Salary data is based on the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metropolitan area and applied to Burlington using local cost-of-living adjustments.

Bookkeeping Salaries in Burlington, VT

Average Base Pay

$48,909/yr

2% below national average

Monthly

$4,076

Hourly

$24

Cost Index

Bookkeeping in Burlington, VT earn an average of $48,909 per year, with most salaries falling between $39,127 and $58,691 depending on experience, employer, and specialization. At 2% below the national average, Burlington offers a more modest rate for this role, in part reflecting a local cost of living index of 98. For professionals evaluating a move or negotiating an offer, the headline salary is only part of the picture—what matters most is how far that income actually goes once taxes, rent, and daily expenses are factored in. The sections below break that down in full for Burlington.

Salary Range

The chart below shows the full compensation spectrum for this role, from entry-level to senior positions. The highlighted center bars represent the 25th–75th percentile band where most professionals are paid.

$37K
Low

$49K
Median

$61K
High

25th percentile: $42K75th percentile: $56K

About Bookkeeping

Accountants record, analyze, and report financial transactions to ensure that organizations maintain accurate records and comply with tax laws and financial regulations. They prepare financial statements—income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements—that stakeholders use to assess business performance. Accountants work in public accounting firms, corporate finance departments, government agencies, and nonprofits. In public accounting, they audit financial statements for accuracy, prepare tax returns, and advise clients on tax strategy. In corporate roles, they manage the general ledger, process accounts payable and receivable, reconcile bank statements, and close the books monthly and annually. Management accountants provide financial analysis to internal decision-makers—tracking costs, analyzing profitability by product or customer, and preparing budget variance reports. Tax accountants specialize in federal, state, and local tax compliance and planning. The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation, earned by passing the Uniform CPA Examination after meeting education requirements, is the gold standard credential and is required for signing audit reports and filing certain tax documents. Accounting requires extreme precision, as errors can have legal and financial consequences.

What Bookkeepings Do

Maintain the general ledger and record financial transactions accurately
Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements
Reconcile bank accounts and investigate discrepancies
Process accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll
Prepare and file federal, state, and local tax returns
Assist with internal and external audits
Analyze financial data to identify trends, variances, and opportunities
Ensure compliance with GAAP, IFRS, and regulatory requirements

Key Skills & Qualifications

Proficiency in accounting software such as QuickBooks, SAP, or Oracle Financials
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills including pivot tables and financial modeling
Knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting standards
Tax law knowledge for federal and state compliance
Attention to detail and accuracy
Bank reconciliation and month-end close processes
CPA designation (required or preferred for senior roles)
Analytical thinking and financial statement interpretation

Career Path

Accounting Clerk / Bookkeeper
Staff Accountant
Senior Accountant
Accounting Manager / Controller
CFO / Director of Finance

Bookkeeping Market in Burlington, VT

Salary Competitiveness

Burlington salaries for Bookkeepings track closely with the national median, diverging by less than 4%. This alignment suggests a competitive but balanced local market—employers are broadly in step with national pay scales, which can make benchmark comparisons more reliable when negotiating.

Cost of Living Impact

Burlington sits close to the national cost average. Monthly essential expenses represent about 85% of take-home pay for this role—a midrange ratio that allows for modest savings and discretionary spending, provided housing costs remain stable.

Effective Purchasing Power

Despite a competitive gross salary, a Bookkeeping earning $48,909 in Burlington operates in a tight purchasing-power band once taxes and local cost of living are applied. Careful planning around housing, transportation, and discretionary spending is essential to avoid running negative disposable income month to month.

vs. National Avg

-2%

Cost Pressure

85%

Purchasing Power

Tight

Take-Home Pay Calculator

Enter any gross salary to see how federal and state taxes affect your actual take-home pay, broken down by year, month, and week. Results use an estimated effective tax rate of 27% based on this location and income level.

Annual Salary

Take-home (73%)Taxes (27%)

Annual Net

$35,704

Monthly

$2,975

Weekly

$687

Eff. Tax Rate

27%

A gross salary of $48,909 for a Bookkeeping in Burlington translates to roughly $2,975 in monthly take-home pay after estimated federal and state taxes. Set against monthly living costs of $2,539—covering housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare—that leaves approximately $436 per month in disposable income. That margin, not the gross number, is what determines whether you can comfortably cover rent, build savings, and afford discretionary spending in Burlington's current market.

How far does this salary go in Burlington?

Cost of Living in Burlington

Estimated monthly expenses for a single person in Burlington, benchmarked against US regional price indices for housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.

Cost Index

Below Avg — US average is 100. Based on a single person (1-bed apartment).

🏠Housing / Rent$1,460/mo

🍔Food & Groceries$487/mo

🚗Transportation$132/mo

💡Utilities$171/mo

🏥Healthcare$289/mo

Monthly$2,539

Annual$30,468

Disposable Income$436

Financial Reality Check

This section compares estimated monthly take-home pay against typical living costs in Burlington to show your real disposable income—the amount remaining after essential bills are paid each month.

Monthly Take-Home

$2,975

Living Costs

$2,539

Disposable

$436

Cost Index

Lifestyle

Tight

With a monthly take-home of $2,975, your estimated living costs in Burlington are $2,539 ($30,468/yr). This leaves $436 per month in disposable income, indicating a tight standard of living. Burlington's cost of living is 2% below the national average.

Overall, a Bookkeeping earning $48,909 in Burlington falls into a tight lifestyle tier and will need to budget carefully—essential costs consume a significant share of take-home pay, leaving limited room for savings or emergencies. With a cost index of 98, Burlington is 2% more affordable than the national average, which extends your purchasing power. Regardless of tier, prioritizing retirement contributions, an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses, and incremental debt reduction will yield the greatest long-term financial stability—especially as living costs in Burlington continue to evolve.