Bookkeeper salary in the North Missouri nonmetro area
The North Missouri nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for bookkeepers: the median of $42,020 a year1 is 12.4% below the Missouri statewide median of $47,990, and 17.1% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally that is #486 of 521 areas, in the bottom tenth. BLS counts about 780 people in this job here, 4% of the Missouri total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area North Missouri nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the North Missouri nonmetro area against Missouri and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Missouri (Nonmetro) | $30,730 | $42,020 | $58,930 | |
| Missouri | $34,570 | $47,990 | $68,180 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $58,930, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in the North Missouri nonmetro area earns $35,640–$48,370. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $12,730 wide, against $17,920 across Missouri and $17,950 nationally: employers in the North Missouri nonmetro area 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 | $30,730 | $2,561 | $14.77 | $39,652 |
| 25th percentile | $35,640 | $2,970 | $17.13 | $45,987 |
| Median | $42,020 | $3,502 | $20.20 | $54,219 |
| 75th percentile | $48,370 | $4,031 | $23.25 | $62,413 |
| 90th percentile | $58,930 | $4,911 | $28.33 | $76,039 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,380 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $6,350, or about $8,194 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 75th and 90th percentiles in the North Missouri nonmetro area, and the Missouri statewide median of $47,990 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local bookkeepers earn.
What a hire really costs in the North Missouri nonmetro area
At the $42,020 median, a local hire costs about $54,219 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $12,199 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 the North Missouri nonmetro area
Of the 15 roles we track in the North Missouri nonmetro area, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between paralegals ($43,780) and sales development representatives ($39,360). Project Coordinator is the highest at $76,590.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +9.9% | 100 | |
| Paralegal | +4.2% | 90 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 780 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -6.3% | 280 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -9.7% | 430 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #3 of the 15 roles we track in the North Missouri nonmetro area (-17.1%), between data entry specialists (-14.7%) and medical administrative assistants (-17.4%). The typical role here is at -21.2%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in the North Missouri nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 11.0% of the jobs in these 15 roles in the North Missouri nonmetro area, 7.7% across Missouri and 8.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Missouri
Across the 12 areas of Missouri with data for this job, the median runs from $41,150 in the Southwest Missouri nonmetro area to $50,940 in Kansas City, a gap of $9,790 a year. Of the 6 areas in Missouri with more bookkeepers than the North Missouri nonmetro area, 1 pays less: the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area ($41,790).
| Area | Median | vs the North Missouri nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MO | +7.9% | 1,440 | |
| Jefferson City, MO | +7.5% | 590 | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | +7.5% | 530 | |
| Central Missouri (Nonmetro) | +1.9% | 830 | |
| North Missouri (Nonmetro) | this area | 780 | |
| Southeast Missouri (Nonmetro) | -0.5% | 1,320 | |
| Southwest Missouri (Nonmetro) | -2.1% | 480 |
the North Missouri nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the North Missouri nonmetro area is #331 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 Missouri, Beckley and Altoona pay just above the North Missouri nonmetro area and Monroe and McAllen-Edinburg just below. All four are within $640 a year of the median in the North Missouri nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the North Missouri nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale, WA | +39.4% | 780 | jobs | |
| Eau Claire, WI | +17.3% | 780 | jobs | |
| Bangor, ME | +16.6% | 780 | jobs | |
| Altoona, PA | +1.5% | 470 | pay | |
| Beckley, WV | +1.3% | 450 | pay | |
| North Missouri (Nonmetro) | this area | 780 | ||
| Monroe, LA | -0.1% | 1,020 | pay | |
| McAllen-Edinburg, TX | -0.1% | 2,070 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in North Missouri (Nonmetro)?
About $54,219 a year at the median, or $4,518 a month: $42,020 in pay plus about $12,199 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in the North Missouri nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $42,020 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,730, the 90th $58,930, and the middle half earned $35,640 to $48,370.
Is the North Missouri nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Missouri for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $42,020 against $47,990 statewide. The next area up in Missouri is the Central Missouri nonmetro area at $42,820, the next down the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area at $41,790.
How many bookkeepers work in the North Missouri nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 780 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the Missouri total of 21,400. 6 areas in Missouri have more; the closest in size is the Central Missouri nonmetro area, with about 830.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than a sales development representative in the North Missouri nonmetro area?
Yes: $2,660 a year more at the median. The medians are $42,020 and $39,360.
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.