Small Business Bookkeeper Salary in the United States

How much does a Small Business Bookkeeper make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Small Business Bookkeeper in the United States is $36,324 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.

However, a Small Business Bookkeeper's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $42,126
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $34,035 to $39,361
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $31,951
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View as table View as graph 25% $34,035 10% $31,951 90% $42,126 75% $39,361 $36,324 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Small Business Bookkeeper Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $39,361 $3,280 $757 $19
Average $36,324 $3,027 $699 $17
25th Percentile $34,035 $2,836 $655 $16
Check out Small Business Bookkeeper Job Openings in the United States
Small Business Specialist

U.S. Bancorp - Columbus, OH

Small Business Relationship Banker

U.S. Bank - Columbus, OH

Client Executive

Hylant - Columbus, OH

Client Service Administrator

World Insurance Company Defunct - Columbus, OH

Search More Small Business Bookkeeper Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Small Business Bookkeeper Salaries

A Small Business Bookkeeper's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Small Business Bookkeeper Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Small Business Bookkeeper's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $36,800
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $47,964
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $59,510
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $65,013
  • Expert (over 8 years): $83,585
Levels Salary
Small Bus... Level Small Business Bookkeeper$36,800
Order Ful... Level Small Business Bookkeeper$47,964
Order Ful... Level Small Business Bookkeeper$59,510
Order Ful... Level Small Business Bookkeeper$65,013
Order Ful... Level Small Business Bookkeeper$83,585
$36,800 0 yr
$47,964 < 2 yrs
$59,510 2-4 yrs
$65,013 5-8 yrs
$83,585 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Small Business Bookkeepers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $45,815
  • San Francisco: $45,313
  • Oakland: $44,359

What Skills Can Increase a Small Business Bookkeeper's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 28.26% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.48% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Accounting (Mentioned in 1.36% Job Postings): Creating financial statements and reports based on the summary of financial and business transactions.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 28.26%
Microsoft Office 2.48%
Accounting 1.36%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Small Business Bookkeeper's salary.
  • Vendor Relationships: Can increase your salary by up to 29%.
  • Salesforce: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Customer Sales: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Vendor Relationships
$46,858
29%
Salesforce
$41,409
14%
Customer Sales
$41,046
13%
Order Management
$40,683
12%
Insight
$40,683
12%
Prioritization
$39,593
9%
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Small Business Bookkeeper Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Small Business Bookkeeper roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Small Business Bookkeeper positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Small Business Bookkeeper as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Small Business Bookkeeper

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$45,405$22.025%
Financial Services$41,772$20.015%
Energy & Utilities$39,956$19.010%
Insurance$39,956$19.010%
Pharmaceuticals$39,956$19.010%

How Education impacts a Small Business Bookkeeper's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Small Business Bookkeepers enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Small Business Bookkeeper with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $39,696 and $41,727).

Small Business Bookkeeper Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Small Business Bookkeeper
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.0%
High School 40.0%
Associates 28.0%
Bachelors 16.0%
Masters 12.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
view as graph

Small Business Bookkeeper Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Small Business Bookkeeper's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Small Business Bookkeeper

Salaries for a Small Business Bookkeeper can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $33,125 in 2023 to around $32,577 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Small Business Bookkeeper salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Small Business Bookkeeper Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$33,125
2024
$32,854
2025
$32,577
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $33,125
2024 $32,854
2025 $32,577
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Small Business Bookkeeper

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Small Business Bookkeeper

Here are companies hiring for Small Business Bookkeeper and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Small Business Bookkeeper Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Small Business Bookkeeper job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • World Insurance Company Defunct

    Columbus, OH

    World Insurance Company Defunct | Columbus, OH

    World Insurance Associates Job PostWorld Insurance Associates (World) is a unique financial services organization with a global network of brokers and spec... more

    5 Days Ago

  • World Insurance

    Columbus, OH

    World Insurance | Columbus, OH

    Description. Company Overview. World Insurance Associates (“World”) is a unique financial services organization with a global network of brokers and specia... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    14 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    19 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    21 Days Ago

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FAQ about Small Business Bookkeeper

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Small Business Bookkeeper?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Small Business Bookkeeper roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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