Bookkeeper salary in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Bookkeepers earn more in New Orleans-Metairie than anywhere else in Louisiana. Expect a median of $46,980 a year1, 4.7% above the Louisiana statewide median of $44,890 and 7.3% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally it ranks #293 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 3,840 people in this job here, 20% of the Louisiana total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area New Orleans-Metairie, LA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in New Orleans-Metairie against Louisiana and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $31,050 | $46,980 | $67,020 | |
| Louisiana | $28,760 | $44,890 | $65,220 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $67,020, 2.2 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in New Orleans-Metairie earns $39,470–$58,140. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $18,670 wide, wider than in Louisiana as a whole ($18,180) and the US ($17,950), so what a bookkeeper earns in New Orleans-Metairie depends more on the employer.
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,050 | $2,588 | $14.93 | $40,065 |
| 25th percentile | $39,470 | $3,289 | $18.98 | $50,929 |
| Median | $46,980 | $3,915 | $22.59 | $60,619 |
| 75th percentile | $58,140 | $4,845 | $27.95 | $75,019 |
| 90th percentile | $67,020 | $5,585 | $32.22 | $86,477 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,510 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $11,160, or about $14,400 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 New Orleans-Metairie, and the Louisiana statewide median of $44,890 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in New Orleans-Metairie
At the $46,980 median, a local hire costs about $60,619 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,639 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 New Orleans-Metairie
Of the 17 roles we track in New Orleans-Metairie, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between HR assistants ($49,570) and e-commerce order specialists ($44,880). Project Coordinator is the highest at $85,410.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +14.1% | 480 | |
| HR Assistant | +5.5% | 190 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 3,840 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -4.5% | 180 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -8.8% | 6,180 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in New Orleans-Metairie (-7.3%), between accountants (-6.9%) and payroll specialists (-8.0%). The typical role here is at -11.9%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in New Orleans-Metairie than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 9.5% of the jobs in these 17 roles in New Orleans-Metairie, 11.0% across Louisiana and 8.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Louisiana
Across the 13 areas of Louisiana with data for this job, the median runs from $38,910 in Lafayette to $46,980 in New Orleans-Metairie, a gap of $8,070 a year. The one area in Louisiana with more bookkeepers, Baton Rouge, LA ($46,740), pays less: a bigger pool at a lower median.
| Area | Median | vs New Orleans-Metairie | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | this area | 3,840 | |
| Baton Rouge, LA | -0.5% | 4,060 | |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | -3.4% | 1,900 | |
| Lake Charles, LA | -5.2% | 830 | |
| Slidell-Mandeville, LA | -5.2% | 1,180 | |
| Houma-Bayou Cane, LA | -6.8% | 770 | |
| Hammond, LA | -7.0% | 380 |
New Orleans-Metairie against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, New Orleans-Metairie is #60 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Louisiana, Greensboro-High Point and Lynchburg pay just above New Orleans-Metairie and Flint and Palm Bay-Melbourne just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in New Orleans-Metairie. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs New Orleans-Metairie | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford, CT | +30.7% | 3,710 | jobs | |
| Madison, WI | +13.3% | 3,760 | jobs | |
| Greenville-Anderson, SC | +5.6% | 3,770 | jobs | |
| Lynchburg, VA | +0.2% | 890 | pay | |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | +0.0% | 3,440 | pay | |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | this area | 3,840 | ||
| Flint, MI | -0.0% | 990 | pay | |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne, FL | -0.0% | 2,050 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
About $60,619 a year at the median, or $5,052 a month: $46,980 in pay plus about $13,639 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in New Orleans-Metairie?
The median was $46,980 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,050, the 90th $67,020, and the middle half earned $39,470 to $58,140.
Is New Orleans-Metairie the most expensive area in Louisiana for bookkeepers?
Yes. Its median of $46,980 is the highest of 13 areas in Louisiana. Baton Rouge comes next at $46,740.
How many bookkeepers work in New Orleans-Metairie?
BLS counts about 3,840 in the May 2025 survey. That is 20% of the Louisiana total of 18,980. Only Baton Rouge has more in Louisiana.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in New Orleans-Metairie?
Yes: $2,100 a year more at the median. The medians are $46,980 and $44,880.
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.