Accountant salary in Battle Creek, MI
Battle Creek is a lower-cost market for accountants: the median of $76,030 a year1 is 3.5% below the Michigan statewide median of $78,820, and 9.1% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #291 of 521 areas. About 340 accountants work here.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Battle Creek, MI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Battle Creek against Michigan and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Creek, MI | $49,760 | $76,030 | $124,530 | |
| Michigan | $52,620 | $78,820 | $131,080 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $124,530, 2.5 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in Battle Creek earns $60,880–$97,790. The mean ($82,220) is 8% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $36,910 wide, against $37,180 across Michigan and $42,790 nationally: employers in Battle Creek pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,760 | $4,147 | $23.92 | $64,206 |
| 25th percentile | $60,880 | $5,073 | $29.27 | $78,555 |
| Median | $76,030 | $6,336 | $36.55 | $98,103 |
| 75th percentile | $97,790 | $8,149 | $47.01 | $126,181 |
| 90th percentile | $124,530 | $10,378 | $59.87 | $160,684 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $21,760 a year in pay and about $28,077 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $15,150 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Battle Creek, and the Michigan statewide median of $78,820 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Battle Creek
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $22,073 to the $76,030 median and brings it to $98,103 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Battle Creek
Of the 14 roles we track in Battle Creek, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($97,600); marketing specialists come next at $70,380.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +28.4% | 190 | |
| Accountant | this role | 340 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -7.4% | 250 | |
| Recruiter | -12.3% | 270 | |
| Executive Assistant | -15.1% | 80 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #6 of the 14 roles we track in Battle Creek (-9.1%), between customer support specialists (-8.7%) and payroll specialists (-9.6%). The typical role here is at -10.1%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Accountants hold 8.7% of the jobs in these 14 roles in Battle Creek, 10.6% across Michigan and 9.5% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Michigan
Across the 19 areas of Michigan with data for this job, the median runs from $69,740 in the Northern Michigan nonmetro area to $91,790 in Midland, a gap of $22,050 a year. Of the 15 areas in Michigan with more accountants than Battle Creek, 7 pay less, the largest of them the Mid Michigan nonmetro area ($69,790), the Southern Michigan nonmetro area ($74,430) and Flint, MI ($74,500).
| Area | Median | vs Battle Creek | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw, MI | +0.4% | 790 | |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | +0.3% | 5,670 | |
| Monroe, MI | +0.1% | 290 | |
| Battle Creek, MI | this area | 340 | |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | -0.7% | 300 | |
| Niles, MI | -1.2% | 400 | |
| Traverse City, MI | -1.6% | 610 |
Battle Creek against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Battle Creek is #436 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Michigan, Wichita Falls and Farmington pay just above Battle Creek and Lewiston-Auburn and Kingsport-Bristol just below. All four are within $90 a year of the median in Battle Creek. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Battle Creek | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmington, NM | +0.1% | 240 | pay | |
| Wichita Falls, TX | +0.0% | 310 | pay | |
| Battle Creek, MI | this area | 340 | ||
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | -0.1% | 320 | pay | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | -0.1% | 780 | pay | |
| Williamsport, PA | -8.1% | 340 | jobs | |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | -11.2% | 340 | jobs | |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | -12.9% | 340 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Battle Creek, MI?
About $98,103 a year at the median, or $8,175 a month: $76,030 in pay plus about $22,073 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in Battle Creek?
The median was $76,030 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $49,760, the 90th $124,530, and the middle half earned $60,880 to $97,790.
Is Battle Creek cheaper than the rest of Michigan for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $76,030 against $78,820 statewide. The next area up in Michigan is Monroe at $76,080, the next down Muskegon-Norton Shores at $75,480.
How many accountants work in Battle Creek?
BLS counts about 340 in the May 2025 survey. 15 areas in Michigan have more; the closest in size is Niles, with about 400.
Does an accountant cost more than a marketing specialist in Battle Creek?
Yes: $5,650 a year more at the median. The medians are $76,030 and $70,380.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.