diff --git a/singer_sdk/io_base.py b/singer_sdk/io_base.py
index ef336ac18..07da6e63e 100644
--- a/singer_sdk/io_base.py
+++ b/singer_sdk/io_base.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import abc
+import decimal
 import json
 import logging
 import sys
@@ -49,6 +50,27 @@ def _assert_line_requires(line_dict: dict, requires: set[str]) -> None:
             msg = f"Line is missing required {', '.join(missing)} key(s): {line_dict}"
             raise Exception(msg)
 
+    def deserialize_json(self, line: str) -> dict:
+        """Deserialize a line of json.
+
+        Args:
+            line: A single line of json.
+
+        Returns:
+            A dictionary of the deserialized json.
+
+        Raises:
+            json.decoder.JSONDecodeError: raised if any lines are not valid json
+        """
+        try:
+            return json.loads(  # type: ignore[no-any-return]
+                line,
+                parse_float=decimal.Decimal,
+            )
+        except json.decoder.JSONDecodeError as exc:
+            logger.error("Unable to parse:\n%s", line, exc_info=exc)
+            raise
+
     def _process_lines(self, file_input: t.IO[str]) -> t.Counter[str]:
         """Internal method to process jsonl lines from a Singer tap.
 
@@ -57,18 +79,10 @@ def _process_lines(self, file_input: t.IO[str]) -> t.Counter[str]:
 
         Returns:
             A counter object for the processed lines.
-
-        Raises:
-            json.decoder.JSONDecodeError: raised if any lines are not valid json
         """
         stats: dict[str, int] = defaultdict(int)
         for line in file_input:
-            try:
-                line_dict = json.loads(line)
-            except json.decoder.JSONDecodeError as exc:
-                logger.error("Unable to parse:\n%s", line, exc_info=exc)
-                raise
-
+            line_dict = self.deserialize_json(line)
             self._assert_line_requires(line_dict, requires={"type"})
 
             record_type: SingerMessageType = line_dict["type"]
diff --git a/tests/core/test_io.py b/tests/core/test_io.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c8de02447
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/core/test_io.py
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+"""Test IO operations."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import decimal
+import json
+from contextlib import nullcontext
+
+import pytest
+
+from singer_sdk.io_base import SingerReader
+
+
+class DummyReader(SingerReader):
+    def _process_activate_version_message(self, message_dict: dict) -> None:
+        pass
+
+    def _process_batch_message(self, message_dict: dict) -> None:
+        pass
+
+    def _process_record_message(self, message_dict: dict) -> None:
+        pass
+
+    def _process_schema_message(self, message_dict: dict) -> None:
+        pass
+
+    def _process_state_message(self, message_dict: dict) -> None:
+        pass
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "line,expected,exception",
+    [
+        pytest.param(
+            "not-valid-json",
+            None,
+            pytest.raises(json.decoder.JSONDecodeError),
+            id="unparsable",
+        ),
+        pytest.param(
+            '{"type": "RECORD", "stream": "users", "record": {"id": 1, "value": 1.23}}',  # noqa: E501
+            {
+                "type": "RECORD",
+                "stream": "users",
+                "record": {"id": 1, "value": decimal.Decimal("1.23")},
+            },
+            nullcontext(),
+            id="record",
+        ),
+    ],
+)
+def test_deserialize(line, expected, exception):
+    reader = DummyReader()
+    with exception:
+        assert reader.deserialize_json(line) == expected