Forget the outdated salary guides from 2019.The remote work explosion changed everything.
Filipino bookkeepers with experience know what they’re worth now. And they’re not settling for scraps.
Here’s what’s happening in the market today
Based on numbers from actual job postings on Philippine hiring platforms, BPO salary benchmarks, and real conversations happening in Filipino remote work communities.
The Work They Actually Do
Here’s where most US business owners get it wrong.
They think “bookkeeper” means someone who categorizes transactions for a few hours a week.
That’s not what you’re hiring.
A Filipino remote bookkeeper working for international clients typically handles:
- Daily bank and credit card reconciliations in QuickBooks or Xero
- Full accounts receivable and payable management
- Sending invoices, tracking payments, chasing overdue accounts
- Processing supplier bills and payments
- Month-end close procedures
- Preparing P&L and balance sheet reports
- Basic payroll runs (yes, even US payroll)
- Organizing files for your CPA
- Sometimes even supporting US tax compliance workflows
This is a full finance operations role. Not data entry.
The rate you pay should reflect the value they create. Clean books mean fewer CPA hours. Fewer CPA hours mean lower year-end bills.
Lower bills mean the bookkeeper probably paid for themselves.
Most business owners don’t do this math.
Why the Rates Vary So Much
You’ll see job postings ranging from $400/month to $2,000/month for what looks like the same role.
Here’s what’s actually different:
Experience with international clients
A bookkeeper who’s spent three years managing books for US companies is worth more than someone with five years of purely local Philippine experience. They understand US GAAP conventions.
Night shift work commands a premium.
Many Filipino bookkeepers work graveyard shifts to align with US business hours. This isn’t just inconvenient. It’s exhausting. It disrupts their entire life. If you need real-time availability during your 9-5, expect to pay more.
Software expertise creates price tiers.
Someone who’s just learning QuickBooks is not the same as a QuickBooks ProAdvisor or Xero Advisor with certifications. The certified person can troubleshoot issues, optimize your chart of accounts, and train others.
What You Should Actually Pay (Based on Your Needs)
Let me break this down into scenarios.
Scenario 1: You need someone to handle basic transaction coding and reconciliations
Your US bookkeeper or CPA still owns the books. You just need someone to do the daily grunt work under supervision.
Pay range: $800-$950/month full-time ($5-$6/hour)
This works if you’re willing to train them and provide detailed SOPs.
You’re basically hiring a smart assistant who will become a bookkeeper over time.
They’ll need oversight. They’ll make mistakes. But they’ll be cheap.
Scenario 2: You want someone to own your day-to-day books
They handle everything except tax strategy and annual filings.
Your CPA gets clean books to review quarterly and at year-end.
Pay range: $900-$1,400/month full-time ($6-$9/hour)
This is the sweet spot for most small businesses. The bookkeeper runs your AR/AP, closes the month, generates reports, manages payroll, and keeps everything organized.
You check in weekly but don’t micromanage. Your CPA bills you less because the books are clean.
This rate gets you someone with 2-5 years of solid experience.
Scenario 3: You need a senior person who can build systems
This person doesn’t just keep books. They design your chart of accounts. They create workflows.
They manage other team members. They function as your fractional controller.
Pay range: $1,200-$2,000+/month full-time ($8-$15+/hour)
You’re paying for strategic thinking, not just execution.
This person has probably worked for multiple US or Australian businesses.
They might have certifications. They definitely have opinions about how your books should be structured.
Worth it if your business is complex enough to justify the investment.
One way to reduce risk when hiring at any price point: use paid trial tasks.
Have candidates complete a sample month-end reconciliation or QuickBooks cleanup project before committing to full-time work.
Part-Time and Retainer Arrangements
Not everyone needs a full-time bookkeeper.
If you’re a solopreneur or very small business with minimal transactions, consider part-time retainers.
Typical part-time arrangements:
- 10-15 hours/month: $300-$600/month for very basic bookkeeping (minimal transactions, quarterly cleanup)
- 20-30 hours/month: $500-$900/month for regular monthly bookkeeping with moderate volume
- Half-time (80-90 hours/month): $600-$1,000/month depending on experience level
Some bookkeepers prefer monthly retainers over hourly billing. It creates predictable income for them and predictable costs for you. Discuss what works for both sides.
Just make sure the scope matches the retainer. Don’t try to cram 40 hours of work into a 20-hour budget.
Should You Hire Through an Agency or Direct?
Agencies charge $1,200-$2,500/month to US clients for managed bookkeeping services.
The bookkeeper probably sees half that as salary.
The rest covers recruitment, training, HR, compliance, backup coverage, and replacement guarantees.
Worth it if you want convenience and don’t want to deal with the actual recruitment.
Not worth it if you’re on a budget obviously and managing contractors yourself.
Direct hiring through platforms gets you better talent for less money.
Some platforms now offer AI-powered applicant analysis that grades candidates across job match, experience level, and retention risk.
This bridges the gap between full agency service and completely DIY hiring, you get data-driven insights about which bookkeeper candidates are worth interviewing without paying agency premiums.
Most small business owners prefer direct hiring.
Neither choice is wrong. Just know what you’re signing up for.
Finding the Balance
Here’s what matters more than the exact dollar amount:
Pay enough to get someone good who sticks around.
Underpaying by $200/month to save money costs you thousands in turnover, training, and mistakes.
Be clear about scope and expectations.
A $1,000/month bookkeeper who thinks they’re doing data entry will be unhappy.
A $1,000/month bookkeeper who knows they’re owning your books will thrive.
Respect the work. These aren’t just people pressing buttons.
They’re protecting your business from tax penalties, helping you understand your financial position, and freeing you to focus on growth.
The best bookkeepers get multiple offers constantly. They stay where they feel valued and paid fairly.
Be that employer.
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