What a billing clerk costs in 2026
The median billing clerk in the United States earned $48,500 a year, $23.32 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. With benefits at a small employer, a full-time billing clerk at the median costs about $65,500 a year, or about $5,500 a month.
The middle half of billing clerks earn $42,840 to $58,290. There are 404,060 of them across the country, and what one costs you depends most on where you are: District of Columbia has the highest median at $64,330, and Arkansas the lowest of the 50 states at $38,780.
Liaison does the routine half of a billing clerk’s job for 12% of that. See how.
What a billing clerk would cost you
Pick a state or a metro area and the hours you need. The cost is the median hourly wage there plus benefits at the rate you choose.
Billing clerk, the United States, 40 hours a week
$65,486 a year
$5,457 a month. Wages $48,506 at the median of $23.32 an hour, plus $16,980 in benefits. The middle half of billing clerks here earn $42,840 to $58,290 in wages.
Billing clerk wages and cost by state
Median wage, May 2025. The cost column adds benefits at the rate for employers with 1 to 49 workers (35% on top of wages).
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | Cost to a small employer | Middle half earns | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $39,520 | $19.00 | $53,355 | $36,410 to $47,250 | 3,780 |
| Alaska | $52,170 | $25.08 | $70,433 | $46,210 to $58,100 | 370 |
| Arizona | $47,730 | $22.95 | $64,439 | $41,550 to $54,680 | 8,490 |
| Arkansas | $38,780 | $18.65 | $52,356 | $36,170 to $45,720 | 4,390 |
| California | $56,260 | $27.05 | $75,955 | $48,300 to $64,710 | 41,290 |
| Colorado | $52,670 | $25.32 | $71,108 | $47,120 to $62,070 | 8,170 |
| Connecticut | $52,000 | $25.00 | $70,204 | $47,400 to $63,170 | 4,170 |
| Delaware | $52,110 | $25.05 | $70,352 | $45,160 to $62,860 | 1,270 |
| District of Columbia | $64,330 | $30.93 | $86,850 | $57,930 to $85,990 | 530 |
| Florida | $46,540 | $22.37 | $62,832 | $40,350 to $51,670 | 28,560 |
| Georgia | $47,390 | $22.78 | $63,980 | $39,800 to $56,070 | 11,450 |
| Guam | $26,900 | $12.93 | $36,317 | $23,560 to $31,200 | 80 |
| Hawaii | $51,240 | $24.63 | $69,178 | $45,360 to $58,680 | 1,340 |
| Idaho | $46,440 | $22.33 | $62,697 | $38,560 to $52,180 | 2,850 |
| Illinois | $49,730 | $23.91 | $67,139 | $45,030 to $61,880 | 21,010 |
| Indiana | $46,400 | $22.31 | $62,643 | $40,320 to $51,610 | 8,060 |
| Iowa | $47,110 | $22.65 | $63,602 | $43,210 to $51,290 | 3,660 |
| Kansas | $46,420 | $22.32 | $62,670 | $40,070 to $53,790 | 3,890 |
| Kentucky | $45,590 | $21.92 | $61,550 | $38,890 to $51,260 | 5,200 |
| Louisiana | $43,170 | $20.76 | $58,283 | $36,980 to $49,140 | 5,970 |
| Maine | $47,840 | $23.00 | $64,587 | $45,030 to $56,230 | 1,850 |
| Maryland | $52,210 | $25.10 | $70,487 | $47,240 to $60,490 | 5,960 |
| Massachusetts | $56,110 | $26.98 | $75,753 | $49,370 to $61,740 | 7,430 |
| Michigan | $46,890 | $22.54 | $63,305 | $41,310 to $51,450 | 12,550 |
| Minnesota | $55,810 | $26.83 | $75,348 | $49,070 to $62,240 | 6,300 |
| Mississippi | $41,190 | $19.80 | $55,609 | $36,370 to $46,990 | 3,040 |
| Missouri | $46,760 | $22.48 | $63,129 | $39,920 to $53,430 | 8,550 |
| Montana | $46,730 | $22.47 | $63,089 | $42,860 to $50,690 | 1,890 |
| Nebraska | $47,410 | $22.79 | $64,007 | $40,540 to $53,420 | 3,310 |
| Nevada | $47,430 | $22.80 | $64,034 | $43,140 to $55,260 | 3,720 |
| New Hampshire | $50,710 | $24.38 | $68,462 | $47,080 to $57,840 | 1,480 |
| New Jersey | $51,750 | $24.88 | $69,866 | $47,120 to $59,530 | 14,910 |
| New Mexico | $46,120 | $22.17 | $62,265 | $39,090 to $51,930 | 2,050 |
| New York | $53,320 | $25.64 | $71,986 | $46,390 to $62,540 | 32,770 |
| North Carolina | $47,160 | $22.67 | $63,669 | $40,150 to $54,480 | 7,000 |
| North Dakota | $48,550 | $23.34 | $65,546 | $42,090 to $59,440 | 660 |
| Ohio | $46,390 | $22.31 | $62,630 | $40,410 to $50,560 | 19,480 |
| Oklahoma | $45,120 | $21.69 | $60,915 | $37,770 to $51,270 | 4,460 |
| Oregon | $51,860 | $24.93 | $70,015 | $46,400 to $59,490 | 5,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,890 | $22.55 | $63,305 | $40,970 to $56,290 | 15,800 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,490 | $13.70 | $38,464 | $24,230 to $33,280 | 4,800 |
| Rhode Island | $52,910 | $25.44 | $71,432 | $47,270 to $61,390 | 980 |
