Bookkeeper salary in Lansing-East Lansing, MI
Lansing-East Lansing pays bookkeepers close to the national norm. The median is $50,500 a year1, 3.1% above the Michigan statewide median of $48,980 and about level with the US median of $50,670. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#123 of 521). About 1,940 bookkeepers work here, 5% of the Michigan total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Lansing-East Lansing, MI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Lansing-East Lansing against Michigan and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $36,320 | $50,500 | $68,370 | |
| Michigan | $36,250 | $48,980 | $67,480 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Lansing-East Lansing earns $43,920–$59,470. The top tenth earns $68,370 or more, 1.9 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 $15,550 wide, against $15,790 across Michigan and $17,950 nationally: employers in Lansing-East Lansing 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 | $36,320 | $3,027 | $17.46 | $46,865 |
| 25th percentile | $43,920 | $3,660 | $21.12 | $56,671 |
| Median | $50,500 | $4,208 | $24.28 | $65,161 |
| 75th percentile | $59,470 | $4,956 | $28.59 | $76,735 |
| 90th percentile | $68,370 | $5,698 | $32.87 | $88,219 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $8,970 a year in pay and about $11,574 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $6,580 in pay. 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 Lansing-East Lansing, and the Michigan statewide median of $48,980 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Lansing-East Lansing
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 $14,661 to the $50,500 median and brings it to $65,161 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 Lansing-East Lansing
Of the 17 roles we track in Lansing-East Lansing, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between HR assistants ($50,540) and administrative assistants ($48,670). Project Coordinator is the highest at $97,050.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +19.2% | 400 | |
| HR Assistant | +0.1% | 120 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 1,940 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -3.6% | 2,460 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -10.7% | 60 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in Lansing-East Lansing (-0.3%), between HR assistants (-0.1%) and customer support specialists (-1.2%). The typical role here is at -2.3%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 9.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Lansing-East Lansing, 9.3% across Michigan and 8.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Michigan
Across the 19 areas of Michigan with data for this job, the median runs from $45,230 in the Northern Michigan nonmetro area to $51,480 in Detroit-Warren, a gap of $6,250 a year. Of the 2 areas in Michigan with more bookkeepers than Lansing-East Lansing, 1 pays less: Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI ($48,550).
| Area | Median | vs Lansing-East Lansing | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren, MI | +1.9% | 14,730 | |
| Ann Arbor, MI | +1.2% | 1,510 | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | this area | 1,940 | |
| Jackson, MI | -3.6% | 500 | |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | -3.9% | 5,070 | |
| Monroe, MI | -4.5% | 290 | |
| Niles, MI | -4.8% | 500 |
Lansing-East Lansing against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Lansing-East Lansing is #128 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Michigan, St. Cloud and Fargo pay just above Lansing-East Lansing and North Port-Bradenton and Atlantic City-Hammonton just below. All four are within $70 a year of the median in Lansing-East Lansing. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Lansing-East Lansing | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | +19.1% | 1,900 | jobs | |
| Fargo, ND-MN | +0.1% | 1,520 | pay | |
| St. Cloud, MN | +0.1% | 880 | pay | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | this area | 1,940 | ||
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | -0.1% | 3,610 | pay | |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | -0.1% | 1,290 | pay | |
| Fort Wayne, IN | -5.4% | 1,970 | jobs | |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | -10.1% | 1,900 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Lansing-East Lansing, MI?
About $65,161 a year at the median, or $5,430 a month: $50,500 in pay plus about $14,661 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Lansing-East Lansing?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $50,500 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $36,320, the 90th $68,370, and the middle half earned $43,920 to $59,470.
Is Lansing-East Lansing cheaper than the rest of Michigan for bookkeepers?
No, it costs more: a median of $50,500 against $48,980 statewide. The next area up in Michigan is Ann Arbor at $51,100, the next down Jackson at $48,690.
How many bookkeepers work in Lansing-East Lansing?
BLS counts about 1,940 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Michigan total of 37,550. Only Detroit-Warren and Grand Rapids-Wyoming have more in Michigan.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in Lansing-East Lansing?
Yes: $1,830 a year more at the median. The medians are $50,500 and $48,670.
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.