Bookkeeper salary in Syracuse, NY
The median bookkeeper in Syracuse earned $52,000 a year in May 20251. That is 2.6% above the US median of $50,670, even though it is 10.6% below the New York statewide median of $58,160. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#81 of 521). BLS counts about 2,980 people in this job here, 4% of the New York total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Syracuse, NY. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Syracuse against New York and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, NY | $38,740 | $52,000 | $72,830 | |
| New York | $39,880 | $58,160 | $81,990 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $72,830, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Syracuse earns $45,250–$61,360. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $16,110 wide, against $21,930 across New York and $17,950 nationally: employers in Syracuse 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 | $38,740 | $3,228 | $18.62 | $49,987 |
| 25th percentile | $45,250 | $3,771 | $21.75 | $58,387 |
| Median | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25.00 | $67,097 |
| 75th percentile | $61,360 | $5,113 | $29.50 | $79,174 |
| 90th percentile | $72,830 | $6,069 | $35.01 | $93,974 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,750 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $9,360, or about $12,077 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 25th percentile and the median in Syracuse, and the New York statewide median of $58,160 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Syracuse
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 $15,097 to the $52,000 median and brings it to $67,097 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 Syracuse
Of the 17 roles we track in Syracuse, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($55,410) and HR assistants ($50,210). Project Coordinator is the highest at $105,390.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +17.6% | 970 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +6.6% | 290 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 2,980 | |
| HR Assistant | -3.4% | 280 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -6.7% | 4,950 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in Syracuse (+2.6%), between e-commerce order specialists (+2.7%) and administrative assistants (+2.0%). The typical role here is at +1.3%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 9.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Syracuse, 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. Of the 4 areas in New York with more bookkeepers than Syracuse, 2 pay less: Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY ($51,610) and Rochester, NY ($50,870).
| Area | Median | vs Syracuse | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie, NY | +7.9% | 2,530 | |
| Kingston, NY | +4.8% | 670 | |
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | +3.0% | 4,170 | |
| Syracuse, NY | this area | 2,980 | |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | -0.7% | 5,890 | |
| Ithaca, NY | -0.7% | 490 | |
| Rochester, NY | -2.2% | 4,380 |
Syracuse against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Syracuse is #79 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, Reno and Midland pay just above Syracuse and Phoenix-Mesa and Merced just below. All four are within $260 a year of the median in Syracuse. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Syracuse | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven, CT | +20.9% | 2,900 | jobs | |
| Midland, TX | +0.4% | 1,440 | pay | |
| Reno, NV | +0.0% | 3,160 | pay | |
| Syracuse, NY | this area | 2,980 | ||
| Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | -0.0% | 16,280 | pay | |
| Merced, CA | -0.5% | 680 | pay | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | -9.8% | 2,920 | jobs | |
| Colorado Springs, CO | -9.9% | 2,910 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Syracuse, NY?
About $67,097 a year at the median, or $5,591 a month: $52,000 in pay plus about $15,097 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Syracuse?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $52,000 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $38,740, the 90th $72,830, and the middle half earned $45,250 to $61,360.
Is Syracuse cheaper than the rest of New York for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $52,000 against $58,160 statewide. The next area up in New York is Albany-Schenectady at $53,540, the next down Buffalo-Cheektowaga at $51,610.
How many bookkeepers work in Syracuse?
BLS counts about 2,980 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the New York total of 84,280. 4 areas in New York have more; the closest in size is Albany-Schenectady, with about 4,170.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in Syracuse?
Yes: $1,790 a year more at the median. The medians are $52,000 and $50,210.
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.