| South Carolina | $45,250 | $21.75 | $61,091 | $38,560 to $49,650 | 5,550 |
| South Dakota | $46,180 | $22.20 | $62,346 | $38,770 to $50,710 | 770 |
| Tennessee | $46,330 | $22.27 | $62,549 | $40,110 to $50,520 | 7,990 |
| Texas | $45,910 | $22.07 | $61,982 | $38,500 to $54,050 | 31,150 |
| Utah | $46,470 | $22.34 | $62,738 | $39,390 to $53,980 | 4,000 |
| Vermont | $50,730 | $24.39 | $68,489 | $46,910 to $59,330 | 890 |
| Virgin Islands | $43,430 | $20.88 | $58,634 | $38,990 to $48,340 | 30 |
| Virginia | $47,580 | $22.87 | $64,236 | $42,330 to $56,120 | 7,500 |
| Washington | $56,090 | $26.96 | $75,726 | $47,590 to $62,000 | 11,960 |
| West Virginia | $39,300 | $18.89 | $53,058 | $35,500 to $46,010 | 2,180 |
| Wisconsin | $48,230 | $23.19 | $65,114 | $44,930 to $54,620 | 7,790 |
| Wyoming | $44,880 | $21.58 | $60,591 | $40,920 to $49,880 | 580 |
Highest and lowest paying metro areas
Out of the 389 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for billing clerks. The lowest list covers the 50 states and DC; the calculator above has every metro area, Puerto Rico’s included.
| Highest | Median annual |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $70,280 |
| Rochester, MN | $67,390 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $66,390 |
| New Haven, CT | $61,180 |
| Napa, CA | $59,810 |
| Lowest | Median annual |
|---|---|
| Eagle Pass, TX | $34,310 |
| Dothan, AL | $35,990 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $36,470 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $36,600 |
| Gadsden, AL | $36,700 |
The routine part of the billing clerk’s job
Much of what a billing clerk does every week is routine: the follow-ups, the reconciling, the scheduling, the reports pulled together from three systems. That routine part is what Liaison does, inside the tools the business already runs: $629 a month on Professional, set up with you, or $149 a month self-serve. The judgment stays with your people.
The routine half of a billing clerk’s job, for 12% of what one costs.
- Sends the invoice the day the work is done and the reminders on a schedule, in your voice.
- Matches every payment to its invoice and flags the short-pays and the duplicates.
- Gives you the aging report every morning with the names on it.
Professional is $629 a month, $7,548 a year, against about $65,500 a year for a billing clerk at the median once benefits are added. On Professional we connect your tools, bring your data in and set up the first rules with you. Anything that moves money waits for your yes.
“Cut our month-end close from 4 days to 4 hours.” Marcus C., owner
$629 a month, or $500 a month on a 12-month term. Prefer to start on your own? Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with a free trial first: 7 days, no card. More: AI bookkeeper.
Questions
How much does a billing clerk cost a small business?
The median billing clerk earned $48,500 a year, or $23.32 an hour, in May 2025. Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages (June 2026), so a full-time billing clerk at the median costs about $65,500 a year. The middle half earn $42,840 to $58,290.
Which states pay billing clerks the most?
District of Columbia ($64,330), California ($56,260) and Massachusetts ($56,110) have the highest median wage for billing clerks. The lowest among the 50 states and DC are Arkansas ($38,780), West Virginia ($39,300) and Alabama ($39,520).
Which metro areas pay billing clerks the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($70,280), Rochester, MN ($67,390) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($66,390), out of the 389 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for billing clerks.
Where does this data come from?
Wages are the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2025, occupation 43-3021. The benefit cost is from the BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation release for June 2026. Recruiting, training, equipment and turnover are not included.
See it on your own business.
Thirty minutes with us, on your own tools. Bring the thing that eats your evenings and watch it get handled from your own inbox, calendar and books.
Professional is $629 a month and we set it up with you. Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with the free trial first: 7 days, no card. Every plan is on the pricing page.