Bookkeeper salary in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area
For this job the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $49,270 a year1. That is 1.1% above the Hawaii statewide median of $48,730, and 2.8% below the US median of $50,670. Among US areas it comes in at #170 of 521. About 940 bookkeepers work here, 18% of the Hawaii total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area against Hawaii and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii-Kauai (Nonmetro) | $37,470 | $49,270 | $64,880 | |
| Hawaii | $35,760 | $48,730 | $65,090 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area earns $43,320–$58,190. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $64,880, 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 only $14,870 wide, against $16,450 across Hawaii and $17,950 nationally: employers in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area 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 | $37,470 | $3,122 | $18.01 | $48,348 |
| 25th percentile | $43,320 | $3,610 | $20.83 | $55,897 |
| Median | $49,270 | $4,106 | $23.69 | $63,574 |
| 75th percentile | $58,190 | $4,849 | $27.98 | $75,084 |
| 90th percentile | $64,880 | $5,407 | $31.19 | $83,716 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $5,950 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $8,920, or about $11,510 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 the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area, and the Hawaii statewide median of $48,730 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area
At the $49,270 median, a local hire costs about $63,574 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $14,304 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 the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area
Of the 15 roles we track in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between administrative assistants ($51,560) and customer support specialists ($48,120). Project Coordinator is the highest at $75,440.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office Manager | +25.4% | 1,550 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +4.6% | 1,050 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 940 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -2.3% | 1,010 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -3.3% | 270 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #8 of the 15 roles we track in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area (-2.8%), between executive assistants (-2.1%) and HR assistants (-6.9%). The typical role here is at -2.8%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 12.0% of the jobs in these 15 roles in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area, 9.7% across Hawaii and 8.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Hawaii
Across the 3 areas of Hawaii with data for this job, the median runs from $48,030 in Honolulu to $54,900 in Kahului-Wailuku, a gap of $6,870 a year. The one area in Hawaii with more bookkeepers, Honolulu, HI ($48,030), pays less: a bigger pool at a lower median.
| Area | Median | vs the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | +11.4% | 660 | |
| Hawaii-Kauai (Nonmetro) | this area | 940 | |
| Honolulu, HI | -2.5% | 3,590 |
the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area is #289 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Hawaii, Medford and Grants Pass pay just above the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area and Omaha and Iowa City just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima, WA | +8.7% | 940 | jobs | |
| Bozeman, MT | +1.1% | 940 | jobs | |
| Grants Pass, OR | +0.0% | 370 | pay | |
| Medford, OR | +0.0% | 1,340 | pay | |
| Hawaii-Kauai (Nonmetro) | this area | 940 | ||
| Omaha, NE-IA | -0.1% | 4,110 | pay | |
| Iowa City, IA | -0.1% | 660 | pay | |
| Tyler, TX | -7.0% | 940 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Hawaii-Kauai (Nonmetro)?
About $63,574 a year at the median, or $5,298 a month: $49,270 in pay plus about $14,304 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area?
The median was $49,270 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,470, the 90th $64,880, and the middle half earned $43,320 to $58,190.
Is the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Hawaii for bookkeepers?
No, it costs more: a median of $49,270 against $48,730 statewide. The next area up in Hawaii is Kahului-Wailuku at $54,900, the next down Honolulu at $48,030.
How many bookkeepers work in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 940 in the May 2025 survey. That is 18% of the Hawaii total of 5,220. Only Honolulu has more in Hawaii.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than a customer support specialist in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area?
Yes: $1,150 a year more at the median. The medians are $49,270 and $48,120.
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.