Bookkeeper salary in Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor pays bookkeepers close to the national norm. The median is $51,100 a year1, 4.3% above the Michigan statewide median of $48,980 and about level with the US median of $50,670. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#100 of 521). BLS counts about 1,510 people in this job here, 4% of the Michigan total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Ann Arbor, MI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Ann Arbor against Michigan and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | $37,440 | $51,100 | $73,110 | |
| Michigan | $36,250 | $48,980 | $67,480 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Ann Arbor earns $42,830–$61,290. The top tenth earns $73,110 or more, 2.0 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.1 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $18,460 wide, wider than in Michigan as a whole ($15,790) and the US ($17,950), so what a bookkeeper earns in Ann Arbor depends more on the employer.
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,440 | $3,120 | $18.00 | $48,310 |
| 25th percentile | $42,830 | $3,569 | $20.59 | $55,265 |
| Median | $51,100 | $4,258 | $24.57 | $65,935 |
| 75th percentile | $61,290 | $5,108 | $29.47 | $79,084 |
| 90th percentile | $73,110 | $6,092 | $35.15 | $94,335 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $8,270 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $10,190, or about $13,148 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 $50,670 falls between the 25th percentile and the median in Ann Arbor, and the Michigan statewide median of $48,980 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Ann Arbor
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 $14,835 to the $51,100 median and brings it to $65,935 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 bookkeepers 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 Ann Arbor
Of the 17 roles we track in Ann Arbor, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between HR assistants ($51,220) and administrative assistants ($50,600). Project Coordinator is the highest at $103,690.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +17.0% | 140 | |
| HR Assistant | +0.2% | 130 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 1,510 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -1.0% | 2,290 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -1.5% | 60 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #10 of the 17 roles we track in Ann Arbor (+0.8%), between HR assistants (+1.2%) and data entry specialists (-1.4%). The typical role here is at +1.2%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 7.7% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Ann Arbor, 9.3% across Michigan and 8.7% 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 $45,230 in the Northern Michigan nonmetro area to $51,480 in Detroit-Warren, a gap of $6,250 a year. Of the 3 areas in Michigan with more bookkeepers than Ann Arbor, 2 pay less: Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI ($48,550) and Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($50,500).
| Area | Median | vs Ann Arbor | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren, MI | +0.7% | 14,730 | |
| Ann Arbor, MI | this area | 1,510 | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | -1.2% | 1,940 | |
| Jackson, MI | -4.7% | 500 | |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | -5.0% | 5,070 | |
| Monroe, MI | -5.7% | 290 | |
| Niles, MI | -5.9% | 500 |
Ann Arbor against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Ann Arbor is #167 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside Michigan, Columbus and Atlanta-Sandy Springs pay just above Ann Arbor and Redding and Naples-Marco Island just below. All four are within $100 a year of the median in Ann Arbor. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Ann Arbor | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA | +0.1% | 22,480 | pay | |
| Columbus, OH | +0.1% | 9,000 | pay | |
| Ann Arbor, MI | this area | 1,510 | ||
| Redding, CA | -0.0% | 660 | pay | |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | -0.2% | 1,630 | pay | |
| Fargo, ND-MN | -1.0% | 1,520 | jobs | |
| Lubbock, TX | -10.8% | 1,500 | jobs | |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | -20.7% | 1,500 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Ann Arbor, MI?
About $65,935 a year at the median, or $5,495 a month: $51,100 in pay plus about $14,835 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Ann Arbor?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $51,100 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,440, the 90th $73,110, and the middle half earned $42,830 to $61,290.
Is Ann Arbor cheaper than the rest of Michigan for bookkeepers?
No, it costs more: a median of $51,100 against $48,980 statewide. The next area up in Michigan is Detroit-Warren at $51,480, the next down Lansing-East Lansing at $50,500.
How many bookkeepers work in Ann Arbor?
BLS counts about 1,510 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the Michigan total of 37,550. 3 areas in Michigan have more; the closest in size is Lansing-East Lansing, with about 1,940.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in Ann Arbor?
Yes: $500 a year more at the median. The medians are $51,100 and $50,600.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3031: 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.