Bookkeeper salary in the Central Louisiana nonmetro area
The Central Louisiana nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for bookkeepers: the median of $39,150 a year1 is 12.8% below the Louisiana statewide median of $44,890, and 22.7% below the US median of $50,670. Only 4 of 521 US areas pay less for this job. BLS counts about 600 people in this job here, 3% of the Louisiana total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Central Louisiana nonmetro area against Louisiana and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Louisiana (Nonmetro) | $28,270 | $39,150 | $64,990 | |
| Louisiana | $28,760 | $44,890 | $65,220 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Pay is more spread out here than nationally: the top tenth earns $64,990 or more, 2.3 times the bottom tenth, against 2.1 times across the US. Two offers for the same title can sit far apart. The middle half of bookkeepers in the Central Louisiana nonmetro area earns $33,300–$48,310. The mean ($44,190) is 13% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $15,010 wide, against $18,180 across Louisiana and $17,950 nationally: employers in the Central Louisiana 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 | $28,270 | $2,356 | $13.59 | $36,477 |
| 25th percentile | $33,300 | $2,775 | $16.01 | $42,968 |
| Median | $39,150 | $3,262 | $18.82 | $50,516 |
| 75th percentile | $48,310 | $4,026 | $23.23 | $62,335 |
| 90th percentile | $64,990 | $5,416 | $31.25 | $83,858 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $9,160 over the median, the 25th only $5,850 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $11,819 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 75th and 90th percentiles in the Central Louisiana nonmetro area, and the Louisiana statewide median of $44,890 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local bookkeepers earn.
What a hire really costs in the Central Louisiana 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 $11,366 to the $39,150 median and brings it to $50,516 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 Louisiana nonmetro area
Of the 15 roles we track in the Central Louisiana nonmetro area, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between sales development representatives ($45,880) and medical administrative assistants ($35,290). Project Coordinator is the highest at $89,650.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +18.6% | 40 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +17.2% | 200 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 600 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -9.9% | 100 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -12.2% | 640 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #7 of the 15 roles we track in the Central Louisiana nonmetro area (-22.7%), between virtual receptionists (-22.3%) and accountants (-22.9%). The typical role here is at -22.9%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 11.0% of the jobs in these 15 roles in the Central Louisiana nonmetro area, 11.2% across Louisiana and 8.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Louisiana
Across the 13 areas of Louisiana with data for this job, the median runs from $38,910 in Lafayette to $46,980 in New Orleans-Metairie, a gap of $8,070 a year. Of the 9 areas in Louisiana with more bookkeepers than the Central Louisiana nonmetro area, 1 pays less: Lafayette, LA ($38,910).
| Area | Median | vs the Central Louisiana nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hammond, LA | +11.6% | 380 | |
| Alexandria, LA | +10.5% | 590 | |
| Southwest Louisiana (Nonmetro) | +7.4% | 640 | |
| Monroe, LA | +7.2% | 1,020 | |
| Northeast Louisiana (Nonmetro) | +1.7% | 550 | |
| Central Louisiana (Nonmetro) | this area | 600 | |
| Lafayette, LA | -0.6% | 2,130 |
the Central Louisiana nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Central Louisiana nonmetro area is #380 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Louisiana, Laredo and Hattiesburg pay just above the Central Louisiana nonmetro area and Florence-Muscle Shoals and Hot Springs just below. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Central Louisiana nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | +25.1% | 600 | jobs | |
| Burlington, NC | +21.2% | 600 | jobs | |
| Dover, DE | +16.3% | 600 | jobs | |
| Hattiesburg, MS | +2.8% | 630 | pay | |
| Laredo, TX | +1.4% | 1,070 | pay | |
| Central Louisiana (Nonmetro) | this area | 600 | ||
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | -0.9% | 580 | pay | |
| Hot Springs, AR | -1.8% | 360 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Central Louisiana (Nonmetro)?
About $50,516 a year at the median, or $4,210 a month: $39,150 in pay plus about $11,366 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in the Central Louisiana nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $39,150 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,270, the 90th $64,990, and the middle half earned $33,300 to $48,310.
Is the Central Louisiana nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Louisiana for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $39,150 against $44,890 statewide. The next area up in Louisiana is the Northeast Louisiana nonmetro area at $39,830, the next down Lafayette at $38,910.
How many bookkeepers work in the Central Louisiana nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 600 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Louisiana total of 18,980. 9 areas in Louisiana have more; the closest in size is the Southwest Louisiana nonmetro area, with about 640.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than a medical administrative assistant in the Central Louisiana nonmetro area?
Yes: $3,860 a year more at the median. The medians are $39,150 and $35,290.
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.