Bookkeeper salary in Columbia, MO
Columbia pays bookkeepers more than Missouri as a whole but less than the country. The median is $48,920 a year1: 1.9% above the Missouri statewide median of $47,990 and 3.5% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally it ranks #188 of 521 areas. About 880 bookkeepers work here, 4% of the Missouri total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Columbia, MO. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Columbia against Missouri and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, MO | $35,490 | $48,920 | $72,540 | |
| Missouri | $34,570 | $47,990 | $68,180 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Columbia earns $43,180–$58,010. The top tenth earns $72,540 or more, 2.0 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.1 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $14,830 wide, against $17,920 across Missouri and $17,950 nationally: employers in Columbia 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 | $35,490 | $2,958 | $17.06 | $45,794 |
| 25th percentile | $43,180 | $3,598 | $20.76 | $55,716 |
| Median | $48,920 | $4,077 | $23.52 | $63,123 |
| 75th percentile | $58,010 | $4,834 | $27.89 | $74,852 |
| 90th percentile | $72,540 | $6,045 | $34.88 | $93,600 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $9,090 over the median, the 25th only $5,740 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $11,729 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 Columbia, and the Missouri statewide median of $47,990 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Columbia
At the $48,920 median, a local hire costs about $63,123 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $14,203 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 Columbia
Of the 16 roles we track in Columbia, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between HR assistants ($49,070) and payroll specialists ($47,620). Project Coordinator is the highest at $80,870.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +1.0% | 230 | |
| HR Assistant | +0.3% | 50 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 880 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -2.7% | 100 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -5.7% | 400 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #2 of the 16 roles we track in Columbia (-3.5%), between HR assistants (-3.0%) and customer support specialists (-8.0%). The typical role here is at -16.5%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in Columbia than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 8.6% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Columbia, 7.7% across Missouri and 8.7% 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 4 areas in Missouri with more bookkeepers than Columbia, 2 pay less: Springfield, MO ($45,330) and the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area ($41,790).
| Area | Median | vs Columbia | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | +4.1% | 8,780 | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | +2.1% | 9,950 | |
| Columbia, MO | this area | 880 | |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | -4.5% | 310 | |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | -6.4% | 310 | |
| Springfield, MO | -7.3% | 1,440 | |
| Jefferson City, MO | -7.6% | 590 |
Columbia against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Columbia is #306 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Missouri, Odessa and La Crosse-Onalaska pay just above Columbia and Wausau and Asheville just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in Columbia. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Columbia | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Cloud, MN | +3.4% | 880 | jobs | |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | +0.8% | 890 | jobs | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | +0.1% | 720 | pay | |
| Odessa, TX | +0.0% | 880 | pay | |
| Columbia, MO | this area | 880 | ||
| Wausau, WI | -0.1% | 600 | pay | |
| Asheville, NC | -0.1% | 2,200 | pay | |
| Lynchburg, VA | -3.8% | 890 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Columbia, MO?
About $63,123 a year at the median, or $5,260 a month: $48,920 in pay plus about $14,203 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Columbia?
The median was $48,920 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,490, the 90th $72,540, and the middle half earned $43,180 to $58,010.
Is Columbia cheaper than the rest of Missouri for bookkeepers?
No, it costs more: a median of $48,920 against $47,990 statewide. The next area up in Missouri is St. Louis at $49,970, the next down St. Joseph at $46,730.
How many bookkeepers work in Columbia?
BLS counts about 880 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the Missouri total of 21,400. 4 areas in Missouri have more; the closest in size is the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area, with about 1,320.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than a payroll specialist in Columbia?
Yes: $1,300 a year more at the median. The medians are $48,920 and $47,620.
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.