Bookkeeper salary in the Central Indiana nonmetro area
The Central Indiana nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for bookkeepers: the median of $46,110 a year1 is 3.6% below the Indiana statewide median of $47,820, and 9.0% below the US median of $50,670. Among US areas it comes in at #354 of 521. About 1,510 bookkeepers work here, 5% of the Indiana total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Central Indiana nonmetro area against Indiana and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Indiana (Nonmetro) | $32,180 | $46,110 | $61,870 | |
| Indiana | $33,010 | $47,820 | $66,960 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $61,870, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in the Central Indiana nonmetro area earns $38,520–$53,650. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $15,130 wide, against $17,800 across Indiana and $17,950 nationally: employers in the Central Indiana nonmetro area 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 | $32,180 | $2,682 | $15.47 | $41,523 |
| 25th percentile | $38,520 | $3,210 | $18.52 | $49,703 |
| Median | $46,110 | $3,842 | $22.17 | $59,497 |
| 75th percentile | $53,650 | $4,471 | $25.79 | $69,226 |
| 90th percentile | $61,870 | $5,156 | $29.75 | $79,832 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $7,540 a year in pay and about $9,729 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $7,590 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 the Central Indiana nonmetro area, and the Indiana statewide median of $47,820 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Central Indiana 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 $13,387 to the $46,110 median and brings it to $59,497 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 the Central Indiana nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the Central Indiana nonmetro area, this one ranks #12 by median pay, between HR assistants ($46,330) and data entry specialists ($43,010). Project Coordinator is the highest at $75,700.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +1.5% | 140 | |
| HR Assistant | +0.5% | 80 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 1,510 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -6.7% | 80 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -11.9% | 1,660 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #5 of the 17 roles we track in the Central Indiana nonmetro area (-9.0%), between HR assistants (-8.5%) and customer support specialists (-9.3%). The typical role here is at -13.8%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in the Central Indiana nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 14.7% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Central Indiana nonmetro area, 11.2% across Indiana and 8.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Indiana
Across the 15 areas of Indiana with data for this job, the median runs from $44,650 in Muncie to $49,190 in Elkhart-Goshen, a gap of $4,540 a year. Of the 4 areas in Indiana with more bookkeepers than the Central Indiana nonmetro area, 1 pays less: the Southern Indiana nonmetro area ($45,710).
| Area | Median | vs the Central Indiana nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville, IN | +1.2% | 1,320 | |
| Columbus, IN | +1.2% | 360 | |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | +1.2% | 340 | |
| Central Indiana (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,510 | |
| Terre Haute, IN | -0.1% | 550 | |
| Kokomo, IN | -0.3% | 280 | |
| Southern Indiana (Nonmetro) | -0.9% | 1,720 |
the Central Indiana nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Central Indiana nonmetro area is #168 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Indiana, Warner Robins and Pinehurst-Southern Pines pay just above the Central Indiana nonmetro area and Sandusky and Decatur just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in the Central Indiana nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Central Indiana nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | +10.8% | 1,510 | jobs | |
| Fargo, ND-MN | +9.7% | 1,520 | jobs | |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | +0.1% | 410 | pay | |
| Warner Robins, GA | +0.0% | 400 | pay | |
| Central Indiana (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,510 | ||
| Sandusky, OH | -0.0% | 390 | pay | |
| Decatur, AL | -0.1% | 580 | pay | |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | -12.1% | 1,500 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Central Indiana (Nonmetro)?
About $59,497 a year at the median, or $4,958 a month: $46,110 in pay plus about $13,387 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in the Central Indiana nonmetro area?
The median was $46,110 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $32,180, the 90th $61,870, and the middle half earned $38,520 to $53,650.
Is the Central Indiana nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Indiana for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $46,110 against $47,820 statewide. The next area up in Indiana is Michigan City-La Porte at $46,650, the next down Terre Haute at $46,060.
How many bookkeepers work in the Central Indiana nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 1,510 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Indiana total of 29,910. 4 areas in Indiana have more; the closest in size is the Southern Indiana nonmetro area, with about 1,720.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than a data entry specialist in the Central Indiana nonmetro area?
Yes: $3,100 a year more at the median. The medians are $46,110 and $43,010.
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.