What does it really cost to hire a bookkeeper in Canada?
A $22/hour junior bookkeeper actually costs about $27.80 for every hour worked once CPP, EI, vacation, holidays, workers’ comp and benefits are added. Compare that with a highly trained IndoMaple bookkeeper from $12/hour.
Junior bookkeeper hired in Canada
IndoMaple bookkeeper
| Wages (incl. paid vacation & holidays) | $42,900 |
| Employer CPP contributions (5.95%) | $2,344 |
| Employer EI premiums (2.282%) | $979 |
| Workers’ compensation | $129 |
| Health & dental benefits | $2,400 |
| Computer, software, training & hiring | $1,500 |
| True yearly cost of a Canadian hire | $50,252 |
| Hours actually worked per year | 1,808 hrs |
| Real cost per hour worked | $27.80 |
Estimate for an employer outside Quebec using 2026 CPP (5.95% on earnings above $3,500 up to $74,600) and EI (the employer pays 1.4 × the 1.63% employee rate, on earnings up to $68,900). Job Bank lists accounting bookkeeper wages in Canada from about $19.55 (low) to $28.02 (median) an hour. Quebec employers pay QPP, QPIP and other levies instead, which usually cost more. Provincial employer health taxes (such as Ontario EHT) generally do not apply to payrolls under $1 million and are not included. Edit any number to match your situation.
What goes into the cost of an employee
- Wages: Job Bank reports accounting bookkeeper wages in Canada from about $19.55 to $28.02 an hour (low to median). Junior bookkeepers are usually near the lower end, and wages are higher in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.
- CPP: the employer matches the employee’s Canada Pension Plan contribution: 5.95% of earnings between $3,500 and $74,600 in 2026.
- EI: the employer pays 1.4 times the employee’s Employment Insurance premium, on insurable earnings up to $68,900.
- Vacation and statutory holidays: at least two weeks of vacation (4% vacation pay) in most provinces, plus paid public holidays, when you pay but no work is done.
- Workers’ compensation: WSIB, WorkSafeBC, WCB or CNESST premiums, which depend on your province and industry.
- Benefits and overhead: health and dental plans, a computer, software licences, training, and the cost of recruiting and replacing staff.
Costs the calculator doesn’t include
- Paid sick days required in some jurisdictions (for example BC and federally regulated employers)
- Your own time spent hiring, training and supervising
- Lost work when an employee is sick, on leave or quits
- Overtime during busy periods such as year-end and tax season
How IndoMaple compares
With our daily bookkeeping service you get a dedicated, highly trained bookkeeper from $12 CAD per hour. You pay only for hours worked on your books, with no payroll deductions, benefits, equipment or hiring costs, and a trained backup covers holidays and sick days. Our work is also automation-first, so many tasks take fewer hours than they would by hand.
Rates are general information for 2026 and can change. Confirm current CPP and EI rates on canada.ca and your provincial requirements before making hiring decisions.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Canada?
Job Bank lists accounting bookkeeper wages in Canada from about $19.55 (low) to $28.02 (median) an hour. With employer CPP and EI, vacation pay, statutory holidays, workers’ compensation, benefits and equipment, a full-time junior bookkeeper at $22/hour costs about $50,252 a year.
What payroll costs does an employer pay on top of wages?
For 2026, employers outside Quebec pay CPP contributions equal to the employee’s (5.95% of pensionable earnings above $3,500), EI premiums at 1.4 times the employee rate, provincial workers’ compensation premiums, and at least 4% vacation pay plus paid statutory holidays. Larger employers may also pay a provincial health tax.
Why is the real hourly cost higher than the wage?
Because you pay for vacation and statutory holidays when no work is done, plus payroll taxes, benefits and equipment. Dividing the total yearly cost by the hours actually worked gives the true cost per productive hour.
What does an IndoMaple bookkeeper cost?
Junior bookkeepers start from $12 CAD per hour, billed only for hours worked. There are no payroll deductions, benefits, equipment or hiring costs, and cover is provided when your bookkeeper is away.
Get a dedicated bookkeeper from $12/hour
Book a free consultation and we will match you with a trained bookkeeper for your business and software.