Bookkeeper salary in Elmira, NY
Elmira is a lower-cost market for bookkeepers: the median of $48,330 a year1 is 16.9% below the New York statewide median of $58,160, and 4.6% below the US median of $50,670. Among US areas it comes in at #218 of 521. About 350 bookkeepers work here.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Elmira, NY. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Elmira against New York and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elmira, NY | $37,400 | $48,330 | $70,720 | |
| New York | $39,880 | $58,160 | $81,990 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $70,720, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Elmira earns $40,230–$59,190. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $18,960 wide, between the figure for New York ($21,930) and the US figure ($17,950).
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,400 | $3,117 | $17.98 | $48,258 |
| 25th percentile | $40,230 | $3,352 | $19.34 | $51,910 |
| Median | $48,330 | $4,028 | $23.24 | $62,361 |
| 75th percentile | $59,190 | $4,932 | $28.46 | $76,374 |
| 90th percentile | $70,720 | $5,893 | $34.00 | $91,252 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $10,860 a year in pay and about $14,013 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $8,100 in pay. 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 Elmira, and the New York statewide median of $58,160 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Elmira
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 $14,031 to the $48,330 median and brings it to $62,361 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 Elmira
Of the 14 roles we track in Elmira, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between HR assistants ($48,900) and administrative assistants ($44,450). Project Coordinator is the highest at $96,250.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +16.3% | 50 | |
| HR Assistant | +1.2% | 50 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 350 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -8.0% | 530 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -15.2% | 220 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #4 of the 14 roles we track in Elmira (-4.6%), between HR assistants (-3.4%) and accountants (-4.9%). The typical role here is at -6.2%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 11.5% of the jobs in these 14 roles in Elmira, 7.8% across New York and 8.9% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in New York
Across the 16 areas of New York with data for this job, the median runs from $47,100 in Watertown-Fort Drum to $60,640 in New York-Newark, a gap of $13,540 a year. Of the 15 areas in New York with more bookkeepers than Elmira, 1 pays less: Watertown-Fort Drum, NY ($47,100).
| Area | Median | vs Elmira | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central East New York (Nonmetro) | +2.1% | 1,810 | |
| Glens Falls, NY | +2.0% | 500 | |
| Southwest New York (Nonmetro) | +2.0% | 2,060 | |
| Utica-Rome, NY | +2.0% | 1,770 | |
| Binghamton, NY | +1.0% | 950 | |
| Elmira, NY | this area | 350 | |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | -2.5% | 390 |
Elmira against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Elmira is #494 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside New York, Topeka and Winston-Salem pay just above Elmira and Prescott Valley-Prescott and Lawrence just below. All four are within $40 a year of the median in Elmira. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Elmira | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem, NC | +0.1% | 2,880 | pay | |
| Topeka, KS | +0.0% | 1,260 | pay | |
| Elmira, NY | this area | 350 | ||
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | -0.0% | 540 | pay | |
| Lawrence, KS | -0.1% | 630 | pay | |
| Columbus, IN | -3.5% | 360 | jobs | |
| Goldsboro, NC | -5.4% | 350 | jobs | |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | -6.4% | 360 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Elmira, NY?
About $62,361 a year at the median, or $5,197 a month: $48,330 in pay plus about $14,031 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Elmira?
The median was $48,330 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,400, the 90th $70,720, and the middle half earned $40,230 to $59,190.
Is Elmira cheaper than the rest of New York for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $48,330 against $58,160 statewide. The next area up in New York is Binghamton at $48,830, the next down Watertown-Fort Drum at $47,100.
How many bookkeepers work in Elmira?
BLS counts about 350 in the May 2025 survey. 15 areas in New York have more; the closest in size is Watertown-Fort Drum, with about 390.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in Elmira?
Yes: $3,880 a year more at the median. The medians are $48,330 and $44,450.
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.