Bookkeeper salary in Las Cruces, NM
No other area in New Mexico pays bookkeepers less than Las Cruces. The median is $44,460 a year1, 7.5% below the New Mexico statewide median of $48,080 and 12.3% below the US median of $50,670. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#438 of 521). BLS counts about 580 people in this job here, 7% of the New Mexico total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Las Cruces, NM. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Las Cruces against New Mexico and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces, NM | $32,430 | $44,460 | $63,030 | |
| New Mexico | $35,660 | $48,080 | $70,890 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $63,030, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Las Cruces earns $37,950–$50,720. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $12,770 wide, against $18,110 across New Mexico and $17,950 nationally: employers in Las Cruces 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 | $32,430 | $2,702 | $15.59 | $41,845 |
| 25th percentile | $37,950 | $3,162 | $18.25 | $48,968 |
| Median | $44,460 | $3,705 | $21.38 | $57,368 |
| 75th percentile | $50,720 | $4,227 | $24.38 | $65,445 |
| 90th percentile | $63,030 | $5,252 | $30.30 | $81,329 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,510 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $6,260, or about $8,077 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 Las Cruces, and the New Mexico statewide median of $48,080 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Las Cruces
At the $44,460 median, a local hire costs about $57,368 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $12,908 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 Las Cruces
Of the 14 roles we track in Las Cruces, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between recruiters ($57,150) and HR assistants ($43,120). Project Coordinator is the highest at $82,110.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +33.2% | 250 | |
| Recruiter | +28.5% | 290 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 580 | |
| HR Assistant | -3.0% | 50 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -7.7% | 2,360 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #2 of the 14 roles we track in Las Cruces (-12.3%), between paralegals (+2.4%) and virtual receptionists (-12.4%). The typical role here is at -15.4%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in Las Cruces than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 7.2% of the jobs in these 14 roles in Las Cruces, 8.3% across New Mexico and 8.9% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in New Mexico
Across the 6 areas of New Mexico with data for this job, the median runs from $44,460 in Las Cruces to $50,890 in Santa Fe, a gap of $6,430 a year. All 3 areas in New Mexico with more bookkeepers than Las Cruces also pay more, among them Albuquerque, NM ($49,660) and the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area ($46,010).
| Area | Median | vs Las Cruces | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NM | +14.5% | 560 | |
| Albuquerque, NM | +11.7% | 3,440 | |
| Northern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | +5.8% | 740 | |
| Farmington, NM | +3.5% | 560 | |
| Eastern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | +3.5% | 1,540 | |
| Las Cruces, NM | this area | 580 |
Las Cruces against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Las Cruces is #388 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside New Mexico, Mobile and Little Rock-North Little Rock pay just above Las Cruces and Homosassa Springs and Rocky Mount just below. All four are within $140 a year of the median in Las Cruces. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Las Cruces | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logan, UT-ID | +4.0% | 580 | jobs | |
| Decatur, AL | +3.6% | 580 | jobs | |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR | +0.0% | 3,480 | pay | |
| Mobile, AL | +0.0% | 1,600 | pay | |
| Las Cruces, NM | this area | 580 | ||
| Homosassa Springs, FL | -0.2% | 310 | pay | |
| Rocky Mount, NC | -0.3% | 590 | pay | |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | -12.7% | 580 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Las Cruces, NM?
About $57,368 a year at the median, or $4,781 a month: $44,460 in pay plus about $12,908 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Las Cruces?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $44,460 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $32,430, the 90th $63,030, and the middle half earned $37,950 to $50,720.
Is Las Cruces the cheapest area in New Mexico for bookkeepers?
Yes. Its median of $44,460 is the lowest of 6 areas in New Mexico. The Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area is next at $46,010.
How many bookkeepers work in Las Cruces?
BLS counts about 580 in the May 2025 survey. That is 7% of the New Mexico total of 7,780. 3 areas in New Mexico have more; the closest in size is the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area, with about 740.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in Las Cruces?
Yes: $1,340 a year more at the median. The medians are $44,460 and $43,120.
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.