Bookkeeper salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Des Moines-West Des Moines is the most expensive place in Iowa to hire a bookkeeper. The median is $50,610 a year1, 5.0% above the Iowa statewide median of $48,180 and about level with the US median of $50,670. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#119 of 521). With about 3,670 bookkeepers, 26% of the Iowa total, no area in Iowa employs more.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines against Iowa and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $36,410 | $50,610 | $68,500 | |
| Iowa | $33,240 | $48,180 | $66,490 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $68,500, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Des Moines-West Des Moines earns $45,160–$59,470. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $14,310 wide, against $16,400 across Iowa and $17,950 nationally: employers in Des Moines-West Des Moines 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 | $36,410 | $3,034 | $17.50 | $46,981 |
| 25th percentile | $45,160 | $3,763 | $21.71 | $58,271 |
| Median | $50,610 | $4,218 | $24.33 | $65,303 |
| 75th percentile | $59,470 | $4,956 | $28.59 | $76,735 |
| 90th percentile | $68,500 | $5,708 | $32.93 | $88,387 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $8,860 over the median, the 25th only $5,450 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $11,432 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, and the Iowa statewide median of $48,180 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Des Moines-West Des Moines
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 $14,693 to the $50,610 median and brings it to $65,303 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines
Of the 17 roles we track in Des Moines-West Des Moines, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between HR assistants ($50,800) and customer support specialists ($48,880). Project Coordinator is the highest at $101,150.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +15.8% | 300 | |
| HR Assistant | +0.4% | 310 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 3,670 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -3.4% | 12,070 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -6.1% | 3,110 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #7 of the 17 roles we track in Des Moines-West Des Moines (-0.1%), between administrative assistants (-0.1%) and virtual receptionists (-0.3%). The typical role here is at -1.1%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 8.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Des Moines-West Des Moines, 10.3% across Iowa and 8.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Iowa
Across the 12 areas of Iowa with data for this job, the median runs from $46,600 in the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area to $50,610 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, a gap of $4,010 a year. No other area in Iowa has as many bookkeepers, and all 11 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Des Moines-West Des Moines | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | this area | 3,670 | |
| Iowa City, IA | -2.7% | 660 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | -3.8% | 1,120 | |
| Ames, IA | -5.2% | 470 | |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | -5.5% | 1,360 | |
| Dubuque, IA | -5.9% | 520 | |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | -6.1% | 580 |
Des Moines-West Des Moines against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Des Moines-West Des Moines is #64 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Iowa, Duluth and Greeley pay just above Des Moines-West Des Moines and Fargo and St. Cloud just below. All four are within $70 a year of the median in Des Moines-West Des Moines. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Des Moines-West Des Moines | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford, CT | +21.3% | 3,710 | jobs | |
| Greeley, CO | +0.1% | 1,020 | pay | |
| Duluth, MN-WI | +0.1% | 1,080 | pay | |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | this area | 3,670 | ||
| Fargo, ND-MN | -0.1% | 1,520 | pay | |
| St. Cloud, MN | -0.1% | 880 | pay | |
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | -0.3% | 3,610 | jobs | |
| Honolulu, HI | -5.1% | 3,590 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About $65,303 a year at the median, or $5,442 a month: $50,610 in pay plus about $14,693 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $50,610 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $36,410, the 90th $68,500, and the middle half earned $45,160 to $59,470.
Is Des Moines-West Des Moines the most expensive area in Iowa for bookkeepers?
Yes. Its median of $50,610 is the highest of 12 areas in Iowa. Iowa City comes next at $49,220.
How many bookkeepers work in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
BLS counts about 3,670 in the May 2025 survey. That is 26% of the Iowa total of 14,020. No other area in Iowa has as many.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than a customer support specialist in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Yes: $1,730 a year more at the median. The medians are $50,610 and $48,880.
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.