Source: https://deftridge.com/rates/bookkeeper/california/ Title: Bookkeeper hourly rate in California, 2026 | Deftridge Summary: Bookkeeper pay in California: median wage $32 an hour, typical part-time contractor rate $45. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024. CA · United States · **Updated November 3, 2026** # Bookkeeper hourly rate in California The market median wage for a Bookkeeper in California is **$32.42 an hour**. A senior part-time contractor typically receives **$45 an hour** on Deftridge, +29% against the United States rate. **$45/hr** typical contractor rate, senior **$32.42/hr** median wage **$27-38** middle half of wages **$980** a month at 5 hours a week ## Bookkeeper wage percentiles in California Employee wages for the role. The yellow row is the median. | Percentile | Per hour | 5 h a week, per month | Full time, per year | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 10th | $22.57 | $490 | $46,900 | | 25th | $26.68 | $580 | $55,500 | | Median | $32.42 | $700 | $67,400 | | 75th | $37.99 | $820 | $79,000 | | 90th | $45.53 | $990 | $94,700 | Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024; aged to October 2026; about 154,980 people employed in the role. [How rates are built](https://deftridge.com/rates/methodology/). ## California in numbers What sets California apart for a Bookkeeper, from the same sources as the table above. - **+36%** median wage against the United States median of $23.89 - **1st of 51** states by median wage for this role - **154,980** people employed in the role in this place - **$36.37** median wage in the San Francisco metro area, the highest here - **$35** country floor: no United States rate is published below it ## What contractors receive The Deftridge rate for a Bookkeeper in California by level and by format. The company adds 15% on top; you keep all of the rate shown. | Level | Per hour | Per month at 5 h/week | | --- | --- | --- | | Specialist | $40 | $870 | | Senior | $45 | $980 | - Regular role **$45** - One-off task **$55** - Task bundle **$50** ## Bookkeeper pay across United States Typical contractor rate for a senior Bookkeeper, highest first; 4 of 51 places shown. By median wage California ranks **1 of 51**. | Place | Median wage | Contractor rate | | --- | --- | --- | | California | $32.42 | $45 | | District of Columbia | $31.24 | $45 | | New York | $28.15 | $40 | | Alaska | $27.26 | $40 | ## Metro areas in California Median employee wage for the role in the metro area (BLS OEWS). - [San Francisco $36.37/hr median wage · range $32-44](https://deftridge.com/rates/bookkeeper/california/) - [San Jose $36.29/hr median wage · range $32-44](https://deftridge.com/rates/bookkeeper/california/) - [Napa $34.25/hr median wage · range $29-41](https://deftridge.com/rates/bookkeeper/california/) - [Santa Cruz $33.97/hr median wage · range $27-40](https://deftridge.com/rates/bookkeeper/california/) - [Santa Rosa $33.81/hr median wage · range $28-41](https://deftridge.com/rates/bookkeeper/california/) - [Vallejo $33.53/hr median wage · range $27-39](https://deftridge.com/rates/bookkeeper/california/) - [Santa Maria $33.09/hr median wage · range $27-40](https://deftridge.com/rates/bookkeeper/california/) - [Salinas $32.95/hr median wage · range $27-38](https://deftridge.com/rates/bookkeeper/california/) - [San Luis Obispo $32.48/hr median wage · range $27-36](https://deftridge.com/rates/bookkeeper/california/) - [Sacramento $32.31/hr median wage · range $27-36](https://deftridge.com/rates/bookkeeper/california/) ## Questions about pay, fees and privacy The same rules apply to every task, so they live on two pages: [Pricing](https://deftridge.com/pricing/) explains the 15% fee, prepayment and when you are paid; [How it works](https://deftridge.com/how-it-works/) covers matching, what a company sees and side work next to a job. [Bookkeeper rates in every country](https://deftridge.com/rates/bookkeeper/) · [Bookkeeper jobs in California](https://deftridge.com/jobs/bookkeeper/california/) · [Methodology](https://deftridge.com/rates/methodology/)