Bookkeeper salary in Wilmington, NC
Wilmington is a lower-cost market for bookkeepers: the median of $45,730 a year1 is 4.6% below the North Carolina statewide median of $47,930, and 9.7% below the US median of $50,670. Among US areas it comes in at #380 of 521. About 2,300 bookkeepers work here, 5% of the North Carolina total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Wilmington, NC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Wilmington against North Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NC | $31,660 | $45,730 | $62,820 | |
| North Carolina | $33,710 | $47,930 | $67,290 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Wilmington earns $38,810–$54,900. The top tenth earns $62,820 or more, 2.0 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 $16,090 wide, against $18,190 across North Carolina and $17,950 nationally: employers in Wilmington 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 | $31,660 | $2,638 | $15.22 | $40,852 |
| 25th percentile | $38,810 | $3,234 | $18.66 | $50,077 |
| Median | $45,730 | $3,811 | $21.99 | $59,006 |
| 75th percentile | $54,900 | $4,575 | $26.39 | $70,839 |
| 90th percentile | $62,820 | $5,235 | $30.20 | $81,058 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $9,170 a year in pay and about $11,832 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $6,920 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.
For scale, the US median of $50,670 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Wilmington, and the North Carolina statewide median of $47,930 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Wilmington
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $13,276 to the $45,730 median and brings it to $59,006 a year. 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 Wilmington
Of the 17 roles we track in Wilmington, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between HR assistants ($47,420) and administrative assistants ($45,380). Project Coordinator is the highest at $89,120.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +12.6% | 130 | |
| HR Assistant | +3.7% | 60 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 2,300 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -0.8% | 2,070 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -1.9% | 110 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #7 of the 17 roles we track in Wilmington (-9.7%), between sales development representatives (-7.8%) and virtual receptionists (-9.9%). The typical role here is at -10.9%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 11.6% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Wilmington, 9.3% across North Carolina and 8.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in North Carolina
Across the 18 areas of North Carolina with data for this job, the median runs from $42,910 in Jacksonville to $50,800 in Charlotte-Concord, a gap of $7,890 a year. Of the 7 areas in North Carolina with more bookkeepers than Wilmington, 2 pay less: the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area ($44,690) and the Western North Carolina nonmetro area ($44,920).
| Area | Median | vs Wilmington | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington, NC | +3.8% | 600 | |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | +2.8% | 3,440 | |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | +0.9% | 410 | |
| Wilmington, NC | this area | 2,300 | |
| Goldsboro, NC | -0.1% | 350 | |
| Fayetteville, NC | -0.8% | 1,020 | |
| Hickory-Lenoir, NC | -1.3% | 1,570 |
Wilmington against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Wilmington is #102 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside North Carolina, Springfield and Macon-Bibb County pay just above Wilmington and Kingsport-Bristol and Abilene just below. All four are within $110 a year of the median in Wilmington. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Wilmington | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem, OR | +19.0% | 2,230 | jobs | |
| Anchorage, AK | +18.3% | 2,300 | jobs | |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | +2.5% | 2,220 | jobs | |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | +0.1% | 720 | pay | |
| Springfield, OH | +0.0% | 520 | pay | |
| Wilmington, NC | this area | 2,300 | ||
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | -0.1% | 1,170 | pay | |
| Abilene, TX | -0.2% | 650 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Wilmington, NC?
About $59,006 a year at the median, or $4,917 a month: $45,730 in pay plus about $13,276 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Wilmington?
The median was $45,730 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,660, the 90th $62,820, and the middle half earned $38,810 to $54,900.
Is Wilmington cheaper than the rest of North Carolina for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $45,730 against $47,930 statewide. The next area up in North Carolina is Pinehurst-Southern Pines at $46,140, the next down Goldsboro at $45,700.
How many bookkeepers work in Wilmington?
BLS counts about 2,300 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the North Carolina total of 48,760. 7 areas in North Carolina have more; the closest in size is Durham-Chapel Hill, with about 2,570.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in Wilmington?
Yes: $350 a year more at the median. The medians are $45,730 and $45,380.
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.