Cost of hiring a bookkeeper in Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL
For this job Tampa-St. Petersburg sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $50,090 a year[1]. That is 1.5% above the Florida statewide median of $49,330, and 1.1% below the US median of $50,670. Among US areas it comes in at #135 of 521. About 12,750 bookkeepers work here, 14% of the Florida total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Tampa-St. Petersburg against Florida and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL | $37,470 | $50,090 | $72,060 | |
| Florida | $36,680 | $49,330 | $72,260 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $72,060, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Tampa-St. Petersburg earns $44,450–$60,970.
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,470 | $3,122 | $18.01 | $53,529 |
| 25th percentile | $44,450 | $3,704 | $21.37 | $63,500 |
| Median | $50,090 | $4,174 | $24.08 | $71,557 |
| 75th percentile | $60,970 | $5,081 | $29.31 | $87,100 |
| 90th percentile | $72,060 | $6,005 | $34.64 | $102,943 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $10,880 a year in pay and about $15,543 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $5,640 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg
At the $50,090 median, a local hire costs about $71,557 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $21,467 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Tampa-St. Petersburg
Of the 16 roles we track in Tampa-St. Petersburg, this one ranks #11 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $97,780 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $36,640.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +95.2% | 11,660 | |
| Accountant | +57.7% | 14,770 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +50.1% | 8,420 | |
| Recruiter | +30.9% | 10,410 | |
| Executive Assistant | +29.2% | 3,140 | |
| Office Manager | +27.1% | 14,050 | |
| Paralegal | +20.1% | 6,630 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +19.0% | 16,050 | |
| HR Assistant | +4.7% | 530 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +0.7% | 2,300 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 12,750 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -1.8% | 650 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -12.6% | 16,350 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -14.8% | 34,150 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -23.1% | 1,460 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -26.9% | 10,290 |
Other areas in Florida
Across the 24 areas of Florida with data for this job, the median runs from $44,360 in Homosassa Springs to $51,000 in Naples-Marco Island, a gap of $6,640 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Tampa-St. Petersburg | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | +1.8% | 1,630 | |
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | +0.7% | 3,610 | |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL | +0.4% | 25,910 | |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL | this area | 12,750 | |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach, FL | -0.3% | 1,050 | |
| Jacksonville, FL | -0.5% | 6,780 | |
| South Florida (Nonmetro) | -1.1% | 880 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL?
About $71,557 a year at the median, or $5,963 a month: $50,090 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 do bookkeepers earn in Tampa-St. Petersburg?
The median was $50,090 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,470, the 90th $72,060, and the middle half earned $44,450 to $60,970.
Is Tampa-St. Petersburg cheaper than the rest of Florida for bookkeepers?
No, it costs more: a median of $50,090 against $49,330 statewide. Naples-Marco Island pays the most ($51,000) and Homosassa Springs the least ($44,360).
How many bookkeepers work in Tampa-St. Petersburg?
BLS counts about 12,750 in the May 2025 survey. That is 14% of the Florida total of 88,670.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in Tampa-St. Petersburg?
Yes: $900 a year more at the median. The medians are $50,090 and $49,190.
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.