Now compare your rate to a typical wage of $25.00 per hour for a staff bookkeeper, with an annual salary of $52,000 each, the total "burdened" cost to a business is significantly higher. In 2026, when you factor in mandatory employer taxes (FICA at 7.65%, FUTA, and SUTA), workers' compensation insurance, and typical benefits like health insurance and a 401(k) match, the actual cost generally increases by 25% to 40%. This brings the effective hourly rate for an in-house bookkeeper to between $31.25 and $35.00 per hour, totaling roughly $65,000 to $72,800 annually. Furthermore, these figures do not account for additional overhead such as office space, furniture and equipment, or the initial recruitment and training expenses required to get a new hire up to speed.