Bookkeeper salary in the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area
Hiring a bookkeeper costs less in the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area than in Ohio or the country as a whole. The median is $47,400 a year1: 2.9% below the Ohio statewide median of $48,810 and 6.5% below the US median of $50,670. Among US areas it comes in at #268 of 521. BLS counts about 2,070 people in this job here, 5% of the Ohio total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous). Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area against Ohio and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Northeastern Ohio (Nonmetro) | $33,280 | $47,400 | $67,960 | |
| Ohio | $36,110 | $48,810 | $67,330 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $67,960, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area earns $38,640–$56,530. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $17,890 wide, between the figure for Ohio ($16,360) and the US figure ($17,950).
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,280 | $2,773 | $16.00 | $42,942 |
| 25th percentile | $38,640 | $3,220 | $18.58 | $49,858 |
| Median | $47,400 | $3,950 | $22.79 | $61,161 |
| 75th percentile | $56,530 | $4,711 | $27.18 | $72,942 |
| 90th percentile | $67,960 | $5,663 | $32.67 | $87,690 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $9,130 a year in pay and about $11,781 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $8,760 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 the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area, and the Ohio statewide median of $48,810 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area
At the $47,400 median, a local hire costs about $61,161 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,761 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 Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between paralegals ($47,720) and HR assistants ($45,070). Project Coordinator is the highest at $84,590.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +10.0% | 190 | |
| Paralegal | +0.7% | 150 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 2,070 | |
| HR Assistant | -4.9% | 130 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -7.3% | 2,120 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #2 of the 17 roles we track in the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area (-6.5%), between customer support specialists (-1.9%) and virtual receptionists (-8.9%). The typical role here is at -14.5%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 11.8% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area, 8.8% across Ohio and 8.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Ohio
Across the 16 areas of Ohio with data for this job, the median runs from $45,750 in Springfield to $51,170 in Columbus, a gap of $5,420 a year. All 6 areas in Ohio with more bookkeepers than the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area also pay more, among them Cincinnati, OH-KY ($49,590) and Columbus, OH ($51,170).
| Area | Median | vs the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Ohio (Nonmetro) | +1.3% | 1,220 | |
| Toledo, OH | +0.9% | 2,200 | |
| West Northwestern Ohio (Nonmetro) | +0.9% | 2,000 | |
| North Northeastern Ohio (Nonmetro) | this area | 2,070 | |
| Lima, OH | -1.8% | 430 | |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | -1.9% | 1,130 | |
| Mansfield, OH | -2.3% | 330 |
the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area is #117 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 Ohio, Missoula and Burlington pay just above the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area and Sioux City and Athens-Clarke County just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | +18.7% | 2,080 | jobs | |
| Burlington, NC | +0.1% | 600 | pay | |
| Missoula, MT | +0.0% | 760 | pay | |
| North Northeastern Ohio (Nonmetro) | this area | 2,070 | ||
| Sioux City, IA-NE | -0.0% | 690 | pay | |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | -0.1% | 820 | pay | |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne, FL | -0.9% | 2,050 | jobs | |
| McAllen-Edinburg, TX | -11.5% | 2,070 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in North Northeastern Ohio (Nonmetro)?
About $61,161 a year at the median, or $5,097 a month: $47,400 in pay plus about $13,761 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area?
The median was $47,400 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,280, the 90th $67,960, and the middle half earned $38,640 to $56,530.
Is the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Ohio for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $47,400 against $48,810 statewide. The next area up in Ohio is the West Northwestern Ohio nonmetro area at $47,840, the next down Lima at $46,570.
How many bookkeepers work in the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 2,070 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Ohio total of 45,140. 6 areas in Ohio have more; the closest in size is Toledo, with about 2,200.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area?
Yes: $2,330 a year more at the median. The medians are $47,400 and $45,070.
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.