StafkaFor job seekersSign inPost a job — freePost a job

Bookkeeper salary and cost of hiring in Washington

The median bookkeeper in Washington earned $58,620 a year in May 2025[1], 15.7% above the US median of $50,670. That puts Washington at #5 of 51 states for this job.

$4,885median pay per month in Washington
$6,979employer cost per month with benefits
$28.18median pay per hour
32,930people in this job in Washington

BLS occupation 43-3031. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.

Get 3 matching profilesCompare with a remote hire

Salary range

Range10thMedian90th
Washington$45,070$58,620$77,630
United States$36,000$50,670$74,550
10th to 90th percentilemiddle half (25th to 75th)median

The middle half of bookkeepers in Washington earns $49,830–$66,400; the top tenth earns $77,630 or more, 1.7 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 Washington median that makes about $83,743 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].

$83,743local hire, first year incl. benefits
-remote hire, first year incl. fee
-difference in year one
-of the local cost saved

Pay by metro area in Washington

AreaMedian75th percentileJobs
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
$60,460
$69,98017,860
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA
$59,020
$66,810560
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA
$58,590
$66,500780
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area
$58,100
$65,0901,710
Kennewick-Richland, WA
$57,290
$63,5301,070
Bellingham, WA
$57,000
$63,9101,140
Longview-Kelso, WA
$56,620
$62,680490
Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area
$56,100
$62,7501,310
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA
$55,590
$64,4301,050
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA
$55,120
$63,500510
Yakima, WA
$53,560
$61,330940
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
$53,050
$60,4702,550
Walla Walla, WA
$51,410
$60,860250

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA pays the most ($60,460) and Walla Walla, WA the least ($51,410): $9,050 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

StateMedianvs Washington
Massachusetts
$59,830
+2.1%
California
$59,230
+1.0%
Washington
$58,620
+0.0%
New Jersey
$58,300
-0.5%
New York
$58,160
-0.8%

Questions

How much does a bookkeeper earn in Washington?

The median was $58,620 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $49,830 to $66,400.

What does it cost to employ a bookkeeper in Washington?

About $83,743 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).

Where in Washington do bookkeepers earn the most?

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, with a median of $60,460 a year.

Other roles in Washington

Hire bookkeepers remotely

How to hire bookkeepers

Sources

  1. BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3031: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433031.htm
  2. BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
  3. Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
  4. Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/

How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.