How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Admin and a Bookkeeper in Kentucky?

Start with wages alone

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 Lexington-Fayette occupational wage release lists mean annual wages of about $47,520 for secretaries and administrative assistants (except legal, medical and executive) and about $49,780 for bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks.

Together that is about $97,300 in annual wages

That figure is before employer payroll taxes, benefits, paid time off, recruiting, equipment, training and the cost of unused capacity during slower periods.

Most very small businesses do not need two full-time roles

The owner may need monthly bookkeeping, a few hours of admin work, fifty customer callbacks and routine email handling—not eighty employee hours every week.

Outsourcing should still have limits

A monthly service only works economically when the scope is clear. If a client needs near-full-time labor, the price should rise or the business should consider hiring.

Use the comparison as a decision tool, not a promise

Every business is different. Compare the real tasks, volume and needed response times before choosing between outsourcing and employment.