Bookkeeper salary in Lincoln, NE
For this job Lincoln sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $47,930 a year1. That is 1.7% above the Nebraska statewide median of $47,110, and 5.4% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally it ranks #241 of 521 areas. About 1,660 bookkeepers work here, 17% of the Nebraska total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Lincoln, NE. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Lincoln against Nebraska and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | $32,240 | $47,930 | $61,440 | |
| Nebraska | $33,060 | $47,110 | $62,460 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $61,440, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Lincoln earns $39,850–$54,850. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $15,000 wide, against $15,900 across Nebraska and $17,950 nationally: employers in Lincoln 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 | $32,240 | $2,687 | $15.50 | $41,600 |
| 25th percentile | $39,850 | $3,321 | $19.16 | $51,419 |
| Median | $47,930 | $3,994 | $23.04 | $61,845 |
| 75th percentile | $54,850 | $4,571 | $26.37 | $70,774 |
| 90th percentile | $61,440 | $5,120 | $29.54 | $79,277 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $8,080 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $6,920, or about $8,929 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 Lincoln, and the Nebraska statewide median of $47,110 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Lincoln
At the $47,930 median, a local hire costs about $61,845 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,915 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 Lincoln
Of the 17 roles we track in Lincoln, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between marketing specialists ($58,750) and administrative assistants ($47,230). Executive Assistant is the highest at $65,410.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +25.8% | 140 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +22.6% | 750 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 1,660 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -1.5% | 2,890 | |
| HR Assistant | -3.4% | 130 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #7 of the 17 roles we track in Lincoln (-5.4%), between virtual receptionists (-2.5%) and customer support specialists (-7.5%). The typical role here is at -8.6%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in Lincoln than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 8.9% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Lincoln, 10.1% across Nebraska and 8.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Nebraska
Across the 6 areas of Nebraska with data for this job, the median runs from $42,180 in the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area to $49,230 in Omaha, a gap of $7,050 a year. Of the 2 areas in Nebraska with more bookkeepers than Lincoln, 1 pays less: the South Nebraska nonmetro area ($44,200).
| Area | Median | vs Lincoln | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | +2.7% | 4,110 | |
| Lincoln, NE | this area | 1,660 | |
| Grand Island, NE | -2.8% | 440 | |
| Northeast Nebraska (Nonmetro) | -7.4% | 1,050 | |
| South Nebraska (Nonmetro) | -7.8% | 1,990 | |
| Northwest Nebraska (Nonmetro) | -12.0% | 500 |
Lincoln against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Lincoln is #153 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Nebraska, South Bend-Mishawaka and Muskegon-Norton Shores pay just above Lincoln and Gainesville and Punta Gorda just below. All four are within $70 a year of the median in Lincoln. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Lincoln | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | +6.4% | 1,630 | jobs | |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | +0.0% | 440 | pay | |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | +0.0% | 1,110 | pay | |
| Lincoln, NE | this area | 1,660 | ||
| Gainesville, FL | -0.1% | 1,090 | pay | |
| Punta Gorda, FL | -0.1% | 520 | pay | |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass, FL | -1.4% | 1,660 | jobs | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | -3.1% | 1,640 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Lincoln, NE?
About $61,845 a year at the median, or $5,154 a month: $47,930 in pay plus about $13,915 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Lincoln?
The median was $47,930 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $32,240, the 90th $61,440, and the middle half earned $39,850 to $54,850.
Is Lincoln cheaper than the rest of Nebraska for bookkeepers?
No, it costs more: a median of $47,930 against $47,110 statewide. The next area up in Nebraska is Omaha at $49,230, the next down Grand Island at $46,610.
How many bookkeepers work in Lincoln?
BLS counts about 1,660 in the May 2025 survey. That is 17% of the Nebraska total of 10,050. Only Omaha and the South Nebraska nonmetro area have more in Nebraska.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in Lincoln?
Yes: $700 a year more at the median. The medians are $47,930 and $47,230.
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.