Bookkeeper salary in Indianapolis-Carmel, IN
For this job Indianapolis-Carmel sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $48,750 a year1. That is 1.9% above the Indiana statewide median of $47,820, and 3.8% below the US median of $50,670. Among US areas it comes in at #198 of 521. It is the largest market for the job in Indiana: about 10,000 people, 33% of the Indiana total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Indianapolis-Carmel against Indiana and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel, IN | $34,480 | $48,750 | $68,760 | |
| Indiana | $33,010 | $47,820 | $66,960 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $68,760, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Indianapolis-Carmel earns $42,210–$59,650. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $17,440 wide, against $17,800 across Indiana and $17,950 nationally: employers in Indianapolis-Carmel 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 | $34,480 | $2,873 | $16.58 | $44,490 |
| 25th percentile | $42,210 | $3,518 | $20.29 | $54,465 |
| Median | $48,750 | $4,062 | $23.44 | $62,903 |
| 75th percentile | $59,650 | $4,971 | $28.68 | $76,968 |
| 90th percentile | $68,760 | $5,730 | $33.06 | $88,723 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $10,900 over the median, the 25th only $6,540 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $14,065 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 Indianapolis-Carmel, and the Indiana statewide median of $47,820 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Indianapolis-Carmel
At the $48,750 median, a local hire costs about $62,903 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $14,153 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 Indianapolis-Carmel
Of the 17 roles we track in Indianapolis-Carmel, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($55,450) and HR assistants ($48,400). Project Coordinator is the highest at $99,710.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | +26.3% | 2,140 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +13.7% | 1,690 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 10,000 | |
| HR Assistant | -0.7% | 890 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -4.7% | 6,280 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #10 of the 17 roles we track in Indianapolis-Carmel (-3.8%), between e-commerce order specialists (-3.1%) and HR assistants (-4.4%). The typical role here is at -3.1%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 9.5% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Indianapolis-Carmel, 11.2% across Indiana and 8.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Indiana
Across the 15 areas of Indiana with data for this job, the median runs from $44,650 in Muncie to $49,190 in Elkhart-Goshen, a gap of $4,540 a year. No other area in Indiana has as many bookkeepers, and 13 of the other 14 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Indianapolis-Carmel | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | +0.9% | 1,190 | |
| Indianapolis-Carmel, IN | this area | 10,000 | |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | -0.7% | 930 | |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | -1.7% | 1,110 | |
| Fort Wayne, IN | -2.0% | 1,970 | |
| Bloomington, IN | -4.0% | 710 | |
| Northern Indiana (Nonmetro) | -4.2% | 1,970 |
Indianapolis-Carmel against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Indianapolis-Carmel is #26 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Indiana, Pueblo and Champaign-Urbana pay just above Indianapolis-Carmel and Reading and Cedar Rapids just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in Indianapolis-Carmel. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Indianapolis-Carmel | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | +2.5% | 9,950 | jobs | |
| Las Vegas-Henderson, NV | +2.5% | 10,320 | jobs | |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | +0.2% | 710 | pay | |
| Pueblo, CO | +0.1% | 480 | pay | |
| Indianapolis-Carmel, IN | this area | 10,000 | ||
| Reading, PA | -0.1% | 1,260 | pay | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | -0.1% | 1,120 | pay | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | -3.1% | 9,250 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Indianapolis-Carmel, IN?
About $62,903 a year at the median, or $5,242 a month: $48,750 in pay plus about $14,153 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Indianapolis-Carmel?
The median was $48,750 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $34,480, the 90th $68,760, and the middle half earned $42,210 to $59,650.
Is Indianapolis-Carmel cheaper than the rest of Indiana for bookkeepers?
No, it costs more: a median of $48,750 against $47,820 statewide. The next area up in Indiana is Elkhart-Goshen at $49,190, the next down Lafayette-West Lafayette at $48,400.
How many bookkeepers work in Indianapolis-Carmel?
BLS counts about 10,000 in the May 2025 survey. That is 33% of the Indiana total of 29,910. No other area in Indiana has as many.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in Indianapolis-Carmel?
Yes: $350 a year more at the median. The medians are $48,750 and $48,400.
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.