Bookkeeper salary and cost of hiring in Wisconsin
The median bookkeeper in Wisconsin earned $50,340 a year in May 2025[1], 0.7% below the US median of $50,670. That puts Wisconsin at #21 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $36,350 | $50,340 | $65,460 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Wisconsin earns $44,580–$59,380; the top tenth earns $65,460 or more, 1.8 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 Wisconsin median that makes about $71,914 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 Wisconsin
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | $61,330 | 3,760 | |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $59,980 | 6,750 | |
| Appleton, WI | $59,270 | 1,050 | |
| Sheboygan, WI | $59,980 | 410 | |
| Kenosha, WI | $58,680 | 590 | |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $56,690 | 370 | |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $59,130 | 890 | |
| Eau Claire, WI | $58,200 | 780 | |
| Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $57,270 | 1,100 | |
| Green Bay, WI | $58,410 | 1,570 | |
| South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $57,880 | 1,780 | |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $57,690 | 600 | |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $58,710 | 580 | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $57,550 | 720 | |
| Wausau, WI | $58,140 | 600 | |
| Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $57,720 | 1,780 | |
| Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $57,870 | 550 |
Madison, WI pays the most ($53,240) and Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area the least ($47,540): $5,700 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 Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | +0.3% | |
| Nevada | +0.1% | |
| Wisconsin | +0.0% | |
| North Dakota | -1.3% | |
| Illinois | -1.5% |
Questions
How much does a bookkeeper earn in Wisconsin?
The median was $50,340 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $44,580 to $59,380.
What does it cost to employ a bookkeeper in Wisconsin?
About $71,914 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Wisconsin do bookkeepers earn the most?
Madison, WI, with a median of $53,240 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.