Bookkeeper salary in the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area
The North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area pays bookkeepers less than California as a whole but still more than the country. The median is $52,740 a year1: 11.0% below the California statewide median of $59,230 and 4.1% above the US median of $50,670. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#73 of 521). BLS counts about 1,180 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California (Nonmetro) | $39,530 | $52,740 | $75,600 | |
| California | $41,600 | $59,230 | $81,990 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $75,600, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area earns $46,630–$62,400. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $15,770 wide, against $22,000 across California and $17,950 nationally: employers in the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California 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 | $39,530 | $3,294 | $19.00 | $51,006 |
| 25th percentile | $46,630 | $3,886 | $22.42 | $60,168 |
| Median | $52,740 | $4,395 | $25.36 | $68,052 |
| 75th percentile | $62,400 | $5,200 | $30.00 | $80,516 |
| 90th percentile | $75,600 | $6,300 | $36.35 | $97,548 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $9,660 over the median, the 25th only $6,110 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $12,465 a year in employer cost. 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 25th percentile and the median in the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area, and the California statewide median of $59,230 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $15,312 to the $52,740 median and brings it to $68,052 a year. 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 Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between HR assistants ($53,590) and administrative assistants ($51,910). Project Coordinator is the highest at $86,540.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +18.9% | 80 | |
| HR Assistant | +1.6% | 50 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 1,180 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -1.6% | 1,160 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -3.7% | 720 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #8 of the 17 roles we track in the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area (+4.1%), between HR assistants (+5.9%) and executive assistants (+2.8%). The typical role here is at +2.8%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 15.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area, 9.1% across California and 8.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $47,960 in El Centro to $66,130 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $18,170 a year. Of the 16 areas in California with more bookkeepers than the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area, 1 pays less: Visalia, CA ($51,200).
| Area | Median | vs the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | +2.7% | 4,310 | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | +0.8% | 2,580 | |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | +0.3% | 370 | |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,180 | |
| Merced, CA | -1.9% | 680 | |
| Visalia, CA | -2.9% | 1,390 | |
| Redding, CA | -3.1% | 660 |
the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area is #231 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside California, Spokane-Spokane Valley and Madison pay just above the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area and Philadelphia-Camden and Charlottesville just below. All four are within $500 a year of the median in the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | +0.9% | 3,760 | pay | |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | +0.6% | 2,550 | pay | |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,180 | ||
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | -0.1% | 22,660 | pay | |
| Charlottesville, VA | -0.1% | 870 | pay | |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | -6.7% | 1,190 | jobs | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | -13.4% | 1,170 | jobs | |
| Slidell-Mandeville, LA | -15.6% | 1,180 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California (Nonmetro)?
About $68,052 a year at the median, or $5,671 a month: $52,740 in pay plus about $15,312 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $52,740 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $39,530, the 90th $75,600, and the middle half earned $46,630 to $62,400.
Is the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of California for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $52,740 against $59,230 statewide. The next area up in California is Hanford-Corcoran at $52,920, the next down Merced at $51,740.
How many bookkeepers work in the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 1,180 in the May 2025 survey. 16 areas in California have more; the closest in size is Salinas, with about 1,270.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area?
Yes: $830 a year more at the median. The medians are $52,740 and $51,910.
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.