Bookkeeper salary in Columbus, GA-AL
Of the 18 areas in Georgia with BLS pay data for this job, Columbus has the lowest median: $42,800 a year1. That is 13.3% below the Georgia statewide median of $49,350, and 15.5% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally that is #479 of 521 areas, in the bottom tenth. BLS counts about 920 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Columbus, GA-AL. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Columbus against Georgia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, GA-AL | $28,880 | $42,800 | $60,120 | |
| Georgia (US state) | $32,810 | $49,350 | $71,810 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $60,120, 2.1 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Columbus earns $35,380–$50,060. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $14,680 wide, against $19,600 across Georgia and $17,950 nationally: employers in Columbus 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 | $28,880 | $2,407 | $13.88 | $37,265 |
| 25th percentile | $35,380 | $2,948 | $17.01 | $45,652 |
| Median | $42,800 | $3,567 | $20.58 | $55,226 |
| 75th percentile | $50,060 | $4,172 | $24.07 | $64,594 |
| 90th percentile | $60,120 | $5,010 | $28.90 | $77,574 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,420 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $7,260, or about $9,368 once benefits are added. 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 Columbus, and the Georgia statewide median of $49,350 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 Columbus
At the $42,800 median, a local hire costs about $55,226 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $12,426 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 Columbus
Of the 17 roles we track in Columbus, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between HR assistants ($49,110) and medical administrative assistants ($38,630). Project Coordinator is the highest at $98,470.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +22.1% | 220 | |
| HR Assistant | +14.7% | 140 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 920 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -9.7% | 1,030 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -12.2% | 1,300 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #10 of the 17 roles we track in Columbus (-15.5%), between office managers (-14.7%) and medical administrative assistants (-15.9%). The typical role here is at -14.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 8.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Columbus, 7.6% across Georgia and 8.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Georgia
Across the 18 areas of Georgia with data for this job, the median runs from $42,800 in Columbus to $51,170 in Atlanta-Sandy Springs, a gap of $8,370 a year. All 6 areas in Georgia with more bookkeepers than Columbus also pay more, among them Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA ($51,170) and Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($46,450).
| Area | Median | vs Columbus | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Georgia (Nonmetro) | +5.6% | 1,460 | |
| Valdosta, GA | +4.1% | 450 | |
| Middle Georgia (Nonmetro) | +3.5% | 1,060 | |
| South Georgia (Nonmetro) | +3.3% | 1,560 | |
| East Georgia (Nonmetro) | +1.8% | 710 | |
| Albany, GA | +1.1% | 420 | |
| Columbus, GA-AL | this area | 920 |
Columbus against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Columbus is #293 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 Georgia, Morgantown and Eagle Pass pay just above Columbus and Huntington-Ashland and Altoona just below. All four are within $140 a year of the median in Columbus. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Columbus | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwich-New London, CT | +34.4% | 910 | jobs | |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | +13.1% | 930 | jobs | |
| Erie, PA | +5.8% | 920 | jobs | |
| Eagle Pass, TX | +0.2% | 190 | pay | |
| Morgantown, WV | +0.0% | 630 | pay | |
| Columbus, GA-AL | this area | 920 | ||
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY | -0.2% | 1,550 | pay | |
| Altoona, PA | -0.3% | 470 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Columbus, GA-AL?
About $55,226 a year at the median, or $4,602 a month: $42,800 in pay plus about $12,426 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Columbus?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $42,800 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,880, the 90th $60,120, and the middle half earned $35,380 to $50,060.
Is Columbus the cheapest area in Georgia for bookkeepers?
Yes. Its median of $42,800 is the lowest of 18 areas in Georgia. Albany is next at $43,270.
How many bookkeepers work in Columbus?
BLS counts about 920 in the May 2025 survey. 6 areas in Georgia have more; the closest in size is the Middle Georgia nonmetro area, with about 1,060.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Columbus?
Yes: $4,170 a year more at the median. The medians are $42,800 and $38,630.
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.