Cost of hiring a bookkeeper in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA
BLS publishes pay for this job in only one area of the District of Columbia, and it is Washington-Arlington. The median is $59,290 a year[1], 9.0% below the District of Columbia median of $65,180 and 17.0% above the US median of $50,670. Nationally that is #17 of 521 areas, in the top tenth. About 18,550 bookkeepers work here.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Washington-Arlington against the District of Columbia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington, DC-VA | $41,520 | $59,290 | $79,390 | |
| District of Columbia | $47,140 | $65,180 | $94,320 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Washington-Arlington earns $49,210–$66,580. The top tenth earns $79,390 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.1 times.
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41,520 | $3,460 | $19.96 | $59,314 |
| 25th percentile | $49,210 | $4,101 | $23.66 | $70,300 |
| Median | $59,290 | $4,941 | $28.50 | $84,700 |
| 75th percentile | $66,580 | $5,548 | $32.01 | $95,114 |
| 90th percentile | $79,390 | $6,616 | $38.17 | $113,414 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $10,080 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $7,290, or about $10,414 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.
What a hire really costs in Washington-Arlington
At the $59,290 median, a local hire costs about $84,700 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $25,410 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 Washington-Arlington
Of the 17 roles we track in Washington-Arlington, this one ranks #10 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $127,030 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $41,240.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +114.3% | 38,230 | |
| Accountant | +72.3% | 41,470 | |
| Recruiter | +70.1% | 24,450 | |
| Executive Assistant | +52.3% | 12,960 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +47.0% | 21,090 | |
| Paralegal | +37.6% | 12,990 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +31.7% | 29,300 | |
| Office Manager | +28.9% | 23,390 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +7.0% | 2,010 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 18,550 | |
| HR Assistant | -0.3% | 1,610 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -9.5% | 37,010 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -18.6% | 18,960 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -19.8% | 920 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -22.0% | 36,750 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -27.7% | 1,620 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -30.4% | 17,920 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA?
About $84,700 a year at the median, or $7,058 a month: $59,290 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 Washington-Arlington?
The median was $59,290 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $41,520, the 90th $79,390, and the middle half earned $49,210 to $66,580.
How many bookkeepers work in Washington-Arlington?
BLS counts about 18,550 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in Washington-Arlington?
Yes: $170 a year more at the median. The medians are $59,290 and $59,120.
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.