Bookkeeper salary and cost of hiring in Tennessee
The median bookkeeper in Tennessee earned $48,180 a year in May 2025[1], 4.9% below the US median of $50,670. That puts Tennessee at #34 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3031. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $35,000 | $48,180 | $67,730 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Tennessee earns $40,330–$58,460; the top tenth earns $67,730 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Tennessee median that makes about $68,829 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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].
Pay by metro area in Tennessee
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $61,320 | 13,790 | |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $58,040 | 6,320 | |
| Knoxville, TN | $56,740 | 4,510 | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $56,570 | 2,920 | |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $52,440 | 1,000 | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $52,380 | 1,170 | |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $53,420 | 1,190 | |
| Jackson, TN | $53,100 | 800 | |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $51,440 | 1,110 | |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $53,430 | 1,160 | |
| Morristown, TN | $50,620 | 420 | |
| Cleveland, TN | $50,130 | 400 | |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $49,450 | 1,210 | |
| Johnson City, TN | $48,820 | 870 |
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN pays the most ($50,810) and Johnson City, TN the least ($40,700): $10,110 a year apart for the same job.
What a bookkeeper does
A bookkeeper records the company's transactions, reconciles bank accounts, keeps receivables and payables in order and prepares the books for the accountant.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho | +0.3% | |
| Iowa | +0.0% | |
| Tennessee | +0.0% | |
| New Mexico | -0.2% | |
| Missouri | -0.4% |
Questions
How much does a bookkeeper earn in Tennessee?
The median was $48,180 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $40,330 to $58,460.
What does it cost to employ a bookkeeper in Tennessee?
About $68,829 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Tennessee do bookkeepers earn the most?
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, with a median of $50,810 a year.
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 2026-11-05.