Bookkeeper salary in Elkhart-Goshen, IN
Bookkeepers earn more in Elkhart-Goshen than anywhere else in Indiana. Expect a median of $49,190 a year1, 2.9% above the Indiana statewide median of $47,820 and 2.9% below the US median of $50,670. Among US areas it comes in at #174 of 521. BLS counts about 1,190 people in this job here, 4% of the Indiana total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Elkhart-Goshen, IN. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Elkhart-Goshen against Indiana and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $34,910 | $49,190 | $66,300 | |
| Indiana | $33,010 | $47,820 | $66,960 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Elkhart-Goshen earns $43,760–$59,070. The top tenth earns $66,300 or more, 1.9 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 $15,310 wide, against $17,800 across Indiana and $17,950 nationally: employers in Elkhart-Goshen 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 | $34,910 | $2,909 | $16.78 | $45,045 |
| 25th percentile | $43,760 | $3,647 | $21.04 | $56,465 |
| Median | $49,190 | $4,099 | $23.65 | $63,471 |
| 75th percentile | $59,070 | $4,922 | $28.40 | $76,219 |
| 90th percentile | $66,300 | $5,525 | $31.88 | $85,548 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $9,880 over the median, the 25th only $5,430 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $12,748 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 Elkhart-Goshen, and the Indiana statewide median of $47,820 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Elkhart-Goshen
At the $49,190 median, a local hire costs about $63,471 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $14,281 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 Elkhart-Goshen
Of the 17 roles we track in Elkhart-Goshen, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($56,430) and HR assistants ($49,140). Project Coordinator is the highest at $86,640.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | +22.8% | 100 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +14.7% | 110 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 1,190 | |
| HR Assistant | -0.1% | 50 | |
| Paralegal | -1.6% | 140 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #7 of the 17 roles we track in Elkhart-Goshen (-2.9%), between HR assistants (-2.9%) and payroll specialists (-3.1%). The typical role here is at -7.5%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in Elkhart-Goshen than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 13.6% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Elkhart-Goshen, 11.2% across Indiana and 8.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Indiana
Across the 15 areas of Indiana with data for this job, the median runs from $44,650 in Muncie to $49,190 in Elkhart-Goshen, a gap of $4,540 a year. All 6 areas in Indiana with more bookkeepers than Elkhart-Goshen pay less, among them Indianapolis-Carmel, IN ($48,750) and Fort Wayne, IN ($47,770).
| Area | Median | vs Elkhart-Goshen | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | this area | 1,190 | |
| Indianapolis-Carmel, IN | -0.9% | 10,000 | |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | -1.6% | 930 | |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | -2.5% | 1,110 | |
| Fort Wayne, IN | -2.9% | 1,970 | |
| Bloomington, IN | -4.9% | 710 | |
| Northern Indiana (Nonmetro) | -5.1% | 1,970 |
Elkhart-Goshen against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Elkhart-Goshen is #224 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Indiana, Iowa City and Omaha pay just above Elkhart-Goshen and Akron and Green Bay just below. All four are within $40 a year of the median in Elkhart-Goshen. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Elkhart-Goshen | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | +0.1% | 4,110 | pay | |
| Iowa City, IA | +0.1% | 660 | pay | |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | this area | 1,190 | ||
| Akron, OH | -0.0% | 2,730 | pay | |
| Green Bay, WI | -0.1% | 1,570 | pay | |
| Waco, TX | -5.9% | 1,200 | jobs | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | -7.2% | 1,170 | jobs | |
| Slidell-Mandeville, LA | -9.5% | 1,180 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Elkhart-Goshen, IN?
About $63,471 a year at the median, or $5,289 a month: $49,190 in pay plus about $14,281 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Elkhart-Goshen?
The median was $49,190 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $34,910, the 90th $66,300, and the middle half earned $43,760 to $59,070.
Is Elkhart-Goshen the most expensive area in Indiana for bookkeepers?
Yes. Its median of $49,190 is the highest of 15 areas in Indiana. Indianapolis-Carmel comes next at $48,750.
How many bookkeepers work in Elkhart-Goshen?
BLS counts about 1,190 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the Indiana total of 29,910. 6 areas in Indiana have more; the closest in size is Evansville, with about 1,320.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in Elkhart-Goshen?
Yes: $50 a year more at the median. The medians are $49,190 and $49,140.
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.