Bookkeeper salary in Illinois
The median bookkeeper in Illinois earns $49,560 a year, or $23.83 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. That is 2% below the national median of $50,670, and 23rd of the 54 states and territories BLS publishes.
The middle half of Illinois’s 51,470 bookkeepers earn between $42,680 and $60,130. The highest paying metro area in the state is Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, at $51,440.
Liaison does the routine half of a bookkeeper’s job for 11% of what one costs in Illinois. See how.
Bookkeeper salary by city in Illinois
Every metro area in Illinois where BLS publishes a median for bookkeepers, highest first. A metro that crosses a state line appears under each of its states.
| Metro area | Median annual | Median hourly | Middle half earns | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $51,440 | $24.73 | $45,620 to $61,610 | 35,660 |
| Springfield, IL | $50,780 | $24.42 | $43,520 to $59,390 | 860 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $49,970 | $24.03 | $45,360 to $60,600 | 9,950 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $48,830 | $23.48 | $43,210 to $59,060 | 710 |
| Decatur, IL | $48,200 | $23.17 | $42,500 to $58,410 | 330 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $47,840 | $23.00 | $41,620 to $56,000 | 1,360 |
| Peoria, IL | $47,670 | $22.92 | $42,090 to $56,920 | 1,390 |
| Kankakee, IL | $47,240 | $22.71 | $39,930 to $55,660 | 400 |
| Rockford, IL | $46,790 | $22.49 | $42,330 to $55,790 | 1,020 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $46,310 | $22.26 | $38,020 to $56,250 | 610 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $45,810 | $22.02 | $38,100 to $55,000 | 310 |
| Bloomington, IL | $45,220 | $21.74 | $41,360 to $56,070 | 590 |
What a bookkeeper costs an employer in Illinois
Wages are the start. At employers with fewer than 50 workers, benefits add 35% on top (BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation), so a bookkeeper at the Illinois median costs about $66,900 a year. The employer’s view for every state and metro is on what a bookkeeper costs, and the routine part of the job is what Liaison does inside the tools a business already runs.
The routine half of a bookkeeper’s job, for 11% of what one costs in Illinois.
- Chases every open invoice in your voice, one reminder per customer, and matches payouts to the invoices they paid.
- Reads bills as they arrive, codes and enters them, and stages the payment run for your yes.
- Reconciles the processors against the deposits and writes the month-end notes your accountant would otherwise bill for.
Professional is $629 a month, $7,548 a year, against about $66,900 a year for a bookkeeper at the Illinois 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 bookkeeper make in Illinois?
The median bookkeeper in Illinois earned $49,560 a year, or $23.83 an hour, in May 2025. The middle half earned between $42,680 and $60,130. Nationally the median is $50,670, so Illinois pays 2% less than the country as a whole.
Which cities in Illinois pay bookkeepers the most?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN ($51,440), Springfield, IL ($50,780) and St. Louis, MO-IL ($49,970).
What does a bookkeeper cost an employer in Illinois?
Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages, so a bookkeeper at the Illinois median costs about $66,900 a year. The employer’s view is at useliaison.com/back-office-costs/bookkeeper.
Bookkeeper salary in other states
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 43-3031. Annual figures assume 2,080 hours a year. Updated 2026-10-02.
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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.