Cost of hiring a bookkeeper in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI
Budget above the national rate here. The median bookkeeper in Minneapolis-St. Paul earned $57,790 a year in May 2025[1], 5.8% above the Minnesota statewide median of $54,600 and 14.1% above the US median of $50,670. Nationally that is #27 of 521 areas, in the top tenth. It is the largest market for the job in Minnesota: about 16,510 people.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Minneapolis-St. Paul against Minnesota and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | $40,280 | $57,790 | $74,990 | |
| Minnesota | $37,800 | $54,600 | $73,450 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Minneapolis-St. Paul earns $48,140–$63,280. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $74,990, only 1.9 times the bottom tenth, against 2.1 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($57,230) is no higher than the median, so few high earners skew the figures here.
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,280 | $3,357 | $19.37 | $57,543 |
| 25th percentile | $48,140 | $4,012 | $23.14 | $68,771 |
| Median | $57,790 | $4,816 | $27.78 | $82,557 |
| 75th percentile | $63,280 | $5,273 | $30.42 | $90,400 |
| 90th percentile | $74,990 | $6,249 | $36.05 | $107,129 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $5,490 a year in pay and about $7,843 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $9,650 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.
What a hire really costs in Minneapolis-St. Paul
At the $57,790 median, a local hire costs about $82,557 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $24,767 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Minneapolis-St. Paul
Of the 17 roles we track in Minneapolis-St. Paul, this one ranks #10 by median pay. Marketing Specialist is the highest at $97,910 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $38,000.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | +69.4% | 16,760 | |
| Project Coordinator | +69.3% | 15,450 | |
| Accountant | +49.7% | 21,820 | |
| Recruiter | +39.0% | 12,660 | |
| Executive Assistant | +38.5% | 6,150 | |
| Office Manager | +35.7% | 14,480 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +33.4% | 14,070 | |
| Paralegal | +31.9% | 5,990 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +9.1% | 1,920 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 16,510 | |
| HR Assistant | -1.9% | 2,350 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -6.4% | 19,180 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -10.2% | 8,920 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -14.3% | 620 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -14.4% | 38,630 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -19.8% | 920 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -34.2% | 8,780 |
Other areas in Minnesota
Across the 9 areas of Minnesota with data for this job, the median runs from $49,620 in the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area to $58,350 in Rochester, a gap of $8,730 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Minneapolis-St. Paul | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MN | +1.0% | 790 | |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | this area | 16,510 | |
| Mankato, MN | -12.2% | 490 | |
| Duluth, MN-WI | -12.3% | 1,080 | |
| St. Cloud, MN | -12.5% | 880 | |
| Southwest Minnesota (Nonmetro) | -12.5% | 1,300 | |
| Northwest Minnesota (Nonmetro) | -13.2% | 2,050 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI?
About $82,557 a year at the median, or $6,880 a month: $57,790 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Minneapolis-St. Paul?
The median was $57,790 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $40,280, the 90th $74,990, and the middle half earned $48,140 to $63,280.
Is Minneapolis-St. Paul cheaper than the rest of Minnesota for bookkeepers?
No, it costs more: a median of $57,790 against $54,600 statewide. Rochester pays the most ($58,350) and the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area the least ($49,620).
How many bookkeepers work in Minneapolis-St. Paul?
BLS counts about 16,510 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in Minneapolis-St. Paul?
Yes: $1,120 a year more at the median. The medians are $57,790 and $56,670.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3031: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433031.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-06.