Bookkeeper salary in Dalton, GA
Hiring a bookkeeper costs less in Dalton than in Georgia or the country as a whole. The median is $45,600 a year1: 7.6% below the Georgia statewide median of $49,350 and 10.0% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally it ranks #385 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 530 people in this job here, 1% of the Georgia total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Dalton, GA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Dalton against Georgia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton, GA | $29,640 | $45,600 | $62,530 | |
| Georgia (US state) | $32,810 | $49,350 | $71,810 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Dalton earns $37,670–$53,320. The top tenth earns $62,530 or more, 2.1 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 $15,650 wide, against $19,600 across Georgia and $17,950 nationally: employers in Dalton 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 | $29,640 | $2,470 | $14.25 | $38,245 |
| 25th percentile | $37,670 | $3,139 | $18.11 | $48,606 |
| Median | $45,600 | $3,800 | $21.92 | $58,839 |
| 75th percentile | $53,320 | $4,443 | $25.63 | $68,800 |
| 90th percentile | $62,530 | $5,211 | $30.06 | $80,684 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,930 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $7,720, or about $9,961 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 median and the 75th percentile in Dalton, and the Georgia statewide median of $49,350 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Dalton
At the $45,600 median, a local hire costs about $58,839 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,239 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 Dalton
Of the 17 roles we track in Dalton, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between paralegals ($47,780) and HR assistants ($42,000). Project Coordinator is the highest at $98,590.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +11.4% | 60 | |
| Paralegal | +4.8% | 80 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 530 | |
| HR Assistant | -7.9% | 30 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -12.9% | 1,080 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in Dalton (-10.0%), between virtual receptionists (-9.1%) and office managers (-11.1%). The typical role here is at -12.8%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 9.4% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Dalton, 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. Of the 11 areas in Georgia with more bookkeepers than Dalton, 5 pay less, the largest of them the South Georgia nonmetro area ($44,210), the North Georgia nonmetro area ($45,210) and the Middle Georgia nonmetro area ($44,290).
| Area | Median | vs Dalton | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | +1.9% | 1,640 | |
| Warner Robins, GA | +1.1% | 400 | |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | +0.4% | 720 | |
| Dalton, GA | this area | 530 | |
| Rome, GA | -0.1% | 300 | |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | -0.8% | 360 | |
| North Georgia (Nonmetro) | -0.9% | 1,460 |
Dalton against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Dalton is #413 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Georgia, Abilene and Kingsport-Bristol pay just above Dalton and Manhattan and Lubbock just below. All four are within $70 a year of the median in Dalton. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Dalton | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsfield, MA | +21.3% | 530 | jobs | |
| El Centro, CA | +5.2% | 530 | jobs | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | +0.2% | 1,170 | pay | |
| Abilene, TX | +0.0% | 650 | pay | |
| Dalton, GA | this area | 530 | ||
| Manhattan, KS | -0.1% | 560 | pay | |
| Lubbock, TX | -0.1% | 1,500 | pay | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | -0.9% | 530 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Dalton, GA?
About $58,839 a year at the median, or $4,903 a month: $45,600 in pay plus about $13,239 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Dalton?
The median was $45,600 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,640, the 90th $62,530, and the middle half earned $37,670 to $53,320.
Is Dalton cheaper than the rest of Georgia for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $45,600 against $49,350 statewide. The next area up in Georgia is Macon-Bibb County at $45,760, the next down Rome at $45,570.
How many bookkeepers work in Dalton?
BLS counts about 530 in the May 2025 survey. That is 1% of the Georgia total of 38,700. 11 areas in Georgia have more; the closest in size is the East Georgia nonmetro area, with about 710.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in Dalton?
Yes: $3,600 a year more at the median. The medians are $45,600 and $42,000.
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.