Accountant salary in the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area
The Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for accountants: the median of $78,450 a year1 is 3.9% below the Minnesota statewide median of $81,600, and 6.2% below the US median of $83,680. Among US areas it comes in at #181 of 521. BLS counts about 990 people in this job here, 3% of the Minnesota total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area against Minnesota and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Minnesota (Nonmetro) | $50,960 | $78,450 | $122,360 | |
| Minnesota | $58,280 | $81,600 | $138,960 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area earns $62,320–$95,010. The top tenth earns $122,360 or more, 2.4 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.6 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $32,690 wide, against $36,830 across Minnesota and $42,790 nationally: employers in the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area 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 | $50,960 | $4,247 | $24.50 | $65,755 |
| 25th percentile | $62,320 | $5,193 | $29.96 | $80,413 |
| Median | $78,450 | $6,538 | $37.72 | $101,226 |
| 75th percentile | $95,010 | $7,918 | $45.68 | $122,594 |
| 90th percentile | $122,360 | $10,197 | $58.83 | $157,884 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $16,130 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $16,560, or about $21,368 once benefits are added. 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 the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area, and the Minnesota statewide median of $81,600 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area
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 $22,776 to the $78,450 median and brings it to $101,226 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 the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($92,570); recruiters come next at $74,850.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +18.0% | 430 | |
| Accountant | this role | 990 | |
| Recruiter | -4.6% | 630 | |
| Office Manager | -6.3% | 960 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -6.6% | 590 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #13 of the 17 roles we track in the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area (-6.2%), between virtual receptionists (-4.9%) and marketing specialists (-7.0%). The typical role here is at -1.4%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost less in the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 8.9% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area, 10.4% across Minnesota and 9.1% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Minnesota
Across the 9 areas of Minnesota with data for this job, the median runs from $73,830 in the Northwest Minnesota nonmetro area to $86,500 in Minneapolis-St. Paul, a gap of $12,670 a year. Of the 2 areas in Minnesota with more accountants than the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area, 1 pays less: the Northwest Minnesota nonmetro area ($73,830).
| Area | Median | vs the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | +10.3% | 21,820 | |
| Rochester, MN | +7.0% | 760 | |
| Southeast Minnesota (Nonmetro) | this area | 990 | |
| St. Cloud, MN | -0.9% | 800 | |
| Duluth, MN-WI | -1.3% | 940 | |
| Northeast Minnesota (Nonmetro) | -1.6% | 260 | |
| Southwest Minnesota (Nonmetro) | -2.1% | 930 |
the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area is #198 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Minnesota, Sumter and Yuba City pay just above the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area and Allentown-Bethlehem and Pueblo just below. All four are within $110 a year of the median in the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuba City, CA | +0.1% | 280 | pay | |
| Sumter, SC | +0.0% | 150 | pay | |
| Southeast Minnesota (Nonmetro) | this area | 990 | ||
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | -0.0% | 2,500 | pay | |
| Pueblo, CO | -0.1% | 420 | pay | |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | -1.3% | 990 | jobs | |
| Gainesville, FL | -3.4% | 1,010 | jobs | |
| Erie, PA | -10.8% | 970 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Southeast Minnesota (Nonmetro)?
About $101,226 a year at the median, or $8,435 a month: $78,450 in pay plus about $22,776 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area?
The median was $78,450 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $50,960, the 90th $122,360, and the middle half earned $62,320 to $95,010.
Is the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Minnesota for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $78,450 against $81,600 statewide. The next area up in Minnesota is Rochester at $83,960, the next down St. Cloud at $77,720.
How many accountants work in the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 990 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Minnesota total of 30,530. Only Minneapolis-St. Paul and the Northwest Minnesota nonmetro area have more in Minnesota.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area?
Yes: $3,600 a year more at the median. The medians are $78,450 and $74,850.
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.