Okay, let’s tackle this. So Nancy has 23 years of experience as a bookkeeper in the insurance industry. Her skills are in payroll, workers compensation, small business insurance, and employee benefits. These are all in-demand areas. However, she is retired, which means she’s not actively working. Retired professionals often have lower earning potential. I’ll look at average salaries for insurance and payroll professionals in the US. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for bookkeepers in the US is around $40,000. Considering her experience and skills, I estimate her hourly rate to be around $40, which translates to $40 per hour.