Salaries › Bookkeeper › California
Bookkeeper Salary in California (2026)
$28.48 per hour · take-home ≈ $48,015/year ($4,001/month) for a single filer
Bookkeeper pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $41,600 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $48,600 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $59,230 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $70,600 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $81,990 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 151,870 Bookkeeper jobs in California (occupation code 43-3031, “Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Bookkeeper salary of $59,230 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $48,015 — an effective tax rate of 18.9%.
| Gross (median) | $59,230 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,928 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,531 |
| California state income tax | −$1,756 |
| Take-home (annual) | $48,015 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,001 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Bookkeeper make in California?
- The median Bookkeeper salary in California is $59,230 per year ($28.48 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $48,600 and $70,600.
- What is the take-home pay for a Bookkeeper in California?
- On the median salary of $59,230, a single filer in California takes home about $48,015 per year ($4,001 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.9%.
- How many Bookkeeper jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 151,870 Bookkeeper jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Bookkeepers
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.