Bookkeeper salary in the East Kentucky nonmetro area
Hiring a bookkeeper costs less in the East Kentucky nonmetro area than in Kentucky or the country as a whole. The median is $43,250 a year1: 7.1% below the Kentucky statewide median of $46,550 and 14.6% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally that is #471 of 521 areas, in the bottom tenth. BLS counts about 1,190 people in this job here, 5% of the Kentucky total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the East Kentucky nonmetro area against Kentucky and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Kentucky (Nonmetro) | $27,430 | $43,250 | $62,590 | |
| Kentucky | $30,090 | $46,550 | $66,930 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Pay is more spread out here than nationally: the top tenth earns $62,590 or more, 2.3 times the bottom tenth, against 2.1 times across the US. Two offers for the same title can sit far apart. The middle half of bookkeepers in the East Kentucky nonmetro area earns $35,320–$51,060. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $15,740 wide, against $19,160 across Kentucky and $17,950 nationally: employers in the East Kentucky 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 | $27,430 | $2,286 | $13.19 | $35,394 |
| 25th percentile | $35,320 | $2,943 | $16.98 | $45,574 |
| Median | $43,250 | $3,604 | $20.79 | $55,806 |
| 75th percentile | $51,060 | $4,255 | $24.55 | $65,884 |
| 90th percentile | $62,590 | $5,216 | $30.09 | $80,761 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,930 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $7,810, or about $10,077 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 Kentucky nonmetro area, and the Kentucky statewide median of $46,550 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the East Kentucky nonmetro area
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 $12,556 to the $43,250 median and brings it to $55,806 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 the East Kentucky nonmetro area
Of the 16 roles we track in the East Kentucky nonmetro area, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between sales development representatives ($47,750) and HR assistants ($42,310). Project Coordinator is the highest at $78,100.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | +12.0% | 120 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +10.4% | 240 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 1,190 | |
| HR Assistant | -2.2% | 30 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -4.9% | 70 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #2 of the 16 roles we track in the East Kentucky nonmetro area (-14.6%), between data entry specialists (-10.9%) and HR assistants (-16.4%). The typical role here is at -22.7%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in the East Kentucky nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 13.6% of the jobs in these 16 roles in the East Kentucky nonmetro area, 11.8% across Kentucky and 8.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Kentucky
Across the 10 areas of Kentucky with data for this job, the median runs from $41,360 in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area to $48,000 in Lexington-Fayette, a gap of $6,640 a year. Of the 5 areas in Kentucky with more bookkeepers than the East Kentucky nonmetro area, 1 pays less: the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area ($41,360).
| Area | Median | vs the East Kentucky nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah, KY-IL | +7.1% | 610 | |
| Bowling Green, KY | +2.1% | 900 | |
| West Kentucky (Nonmetro) | +1.9% | 1,690 | |
| Elizabethtown, KY | +1.3% | 560 | |
| Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | +1.1% | 1,960 | |
| East Kentucky (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,190 | |
| South Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | -4.4% | 2,080 |
the East Kentucky nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the East Kentucky nonmetro area is #225 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 Kentucky, Alexandria and Albany pay just above the East Kentucky nonmetro area and Jacksonville and Eagle Pass just below. All four are within $350 a year of the median in the East Kentucky nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the East Kentucky nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | +13.7% | 1,190 | jobs | |
| Waco, TX | +7.0% | 1,200 | jobs | |
| Slidell-Mandeville, LA | +2.9% | 1,180 | jobs | |
| Albany, GA | +0.0% | 420 | pay | |
| Alexandria, LA | +0.0% | 590 | pay | |
| East Kentucky (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,190 | ||
| Jacksonville, NC | -0.8% | 500 | pay | |
| Eagle Pass, TX | -0.8% | 190 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in East Kentucky (Nonmetro)?
About $55,806 a year at the median, or $4,651 a month: $43,250 in pay plus about $12,556 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in the East Kentucky nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $43,250 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,430, the 90th $62,590, and the middle half earned $35,320 to $51,060.
Is the East Kentucky nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Kentucky for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $43,250 against $46,550 statewide. The next area up in Kentucky is the Central Kentucky nonmetro area at $43,740, the next down the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area at $41,360.
How many bookkeepers work in the East Kentucky nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 1,190 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Kentucky total of 23,480. 5 areas in Kentucky have more; the closest in size is the West Kentucky nonmetro area, with about 1,690.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in the East Kentucky nonmetro area?
Yes: $940 a year more at the median. The medians are $43,250 and $42,310.
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.