Bookkeeper salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
For this job Fort Smith sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $45,010 a year1. That is 5.1% above the Arkansas statewide median of $42,840, and 11.2% below the US median of $50,670. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#418 of 521). About 960 bookkeepers work here.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Fort Smith, AR-OK. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Fort Smith against Arkansas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $31,740 | $45,010 | $61,930 | |
| Arkansas | $28,130 | $42,840 | $62,230 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $61,930, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Fort Smith earns $37,710–$54,080. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $16,370 wide, between the figure for Arkansas ($15,080) 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 | $31,740 | $2,645 | $15.26 | $40,955 |
| 25th percentile | $37,710 | $3,142 | $18.13 | $48,658 |
| Median | $45,010 | $3,751 | $21.64 | $58,077 |
| 75th percentile | $54,080 | $4,507 | $26.00 | $69,781 |
| 90th percentile | $61,930 | $5,161 | $29.77 | $79,910 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,300 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $9,070, or about $11,703 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 Fort Smith, and the Arkansas statewide median of $42,840 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Fort Smith
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 $13,067 to the $45,010 median and brings it to $58,077 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 Fort Smith
Of the 16 roles we track in Fort Smith, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($45,300) and HR assistants ($40,700). Project Coordinator is the highest at $74,990.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +3.6% | 120 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +0.6% | 100 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 960 | |
| HR Assistant | -9.6% | 50 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -16.4% | 720 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #3 of the 16 roles we track in Fort Smith (-11.2%), between virtual receptionists (-10.5%) and customer support specialists (-16.2%). The typical role here is at -22.1%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in Fort Smith than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 12.5% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Fort Smith, 11.7% across Arkansas and 8.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Arkansas
Across the 9 areas of Arkansas with data for this job, the median runs from $38,450 in Hot Springs to $45,830 in Fayetteville-Springdale, a gap of $7,380 a year. Of the 4 areas in Arkansas with more bookkeepers than Fort Smith, 3 pay less: Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR ($44,470), the North Arkansas nonmetro area ($39,160) and the South Arkansas nonmetro area ($40,560).
| Area | Median | vs Fort Smith | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale, AR | +1.8% | 2,460 | |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | this area | 960 | |
| Jonesboro, AR | -0.8% | 470 | |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR | -1.2% | 3,480 | |
| West Arkansas (Nonmetro) | -8.0% | 650 | |
| South Arkansas (Nonmetro) | -9.9% | 990 | |
| East Arkansas (Nonmetro) | -11.2% | 570 |
Fort Smith against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Fort Smith is #282 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 Arkansas, Longview and Lawton pay just above Fort Smith and Parkersburg-Vienna and Yuma just below. All four are within $100 a year of the median in Fort Smith. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Fort Smith | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | +10.7% | 940 | jobs | |
| Binghamton, NY | +8.5% | 950 | jobs | |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | +1.9% | 950 | jobs | |
| Lawton, OK | +0.2% | 370 | pay | |
| Longview, TX | +0.1% | 1,220 | pay | |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | this area | 960 | ||
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | -0.1% | 400 | pay | |
| Yuma, AZ | -0.1% | 460 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About $58,077 a year at the median, or $4,840 a month: $45,010 in pay plus about $13,067 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Fort Smith?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $45,010 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,740, the 90th $61,930, and the middle half earned $37,710 to $54,080.
Is Fort Smith cheaper than the rest of Arkansas for bookkeepers?
No, it costs more: a median of $45,010 against $42,840 statewide. The next area up in Arkansas is Fayetteville-Springdale at $45,830, the next down Jonesboro at $44,660.
How many bookkeepers work in Fort Smith?
BLS counts about 960 in the May 2025 survey. 4 areas in Arkansas have more; the closest in size is the South Arkansas nonmetro area, with about 990.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in Fort Smith?
Yes: $4,310 a year more at the median. The medians are $45,010 and $40,700.
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.