Bookkeeper salary in Grand Island, NE
Hiring a bookkeeper costs less in Grand Island than in Nebraska or the country as a whole. The median is $46,610 a year1: 1.1% below the Nebraska statewide median of $47,110 and 8.0% below the US median of $50,670. Among US areas it comes in at #320 of 521. BLS counts about 440 people in this job here, 4% of the Nebraska total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Grand Island, NE. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Grand Island against Nebraska and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Island, NE | $31,910 | $46,610 | $62,560 | |
| Nebraska | $33,060 | $47,110 | $62,460 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Grand Island earns $38,600–$52,740. The top tenth earns $62,560 or more, 2.0 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 $14,140 wide, against $15,900 across Nebraska and $17,950 nationally: employers in Grand Island 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 | $31,910 | $2,659 | $15.34 | $41,174 |
| 25th percentile | $38,600 | $3,217 | $18.56 | $49,806 |
| Median | $46,610 | $3,884 | $22.41 | $60,142 |
| 75th percentile | $52,740 | $4,395 | $25.36 | $68,052 |
| 90th percentile | $62,560 | $5,213 | $30.08 | $80,723 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $8,010 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $6,130, or about $7,910 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 Grand Island, and the Nebraska statewide median of $47,110 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Grand Island
At the $46,610 median, a local hire costs about $60,142 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,532 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 Grand Island
Of the 13 roles we track in Grand Island, this one ranks #8 by median pay, between marketing specialists ($51,980) and customer support specialists ($45,070). Project Coordinator is the highest at $77,730.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | +26.6% | 40 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +11.5% | 80 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 440 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -3.3% | 410 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -4.4% | 140 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #6 of the 13 roles we track in Grand Island (-8.0%), between administrative assistants (-6.5%) and office managers (-12.5%). The typical role here is at -12.5%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in Grand Island than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 15.1% of the jobs in these 13 roles in Grand Island, 10.5% across Nebraska and 9.0% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Nebraska
Across the 6 areas of Nebraska with data for this job, the median runs from $42,180 in the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area to $49,230 in Omaha, a gap of $7,050 a year. Of the 5 areas in Nebraska with more bookkeepers than Grand Island, 3 pay less: the South Nebraska nonmetro area ($44,200), the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area ($44,360) and the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area ($42,180).
| Area | Median | vs Grand Island | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | +5.6% | 4,110 | |
| Lincoln, NE | +2.8% | 1,660 | |
| Grand Island, NE | this area | 440 | |
| Northeast Nebraska (Nonmetro) | -4.8% | 1,050 | |
| South Nebraska (Nonmetro) | -5.2% | 1,990 | |
| Northwest Nebraska (Nonmetro) | -9.5% | 500 |
Grand Island against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Grand Island is #460 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Nebraska, Amarillo and Michigan City-La Porte pay just above Grand Island and Lima and Youngstown-Warren just below. All four are within $100 a year of the median in Grand Island. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Grand Island | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | +2.9% | 440 | jobs | |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | +0.1% | 340 | pay | |
| Amarillo, TX | +0.0% | 1,230 | pay | |
| Grand Island, NE | this area | 440 | ||
| Lima, OH | -0.1% | 430 | pay | |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | -0.2% | 1,130 | pay | |
| Great Falls, MT | -1.5% | 440 | jobs | |
| Beckley, WV | -8.7% | 450 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Grand Island, NE?
About $60,142 a year at the median, or $5,012 a month: $46,610 in pay plus about $13,532 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Grand Island?
The median was $46,610 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,910, the 90th $62,560, and the middle half earned $38,600 to $52,740.
Is Grand Island cheaper than the rest of Nebraska for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $46,610 against $47,110 statewide. The next area up in Nebraska is Lincoln at $47,930, the next down the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area at $44,360.
How many bookkeepers work in Grand Island?
BLS counts about 440 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the Nebraska total of 10,050. 5 areas in Nebraska have more; the closest in size is the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area, with about 500.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than a customer support specialist in Grand Island?
Yes: $1,540 a year more at the median. The medians are $46,610 and $45,070.
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.