Bookkeeper salary in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Bookkeepers earn more in Trenton-Princeton than anywhere else in New Jersey. Expect a median of $58,020 a year1, about level with the New Jersey statewide median of $58,300 and 14.5% above the US median of $50,670. Nationally that is #26 of 521 areas, in the top tenth. It is the largest market for the job in New Jersey: about 1,470 people, 4% of the New Jersey total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Trenton-Princeton, NJ. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Trenton-Princeton against New Jersey and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $41,590 | $58,020 | $77,950 | |
| New Jersey | $41,000 | $58,300 | $78,910 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Trenton-Princeton earns $48,650–$66,350. The top tenth earns $77,950 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.1 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $17,700 wide, against $18,870 across New Jersey and $17,950 nationally: employers in Trenton-Princeton 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 | $41,590 | $3,466 | $20.00 | $53,665 |
| 25th percentile | $48,650 | $4,054 | $23.39 | $62,774 |
| Median | $58,020 | $4,835 | $27.89 | $74,865 |
| 75th percentile | $66,350 | $5,529 | $31.90 | $85,613 |
| 90th percentile | $77,950 | $6,496 | $37.48 | $100,581 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $9,370 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $8,330, or about $10,748 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 Trenton-Princeton, and the New Jersey statewide median of $58,300 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Trenton-Princeton
At the $58,020 median, a local hire costs about $74,865 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $16,845 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Trenton-Princeton
Of the 17 roles we track in Trenton-Princeton, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between paralegals ($73,250) and payroll specialists ($54,870). Project Coordinator is the highest at $113,750.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +33.6% | 1,620 | |
| Paralegal | +26.2% | 790 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 1,470 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -5.4% | 210 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -6.8% | 3,680 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #4 of the 17 roles we track in Trenton-Princeton (+14.5%), between e-commerce order specialists (+15.4%) and office managers (+14.3%). The typical role here is at +7.1%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in Trenton-Princeton than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 5.7% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Trenton-Princeton, 7.8% across New Jersey and 8.7% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in New Jersey
Across the 3 areas of New Jersey with data for this job, the median runs from $50,430 in Atlantic City-Hammonton to $58,020 in Trenton-Princeton, a gap of $7,590 a year. No other area in New Jersey has as many bookkeepers, and both others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Trenton-Princeton | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | this area | 1,470 | |
| Vineland, NJ | -10.8% | 450 | |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | -13.1% | 1,290 |
Trenton-Princeton against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Trenton-Princeton is #171 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside New Jersey, Rochester and San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles pay just above Trenton-Princeton and Minneapolis-St. Paul and Oxnard-Thousand Oaks just below. All four are within $550 a year of the median in Trenton-Princeton. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Trenton-Princeton | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | +0.9% | 1,070 | pay | |
| Rochester, MN | +0.6% | 790 | pay | |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | this area | 1,470 | ||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | -0.4% | 16,510 | pay | |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks, CA | -0.6% | 3,250 | pay | |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | -16.9% | 1,450 | jobs | |
| Lubbock, TX | -21.5% | 1,500 | jobs | |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | -30.1% | 1,500 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
About $74,865 a year at the median, or $6,239 a month: $58,020 in pay plus about $16,845 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Trenton-Princeton?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $58,020 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $41,590, the 90th $77,950, and the middle half earned $48,650 to $66,350.
Is Trenton-Princeton the most expensive area in New Jersey for bookkeepers?
Yes. Its median of $58,020 is the highest of 3 areas in New Jersey. Vineland comes next at $51,730.
How many bookkeepers work in Trenton-Princeton?
BLS counts about 1,470 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the New Jersey total of 37,550. No other area in New Jersey has as many.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than a payroll specialist in Trenton-Princeton?
Yes: $3,150 a year more at the median. The medians are $58,020 and $54,870.
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.