Cost of hiring a bookkeeper in San Francisco-Oakland, CA
San Francisco-Oakland is a higher-paying market for bookkeepers: the median of $65,530 a year[1] is 10.6% above the California statewide median of $59,230, and 29.3% above the US median of $50,670. Only 1 of 521 US areas pay more for this job. About 18,100 bookkeepers work here, 12% of the California total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in San Francisco-Oakland against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | $47,010 | $65,530 | $94,860 | |
| California | $41,600 | $59,230 | $81,990 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $94,860, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in San Francisco-Oakland earns $57,510–$78,460.
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,010 | $3,918 | $22.60 | $67,157 |
| 25th percentile | $57,510 | $4,792 | $27.65 | $82,157 |
| Median | $65,530 | $5,461 | $31.50 | $93,614 |
| 75th percentile | $78,460 | $6,538 | $37.72 | $112,086 |
| 90th percentile | $94,860 | $7,905 | $45.61 | $135,514 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $12,930 a year in pay and about $18,471 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $8,020 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in San Francisco-Oakland
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $28,084 to the $65,530 median and brings it to $93,614 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in San Francisco-Oakland
Of the 17 roles we track in San Francisco-Oakland, this one ranks #11 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $135,040 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $49,450.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +106.1% | 20,770 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +88.1% | 24,120 | |
| Accountant | +69.0% | 25,170 | |
| Executive Assistant | +60.5% | 11,250 | |
| Recruiter | +57.4% | 16,420 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +48.0% | 29,980 | |
| Office Manager | +35.1% | 19,480 | |
| Paralegal | +28.2% | 7,630 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +22.9% | 2,260 | |
| HR Assistant | +1.6% | 1,300 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 18,100 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -5.2% | 20,270 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -6.4% | 13,660 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -11.8% | 19,930 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -21.5% | 1,250 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -21.8% | 1,410 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -24.5% | 8,510 |
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $47,960 in El Centro to $66,130 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $18,170 a year.
| Area | Median | vs San Francisco-Oakland | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA | +0.9% | 7,590 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | this area | 18,100 | |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | -5.4% | 1,120 | |
| Napa, CA | -5.8% | 700 | |
| Vallejo, CA | -6.6% | 1,040 | |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | -6.7% | 2,040 | |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | -8.2% | 1,900 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in San Francisco-Oakland, CA?
About $93,614 a year at the median, or $7,801 a month: $65,530 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in San Francisco-Oakland?
The median was $65,530 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $47,010, the 90th $94,860, and the middle half earned $57,510 to $78,460.
Is San Francisco-Oakland cheaper than the rest of California for bookkeepers?
No, it costs more: a median of $65,530 against $59,230 statewide. San Jose-Sunnyvale pays the most ($66,130) and El Centro the least ($47,960).
How many bookkeepers work in San Francisco-Oakland?
BLS counts about 18,100 in the May 2025 survey. That is 12% of the California total of 151,870.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in San Francisco-Oakland?
Yes: $3,420 a year more at the median. The medians are $65,530 and $62,110.
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. Last updated 2026-11-06.