Bookkeeper salary in Battle Creek, MI
Battle Creek is a lower-cost market for bookkeepers: the median of $47,510 a year1 is 3.0% below the Michigan statewide median of $48,980, and 6.2% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally it ranks #264 of 521 areas. About 370 bookkeepers work here.
BLS occupation 43-3031, 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 | $34,960 | $47,510 | $62,820 | |
| Michigan | $36,250 | $48,980 | $67,480 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Battle Creek earns $40,760–$56,460. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $62,820, only 1.8 times the bottom tenth, against 2.1 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $15,700 wide, against $15,790 across Michigan and $17,950 nationally: employers in Battle Creek pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,960 | $2,913 | $16.81 | $45,110 |
| 25th percentile | $40,760 | $3,397 | $19.60 | $52,594 |
| Median | $47,510 | $3,959 | $22.84 | $61,303 |
| 75th percentile | $56,460 | $4,705 | $27.14 | $72,852 |
| 90th percentile | $62,820 | $5,235 | $30.20 | $81,058 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $8,950 a year in pay and about $11,548 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $6,750 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 $50,670 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Battle Creek, and the Michigan statewide median of $48,980 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 $13,793 to the $47,510 median and brings it to $61,303 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 Battle Creek
Of the 14 roles we track in Battle Creek, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($52,660) and administrative assistants ($44,040). Project Coordinator is the highest at $97,600.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +28.8% | 240 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +10.8% | 50 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 370 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -7.3% | 450 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -14.0% | 620 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #3 of the 14 roles we track in Battle Creek (-6.2%), between project coordinators (-4.6%) and administrative assistants (-7.4%). The typical role here is at -10.1%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in Battle Creek than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 9.5% of the jobs in these 14 roles in Battle Creek, 9.6% across Michigan and 9.0% 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 15 areas in Michigan with more bookkeepers than Battle Creek, 7 pay less, the largest of them the Mid Michigan nonmetro area ($46,440), the Southern Michigan nonmetro area ($47,020) and the Northern Michigan nonmetro area ($45,230).
| Area | Median | vs Battle Creek | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | +1.1% | 1,040 | |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | +0.9% | 440 | |
| Bay City, MI | +0.5% | 330 | |
| Battle Creek, MI | this area | 370 | |
| Southern Michigan (Nonmetro) | -1.0% | 1,200 | |
| Flint, MI | -1.1% | 990 | |
| Midland, MI | -2.1% | 370 |
Battle Creek against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Battle Creek is #482 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Michigan, Deltona-Daytona Beach and Waterloo-Cedar Falls pay just above Battle Creek and Hinesville and Burlington just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in Battle Creek. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Battle Creek | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corvallis, OR | +7.1% | 370 | jobs | |
| Fond du Lac, WI | +4.7% | 370 | jobs | |
| Grants Pass, OR | +3.7% | 370 | jobs | |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | +0.1% | 580 | pay | |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach, FL | +0.0% | 1,810 | pay | |
| Battle Creek, MI | this area | 370 | ||
| Hinesville, GA | -0.0% | 130 | pay | |
| Burlington, NC | -0.1% | 600 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Battle Creek, MI?
About $61,303 a year at the median, or $5,109 a month: $47,510 in pay plus about $13,793 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Battle Creek?
The median was $47,510 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $34,960, the 90th $62,820, and the middle half earned $40,760 to $56,460.
Is Battle Creek cheaper than the rest of Michigan for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $47,510 against $48,980 statewide. The next area up in Michigan is Bay City at $47,730, the next down the Southern Michigan nonmetro area at $47,020.
How many bookkeepers work in Battle Creek?
BLS counts about 370 in the May 2025 survey. 15 areas in Michigan have more; the closest in size is Muskegon-Norton Shores, with about 440.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in Battle Creek?
Yes: $3,470 a year more at the median. The medians are $47,510 and $44,040.
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.