Bookkeeper salary in the East Georgia nonmetro area
The East Georgia nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for bookkeepers: the median of $43,580 a year1 is 11.7% below the Georgia statewide median of $49,350, and 14.0% below the US median of $50,670. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#466 of 521). About 710 bookkeepers work here, 2% of the Georgia total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area East Georgia nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the East Georgia nonmetro area against Georgia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Georgia (Nonmetro) | $29,160 | $43,580 | $63,060 | |
| Georgia (US state) | $32,810 | $49,350 | $71,810 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $63,060, 2.2 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in the East Georgia nonmetro area earns $36,280–$52,910. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $16,630 wide, against $19,600 across Georgia and $17,950 nationally: employers in the East Georgia nonmetro area 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 | $29,160 | $2,430 | $14.02 | $37,626 |
| 25th percentile | $36,280 | $3,023 | $17.44 | $46,813 |
| Median | $43,580 | $3,632 | $20.95 | $56,232 |
| 75th percentile | $52,910 | $4,409 | $25.44 | $68,271 |
| 90th percentile | $63,060 | $5,255 | $30.32 | $81,368 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,300 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $9,330, or about $12,039 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 the East Georgia nonmetro area, and the Georgia statewide median of $49,350 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the East Georgia nonmetro area
At the $43,580 median, a local hire costs about $56,232 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $12,652 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 the East Georgia nonmetro area
Of the 16 roles we track in the East Georgia nonmetro area, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between sales development representatives ($48,120) and HR assistants ($40,160). Project Coordinator is the highest at $83,200.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +11.9% | 140 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +10.4% | 260 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 710 | |
| HR Assistant | -7.8% | 60 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -14.6% | 670 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #4 of the 16 roles we track in the East Georgia nonmetro area (-14.0%), between accountants (-13.0%) and office managers (-16.1%). The typical role here is at -19.0%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in the East Georgia nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 11.3% of the jobs in these 16 roles in the East Georgia nonmetro area, 7.6% across Georgia and 8.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
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 10 areas in Georgia with more bookkeepers than the East Georgia nonmetro area, 1 pays less: Columbus, GA-AL ($42,800).
| Area | Median | vs the East Georgia nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Georgia (Nonmetro) | +3.7% | 1,460 | |
| Valdosta, GA | +2.2% | 450 | |
| Middle Georgia (Nonmetro) | +1.6% | 1,060 | |
| South Georgia (Nonmetro) | +1.4% | 1,560 | |
| East Georgia (Nonmetro) | this area | 710 | |
| Albany, GA | -0.7% | 420 | |
| Columbus, GA-AL | -1.8% | 920 |
the East Georgia nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the East Georgia nonmetro area is #350 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, Sierra Vista-Douglas and Daphne-Fairhope pay just above the East Georgia nonmetro area and Tuscaloosa and Charleston just below. All four are within $230 a year of the median in the East Georgia nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the East Georgia nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA | +18.4% | 720 | jobs | |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | +12.0% | 710 | jobs | |
| Bloomington, IN | +7.4% | 710 | jobs | |
| Daphne-Fairhope, AL | +0.2% | 1,000 | pay | |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | +0.1% | 210 | pay | |
| East Georgia (Nonmetro) | this area | 710 | ||
| Tuscaloosa, AL | -0.4% | 900 | pay | |
| Charleston, WV | -0.5% | 1,050 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in East Georgia (Nonmetro)?
About $56,232 a year at the median, or $4,686 a month: $43,580 in pay plus about $12,652 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in the East Georgia nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $43,580 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,160, the 90th $63,060, and the middle half earned $36,280 to $52,910.
Is the East Georgia nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Georgia for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $43,580 against $49,350 statewide. The next area up in Georgia is the South Georgia nonmetro area at $44,210, the next down Albany at $43,270.
How many bookkeepers work in the East Georgia nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 710 in the May 2025 survey. That is 2% of the Georgia total of 38,700. 10 areas in Georgia have more; the closest in size is Macon-Bibb County, with about 720.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in the East Georgia nonmetro area?
Yes: $3,420 a year more at the median. The medians are $43,580 and $40,160.
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.