Bookkeeper salary in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
Cape Girardeau is a lower-cost market for bookkeepers: the median of $45,810 a year1 is 4.5% below the Missouri statewide median of $47,990, and 9.6% below the US median of $50,670. Among US areas it comes in at #372 of 521. BLS counts about 310 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Cape Girardeau, MO-IL. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Cape Girardeau against Missouri and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $33,550 | $45,810 | $67,640 | |
| Missouri | $34,570 | $47,990 | $68,180 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $67,640, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Cape Girardeau earns $38,100–$55,000. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $16,900 wide, against $17,920 across Missouri and $17,950 nationally: employers in Cape Girardeau 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 | $33,550 | $2,796 | $16.13 | $43,290 |
| 25th percentile | $38,100 | $3,175 | $18.32 | $49,161 |
| Median | $45,810 | $3,818 | $22.02 | $59,110 |
| 75th percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26.44 | $70,968 |
| 90th percentile | $67,640 | $5,637 | $32.52 | $87,277 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $9,190 a year in pay and about $11,858 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $7,710 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 Cape Girardeau, and the Missouri statewide median of $47,990 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Cape Girardeau
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 $13,300 to the $45,810 median and brings it to $59,110 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 Cape Girardeau
Of the 14 roles we track in Cape Girardeau, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between paralegals ($46,160) and payroll specialists ($43,610). Project Coordinator is the highest at $78,150.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +5.9% | 180 | |
| Paralegal | +0.8% | 60 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 310 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -4.8% | 40 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -16.6% | 580 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #2 of the 14 roles we track in Cape Girardeau (-9.6%), between virtual receptionists (-8.6%) and customer support specialists (-14.7%). The typical role here is at -22.3%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in Cape Girardeau than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 8.6% of the jobs in these 14 roles in Cape Girardeau, 7.8% across Missouri and 8.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Missouri
Across the 12 areas of Missouri with data for this job, the median runs from $41,150 in the Southwest Missouri nonmetro area to $50,940 in Kansas City, a gap of $9,790 a year. Of the 10 areas in Missouri with more bookkeepers than Cape Girardeau, 7 pay less, the largest of them Springfield, MO ($45,330), the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area ($41,790) and the Central Missouri nonmetro area ($42,820).
| Area | Median | vs Cape Girardeau | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | +9.1% | 9,950 | |
| Columbia, MO | +6.8% | 880 | |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | +2.0% | 310 | |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | this area | 310 | |
| Springfield, MO | -1.0% | 1,440 | |
| Jefferson City, MO | -1.4% | 590 | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | -1.4% | 530 |
Cape Girardeau against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Cape Girardeau is #504 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Missouri, Tyler and Fayetteville-Springdale pay just above Cape Girardeau and Macon-Bibb County and Springfield just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Cape Girardeau. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Cape Girardeau | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale, AR | +0.0% | 2,460 | pay | |
| Tyler, TX | +0.0% | 940 | pay | |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | this area | 310 | ||
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | -0.1% | 720 | pay | |
| Springfield, OH | -0.1% | 520 | pay | |
| Rome, GA | -0.5% | 300 | jobs | |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | -1.5% | 300 | jobs | |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | -3.2% | 310 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?
About $59,110 a year at the median, or $4,926 a month: $45,810 in pay plus about $13,300 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Cape Girardeau?
The median was $45,810 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,550, the 90th $67,640, and the middle half earned $38,100 to $55,000.
Is Cape Girardeau cheaper than the rest of Missouri for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $45,810 against $47,990 statewide. The next area up in Missouri is St. Joseph at $46,730, the next down Springfield at $45,330.
How many bookkeepers work in Cape Girardeau?
BLS counts about 310 in the May 2025 survey. 10 areas in Missouri have more; the closest in size is the Southwest Missouri nonmetro area, with about 480.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than a payroll specialist in Cape Girardeau?
Yes: $2,200 a year more at the median. The medians are $45,810 and $43,610.
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.