). BLS counts about 4,380 people in this job here, 5% of the New York total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Rochester, NY. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Rochester against New York and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, NY | $37,710 | $50,870 | $70,840 | |
| New York | $39,880 | $58,160 | $81,990 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Rochester earns $44,800–$60,430. The top tenth earns $70,840 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 $15,630 wide, against $21,930 across New York and $17,950 nationally: employers in Rochester 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 | $37,710 | $3,142 | $18.13 | $48,658 |
| 25th percentile | $44,800 | $3,733 | $21.54 | $57,806 |
| Median | $50,870 | $4,239 | $24.46 | $65,639 |
| 75th percentile | $60,430 | $5,036 | $29.05 | $77,974 |
| 90th percentile | $70,840 | $5,903 | $34.06 | $91,406 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $9,560 over the median, the 25th only $6,070 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $12,335 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 Rochester, and the New York statewide median of $58,160 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Rochester
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 $14,769 to the $50,870 median and brings it to $65,639 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 Rochester
Of the 17 roles we track in Rochester, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between paralegals ($57,250) and HR assistants ($48,390). Project Coordinator is the highest at $103,520.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +12.9% | 590 | |
| Paralegal | +12.5% | 1,300 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 4,380 | |
| HR Assistant | -4.9% | 610 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -8.1% | 6,230 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #4 of the 17 roles we track in Rochester (+0.4%), between recruiters (+0.9%) and customer support specialists (-0.1%). The typical role here is at -2.0%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 8.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Rochester, 7.7% across New York and 8.7% 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. All 2 areas in New York with more bookkeepers than Rochester also pay more, among them New York-Newark, NY-NJ ($60,640) and Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY ($51,610).
| Area | Median | vs Rochester | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, NY | +2.2% | 2,980 | |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | +1.5% | 5,890 | |
| Ithaca, NY | +1.5% | 490 | |
| Rochester, NY | this area | 4,380 | |
| Capital/Northern New York (Nonmetro) | -1.8% | 1,830 | |
| Central East New York (Nonmetro) | -3.0% | 1,810 | |
| Glens Falls, NY | -3.1% | 500 |
Rochester against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Rochester is #54 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 New York, Corvallis and Santa Fe pay just above Rochester and Albany and Nashville-Murfreesboro just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Rochester. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Rochester | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | +6.5% | 4,310 | jobs | |
| Santa Fe, NM | +0.0% | 560 | pay | |
| Corvallis, OR | +0.0% | 370 | pay | |
| Rochester, NY | this area | 4,380 | ||
| Albany, OR | -0.1% | 540 | pay | |
| Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN | -0.1% | 13,790 | pay | |
| Tulsa, OK | -5.2% | 4,400 | jobs | |
| Knoxville, TN | -7.0% | 4,510 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Rochester, NY?
About $65,639 a year at the median, or $5,470 a month: $50,870 in pay plus about $14,769 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Rochester?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $50,870 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,710, the 90th $70,840, and the middle half earned $44,800 to $60,430.
Is Rochester cheaper than the rest of New York for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $50,870 against $58,160 statewide. The next area up in New York is Ithaca at $51,610, the next down the Capital/Northern New York nonmetro area at $49,940.
How many bookkeepers work in Rochester?
BLS counts about 4,380 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the New York total of 84,280. Only New York-Newark and Buffalo-Cheektowaga have more in New York.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in Rochester?
Yes: $2,480 a year more at the median. The medians are $50,870 and $48,390.
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.