Bookkeeper salary in Detroit-Warren, MI
Detroit-Warren is the most expensive place in Michigan to hire a bookkeeper. The median is $51,480 a year1, 5.1% above the Michigan statewide median of $48,980 and 1.6% above the US median of $50,670. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#91 of 521). It is the largest market for the job in Michigan: about 14,730 people, 39% of the Michigan total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Detroit-Warren against Michigan and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren, MI | $38,160 | $51,480 | $71,570 | |
| Michigan | $36,250 | $48,980 | $67,480 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $71,570, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Detroit-Warren earns $44,720–$60,340. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $15,620 wide, against $15,790 across Michigan and $17,950 nationally: employers in Detroit-Warren 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 | $38,160 | $3,180 | $18.35 | $49,239 |
| 25th percentile | $44,720 | $3,727 | $21.50 | $57,703 |
| Median | $51,480 | $4,290 | $24.75 | $66,426 |
| 75th percentile | $60,340 | $5,028 | $29.01 | $77,858 |
| 90th percentile | $71,570 | $5,964 | $34.41 | $92,348 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,760 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $8,860, or about $11,432 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 25th percentile and the median in Detroit-Warren, and the Michigan statewide median of $48,980 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Detroit-Warren
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 $14,946 to the $51,480 median and brings it to $66,426 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 Detroit-Warren
Of the 17 roles we track in Detroit-Warren, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($59,610) and HR assistants ($48,310). Project Coordinator is the highest at $105,350.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +23.2% | 4,550 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +15.8% | 1,450 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 14,730 | |
| HR Assistant | -6.2% | 870 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -8.1% | 16,970 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #4 of the 17 roles we track in Detroit-Warren (+1.6%), between payroll specialists (+2.3%) and paralegals (+0.8%). The typical role here is at -0.4%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 8.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Detroit-Warren, 9.3% across Michigan and 8.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Michigan
Across the 19 areas of Michigan with data for this job, the median runs from $45,230 in the Northern Michigan nonmetro area to $51,480 in Detroit-Warren, a gap of $6,250 a year. No other area in Michigan has as many bookkeepers, and all 18 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Detroit-Warren | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren, MI | this area | 14,730 | |
| Ann Arbor, MI | -0.7% | 1,510 | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | -1.9% | 1,940 | |
| Jackson, MI | -5.4% | 500 | |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | -5.7% | 5,070 | |
| Monroe, MI | -6.4% | 290 | |
| Niles, MI | -6.6% | 500 |
Detroit-Warren against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Detroit-Warren is #15 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 Michigan, Ithaca and Buffalo-Cheektowaga pay just above Detroit-Warren and Lexington Park and Chicago-Naperville just below. All four are within $130 a year of the median in Detroit-Warren. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Detroit-Warren | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora, CO | +11.7% | 14,100 | jobs | |
| Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | +1.0% | 16,280 | jobs | |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | +0.3% | 5,890 | pay | |
| Ithaca, NY | +0.3% | 490 | pay | |
| Detroit-Warren, MI | this area | 14,730 | ||
| Lexington Park, MD | +0.0% | 360 | pay | |
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN | -0.1% | 35,660 | pay | |
| Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN | -1.3% | 13,790 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Detroit-Warren, MI?
About $66,426 a year at the median, or $5,535 a month: $51,480 in pay plus about $14,946 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Detroit-Warren?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $51,480 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $38,160, the 90th $71,570, and the middle half earned $44,720 to $60,340.
Is Detroit-Warren the most expensive area in Michigan for bookkeepers?
Yes. Its median of $51,480 is the highest of 19 areas in Michigan. Ann Arbor comes next at $51,100.
How many bookkeepers work in Detroit-Warren?
BLS counts about 14,730 in the May 2025 survey. That is 39% of the Michigan total of 37,550. No other area in Michigan has as many.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in Detroit-Warren?
Yes: $3,170 a year more at the median. The medians are $51,480 and $48,310.
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.