Bookkeeper salary in Bismarck, ND
Bismarck pays bookkeepers close to the North Dakota norm. The median is $49,310 a year1, about level with the North Dakota statewide median of $49,710 and 2.7% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally it ranks #161 of 521 areas. About 690 bookkeepers work here, 16% of the North Dakota total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Bismarck, ND. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Bismarck against North Dakota and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | $37,730 | $49,310 | $67,310 | |
| North Dakota | $37,340 | $49,710 | $66,040 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Bismarck earns $44,890–$59,090. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $67,310, 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 $14,200 wide, against $14,240 across North Dakota and $17,950 nationally: employers in Bismarck 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 | $37,730 | $3,144 | $18.14 | $48,684 |
| 25th percentile | $44,890 | $3,741 | $21.58 | $57,923 |
| Median | $49,310 | $4,109 | $23.71 | $63,626 |
| 75th percentile | $59,090 | $4,924 | $28.41 | $76,245 |
| 90th percentile | $67,310 | $5,609 | $32.36 | $86,852 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $9,780 over the median, the 25th only $4,420 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $12,619 a year in employer cost. 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 Bismarck, and the North Dakota statewide median of $49,710 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Bismarck
At the $49,310 median, a local hire costs about $63,626 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $14,316 here. 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 Bismarck
Of the 15 roles we track in Bismarck, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between data entry specialists ($53,140) and administrative assistants ($47,580). Project Coordinator is the highest at $88,650.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +21.5% | 200 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +7.8% | 30 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 690 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -3.5% | 1,170 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -5.3% | 190 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #9 of the 15 roles we track in Bismarck (-2.7%), between recruiters (+0.1%) and paralegals (-4.4%). The typical role here is at +0.1%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 11.3% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Bismarck, 12.7% across North Dakota and 8.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in North Dakota
Across the 6 areas of North Dakota with data for this job, the median runs from $48,870 in the East North Dakota nonmetro area to $50,570 in Fargo, a gap of $1,700 a year. Of the 3 areas in North Dakota with more bookkeepers than Bismarck, 1 pays less: the East North Dakota nonmetro area ($48,870).
| Area | Median | vs Bismarck | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | +2.6% | 1,520 | |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | +1.9% | 510 | |
| West North Dakota (Nonmetro) | +1.4% | 740 | |
| Minot, ND | +0.7% | 330 | |
| Bismarck, ND | this area | 690 | |
| East North Dakota (Nonmetro) | -0.9% | 700 |
Bismarck against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Bismarck is #353 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside North Dakota, Ogden and Houston-Pasadena pay just above Bismarck and Glens Falls and Oshkosh-Neenah just below. All four are within $150 a year of the median in Bismarck. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Bismarck | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | +25.1% | 700 | jobs | |
| Merced, CA | +4.9% | 680 | jobs | |
| Houston-Pasadena, TX | +0.3% | 26,090 | pay | |
| Ogden, UT | +0.3% | 1,700 | pay | |
| Bismarck, ND | this area | 690 | ||
| Glens Falls, NY | -0.0% | 500 | pay | |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | -0.0% | 890 | pay | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | -3.9% | 690 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Bismarck, ND?
About $63,626 a year at the median, or $5,302 a month: $49,310 in pay plus about $14,316 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Bismarck?
The median was $49,310 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,730, the 90th $67,310, and the middle half earned $44,890 to $59,090.
Is Bismarck cheaper than the rest of North Dakota for bookkeepers?
About the same: a median of $49,310 against $49,710 statewide. The next area up in North Dakota is Minot at $49,660, the next down the East North Dakota nonmetro area at $48,870.
How many bookkeepers work in Bismarck?
BLS counts about 690 in the May 2025 survey. That is 16% of the North Dakota total of 4,290. 3 areas in North Dakota have more; the closest in size is the East North Dakota nonmetro area, with about 700.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in Bismarck?
Yes: $1,730 a year more at the median. The medians are $49,310 and $47,580.
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.