Bookkeeper salary in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA
Scranton-Wilkes-Barre is a lower-cost market for bookkeepers: the median of $46,860 a year1 is 3.3% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $48,440, and 7.5% below the US median of $50,670. Among US areas it comes in at #300 of 521. About 1,840 bookkeepers work here, 4% of the Pennsylvania total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA | $32,210 | $46,860 | $63,010 | |
| Pennsylvania | $34,960 | $48,440 | $69,570 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $63,010, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre earns $38,760–$55,040. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $16,280 wide, against $17,070 across Pennsylvania and $17,950 nationally: employers in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre 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 | $32,210 | $2,684 | $15.49 | $41,561 |
| 25th percentile | $38,760 | $3,230 | $18.63 | $50,013 |
| Median | $46,860 | $3,905 | $22.53 | $60,465 |
| 75th percentile | $55,040 | $4,587 | $26.46 | $71,019 |
| 90th percentile | $63,010 | $5,251 | $30.29 | $81,303 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $8,180 a year in pay and about $10,555 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $8,100 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.
For scale, the US median of $50,670 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $48,440 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre
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 $13,605 to the $46,860 median and brings it to $60,465 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 Scranton-Wilkes-Barre
Of the 17 roles we track in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between HR assistants ($49,020) and administrative assistants ($44,260). Project Coordinator is the highest at $91,820.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +4.7% | 180 | |
| HR Assistant | +4.6% | 120 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 1,840 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -5.5% | 2,670 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -6.0% | 1,000 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #7 of the 17 roles we track in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre (-7.5%), between administrative assistants (-6.9%) and paralegals (-8.4%). The typical role here is at -10.0%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 9.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, 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. All 5 areas in Pennsylvania with more bookkeepers than Scranton-Wilkes-Barre also pay more, among them Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ ($52,710) and Pittsburgh, PA ($47,250).
| Area | Median | vs Scranton-Wilkes-Barre | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| York-Hanover, PA | +1.6% | 1,270 | |
| Gettysburg, PA | +0.8% | 290 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | +0.8% | 9,250 | |
| Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA | this area | 1,840 | |
| Williamsport, PA | -0.0% | 340 | |
| Chambersburg, PA | -0.8% | 420 | |
| State College, PA | -1.0% | 490 |
Scranton-Wilkes-Barre against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Scranton-Wilkes-Barre is #132 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Pennsylvania, Lakeland-Winter Haven and Sioux Falls pay just above Scranton-Wilkes-Barre and Colorado Springs and Rapid City just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Scranton-Wilkes-Barre | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | +28.4% | 1,900 | jobs | |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach, FL | +1.4% | 1,810 | jobs | |
| Huntsville, AL | +0.6% | 1,830 | jobs | |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | +0.1% | 3,390 | pay | |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | +0.0% | 2,220 | pay | |
| Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA | this area | 1,840 | ||
| Colorado Springs, CO | -0.0% | 2,910 | pay | |
| Rapid City, SD | -0.1% | 1,720 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA?
About $60,465 a year at the median, or $5,039 a month: $46,860 in pay plus about $13,605 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre?
The median was $46,860 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $32,210, the 90th $63,010, and the middle half earned $38,760 to $55,040.
Is Scranton-Wilkes-Barre cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $46,860 against $48,440 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is Pittsburgh at $47,250, the next down Williamsport at $46,840.
How many bookkeepers work in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre?
BLS counts about 1,840 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the Pennsylvania total of 48,920. 5 areas in Pennsylvania have more; the closest in size is Lancaster, with about 2,190.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre?
Yes: $2,600 a year more at the median. The medians are $46,860 and $44,260.
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.