Bookkeeper salary in Fargo, ND-MN
Fargo is the most expensive place in North Dakota to hire a bookkeeper. The median is $50,570 a year1, 1.7% above the North Dakota statewide median of $49,710 and about level with the US median of $50,670. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#120 of 521). It is the largest market for the job in North Dakota: about 1,520 people.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Fargo, ND-MN. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Fargo against North Dakota and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | $39,870 | $50,570 | $66,090 | |
| North Dakota | $37,340 | $49,710 | $66,040 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Fargo earns $45,700–$60,380. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $66,090, only 1.7 times the bottom tenth, against 2.1 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $14,680 wide, between the figure for North Dakota ($14,240) 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 | $39,870 | $3,322 | $19.17 | $51,445 |
| 25th percentile | $45,700 | $3,808 | $21.97 | $58,968 |
| Median | $50,570 | $4,214 | $24.31 | $65,252 |
| 75th percentile | $60,380 | $5,032 | $29.03 | $77,910 |
| 90th percentile | $66,090 | $5,508 | $31.77 | $85,277 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $9,810 over the median, the 25th only $4,870 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $12,658 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 Fargo, and the North Dakota statewide median of $49,710 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Fargo
At the $50,570 median, a local hire costs about $65,252 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $14,682 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 Fargo
Of the 15 roles we track in Fargo, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between paralegals ($57,550) and HR assistants ($49,680). Project Coordinator is the highest at $97,430.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +18.2% | 130 | |
| Paralegal | +13.8% | 310 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 1,520 | |
| HR Assistant | -1.8% | 60 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -6.9% | 1,730 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #4 of the 15 roles we track in Fargo (-0.2%), between recruiters (+0.8%) and medical administrative assistants (-0.8%). The typical role here is at -2.5%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 11.3% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Fargo, 12.7% across North Dakota and 8.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in North Dakota
Across the 6 areas of North Dakota with data for this job, the median runs from $48,870 in the East North Dakota nonmetro area to $50,570 in Fargo, a gap of $1,700 a year. No other area in North Dakota has as many bookkeepers, and all 5 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Fargo | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | this area | 1,520 | |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | -0.6% | 510 | |
| West North Dakota (Nonmetro) | -1.1% | 740 | |
| Minot, ND | -1.8% | 330 | |
| Bismarck, ND | -2.5% | 690 | |
| East North Dakota (Nonmetro) | -3.4% | 700 |
Fargo against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Fargo is #166 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside North Dakota, Des Moines-West Des Moines and Duluth pay just above Fargo and St. Cloud and Lansing-East Lansing just below. All four are within $90 a year of the median in Fargo. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Fargo | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | +1.0% | 1,510 | jobs | |
| Duluth, MN-WI | +0.2% | 1,080 | pay | |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | +0.1% | 3,670 | pay | |
| Fargo, ND-MN | this area | 1,520 | ||
| St. Cloud, MN | +0.0% | 880 | pay | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | -0.1% | 1,940 | pay | |
| Lubbock, TX | -9.9% | 1,500 | jobs | |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | -19.9% | 1,500 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Fargo, ND-MN?
About $65,252 a year at the median, or $5,438 a month: $50,570 in pay plus about $14,682 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Fargo?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $50,570 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $39,870, the 90th $66,090, and the middle half earned $45,700 to $60,380.
Is Fargo the most expensive area in North Dakota for bookkeepers?
Yes. Its median of $50,570 is the highest of 6 areas in North Dakota. Grand Forks comes next at $50,260.
How many bookkeepers work in Fargo?
BLS counts about 1,520 in the May 2025 survey. No other area in North Dakota has as many.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in Fargo?
Yes: $890 a year more at the median. The medians are $50,570 and $49,680.
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.