Bookkeeper salary in Manhattan, KS
Manhattan is a lower-cost market for bookkeepers: the median of $45,570 a year1 is 3.6% below the Kansas statewide median of $47,290, and 10.1% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally it ranks #387 of 521 areas. About 560 bookkeepers work here, 4% of the Kansas total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Manhattan, KS. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Manhattan against Kansas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan, KS | $29,910 | $45,570 | $61,480 | |
| Kansas | $32,130 | $47,290 | $64,130 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $61,480, 2.1 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Manhattan earns $37,870–$51,260. The mean ($45,460) is no higher than the median, so few high earners skew the figures here. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $13,390 wide, against $17,170 across Kansas and $17,950 nationally: employers in Manhattan 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 | $29,910 | $2,492 | $14.38 | $38,594 |
| 25th percentile | $37,870 | $3,156 | $18.21 | $48,865 |
| Median | $45,570 | $3,798 | $21.91 | $58,800 |
| 75th percentile | $51,260 | $4,272 | $24.64 | $66,142 |
| 90th percentile | $61,480 | $5,123 | $29.56 | $79,329 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $5,690 a year in pay and about $7,342 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $7,700 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 Manhattan, and the Kansas statewide median of $47,290 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Manhattan
At the $45,570 median, a local hire costs about $58,800 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,230 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 Manhattan
Of the 15 roles we track in Manhattan, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between paralegals ($47,890) and administrative assistants ($40,460). Project Coordinator is the highest at $95,390.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +13.3% | 40 | |
| Paralegal | +5.1% | 70 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 560 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -11.2% | 1,230 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -15.3% | 870 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #5 of the 15 roles we track in Manhattan (-10.1%), between executive assistants (-6.9%) and sales development representatives (-10.1%). The typical role here is at -11.5%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 10.0% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Manhattan, 9.8% across Kansas and 8.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Kansas
Across the 5 areas of Kansas with data for this job, the median runs from $44,660 in the Kansas nonmetro area to $48,350 in Topeka, a gap of $3,690 a year. Of the 4 areas in Kansas with more bookkeepers than Manhattan, 1 pays less: the Kansas nonmetro area ($44,660).
| Area | Median | vs Manhattan | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, KS | +6.1% | 1,260 | |
| Lawrence, KS | +6.0% | 630 | |
| Wichita, KS | +2.0% | 3,070 | |
| Manhattan, KS | this area | 560 | |
| Kansas (Nonmetro) | -2.0% | 4,420 |
Manhattan against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Manhattan is #399 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Kansas, Dalton and Abilene pay just above Manhattan and Rome and Lubbock just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in Manhattan. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Manhattan | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | +0.1% | 650 | pay | |
| Dalton, GA | +0.1% | 530 | pay | |
| Manhattan, KS | this area | 560 | ||
| Rome, GA | +0.0% | 300 | pay | |
| Lubbock, TX | -0.0% | 1,500 | pay | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | -2.9% | 560 | jobs | |
| Elizabethtown, KY | -3.8% | 560 | jobs | |
| Dothan, AL | -9.3% | 560 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Manhattan, KS?
About $58,800 a year at the median, or $4,900 a month: $45,570 in pay plus about $13,230 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Manhattan?
The median was $45,570 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,910, the 90th $61,480, and the middle half earned $37,870 to $51,260.
Is Manhattan cheaper than the rest of Kansas for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $45,570 against $47,290 statewide. The next area up in Kansas is Wichita at $46,500, the next down the Kansas nonmetro area at $44,660.
How many bookkeepers work in Manhattan?
BLS counts about 560 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the Kansas total of 15,380. 4 areas in Kansas have more; the closest in size is Lawrence, with about 630.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in Manhattan?
Yes: $5,110 a year more at the median. The medians are $45,570 and $40,460.
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.