Bookkeeper salary in Lafayette, LA
Of the 13 areas in Louisiana with BLS pay data for this job, Lafayette has the lowest median: $38,910 a year1. That is 13.3% below the Louisiana statewide median of $44,890, and 23.2% below the US median of $50,670. Only 3 of 521 US areas pay less for this job. BLS counts about 2,130 people in this job here, 11% of the Louisiana total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Lafayette, LA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Lafayette against Louisiana and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, LA | $27,440 | $38,910 | $60,160 | |
| Louisiana | $28,760 | $44,890 | $65,220 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Lafayette earns $29,980–$47,520. The top tenth earns $60,160 or more, 2.2 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 $17,540 wide, against $18,180 across Louisiana and $17,950 nationally: employers in Lafayette 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 | $27,440 | $2,287 | $13.19 | $35,406 |
| 25th percentile | $29,980 | $2,498 | $14.41 | $38,684 |
| Median | $38,910 | $3,242 | $18.71 | $50,206 |
| 75th percentile | $47,520 | $3,960 | $22.85 | $61,316 |
| 90th percentile | $60,160 | $5,013 | $28.92 | $77,626 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $8,930 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $8,610, or about $11,110 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 75th and 90th percentiles in Lafayette, and the Louisiana statewide median of $44,890 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local bookkeepers earn.
What a hire really costs in Lafayette
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 $11,296 to the $38,910 median and brings it to $50,206 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 Lafayette
Of the 16 roles we track in Lafayette, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between data entry specialists ($40,550) and administrative assistants ($38,060). Project Coordinator is the highest at $80,720.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +15.1% | 50 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +4.2% | 300 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 2,130 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -2.2% | 2,210 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -3.0% | 50 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #13 of the 16 roles we track in Lafayette (-23.2%), between project coordinators (-21.1%) and office managers (-25.7%). The typical role here is at -18.7%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost less in Lafayette than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 14.5% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Lafayette, 11.7% across Louisiana and 8.9% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Louisiana
Across the 13 areas of Louisiana with data for this job, the median runs from $38,910 in Lafayette to $46,980 in New Orleans-Metairie, a gap of $8,070 a year. All 2 areas in Louisiana with more bookkeepers than Lafayette also pay more, among them Baton Rouge, LA ($46,740) and New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($46,980).
| Area | Median | vs Lafayette | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hammond, LA | +12.3% | 380 | |
| Alexandria, LA | +11.2% | 590 | |
| Southwest Louisiana (Nonmetro) | +8.0% | 640 | |
| Monroe, LA | +7.9% | 1,020 | |
| Northeast Louisiana (Nonmetro) | +2.4% | 550 | |
| Central Louisiana (Nonmetro) | +0.6% | 600 | |
| Lafayette, LA | this area | 2,130 |
Lafayette against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Lafayette is #112 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, yet its pay sits in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Louisiana, Laredo and Hattiesburg pay just above Lafayette and Florence-Muscle Shoals and Hot Springs just below. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Lafayette | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | +44.6% | 2,080 | jobs | |
| Lancaster, PA | +23.9% | 2,190 | jobs | |
| Provo-Orem, UT | +22.3% | 2,180 | jobs | |
| Hattiesburg, MS | +3.4% | 630 | pay | |
| Laredo, TX | +2.1% | 1,070 | pay | |
| Lafayette, LA | this area | 2,130 | ||
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | -0.3% | 580 | pay | |
| Hot Springs, AR | -1.2% | 360 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Lafayette, LA?
About $50,206 a year at the median, or $4,184 a month: $38,910 in pay plus about $11,296 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Lafayette?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $38,910 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,440, the 90th $60,160, and the middle half earned $29,980 to $47,520.
Is Lafayette the cheapest area in Louisiana for bookkeepers?
Yes. Its median of $38,910 is the lowest of 13 areas in Louisiana. The Central Louisiana nonmetro area is next at $39,150.
How many bookkeepers work in Lafayette?
BLS counts about 2,130 in the May 2025 survey. That is 11% of the Louisiana total of 18,980. Only Baton Rouge and New Orleans-Metairie have more in Louisiana.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in Lafayette?
Yes: $850 a year more at the median. The medians are $38,910 and $38,060.
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.