Bookkeeper salary in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area
The Northeast Iowa nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for bookkeepers: the median of $46,680 a year1 is 3.1% below the Iowa statewide median of $48,180, and 7.9% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally it ranks #314 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 1,130 people in this job here, 8% of the Iowa total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area against Iowa and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | $30,890 | $46,680 | $68,590 | |
| Iowa | $33,240 | $48,180 | $66,490 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $68,590, 2.2 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area earns $38,430–$55,660. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $17,230 wide, between the figure for Iowa ($16,400) 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 | $30,890 | $2,574 | $14.85 | $39,858 |
| 25th percentile | $38,430 | $3,202 | $18.48 | $49,587 |
| Median | $46,680 | $3,890 | $22.44 | $60,232 |
| 75th percentile | $55,660 | $4,638 | $26.76 | $71,819 |
| 90th percentile | $68,590 | $5,716 | $32.98 | $88,503 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $8,250 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $8,980, or about $11,587 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 the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area, and the Iowa statewide median of $48,180 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area
At the $46,680 median, a local hire costs about $60,232 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,552 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 Northeast Iowa nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area, this one ranks #12 by median pay, between HR assistants ($47,520) and data entry specialists ($43,860). Project Coordinator is the highest at $85,440.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +2.5% | 140 | |
| HR Assistant | +1.8% | 60 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 1,130 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -6.0% | 60 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -8.2% | 1,150 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area (-7.9%), between HR assistants (-6.1%) and accountants (-8.6%). The typical role here is at -12.3%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 15.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area, 10.3% across Iowa and 8.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Iowa
Across the 12 areas of Iowa with data for this job, the median runs from $46,600 in the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area to $50,610 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, a gap of $4,010 a year. Of the 4 areas in Iowa with more bookkeepers than the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area, 1 pays less: the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area ($46,640).
| Area | Median | vs the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | +2.0% | 520 | |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | +1.8% | 580 | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | +1.5% | 690 | |
| Northwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | +0.4% | 1,620 | |
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,130 | |
| Southeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | -0.1% | 1,790 | |
| Southwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | -0.2% | 800 |
the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area is #243 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Iowa, Evansville and Columbia pay just above the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area and Columbus and Michigan City-La Porte just below. All four are within $30 a year of the median in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC | +0.0% | 3,260 | pay | |
| Evansville, IN | +0.0% | 1,320 | pay | |
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,130 | ||
| Columbus, IN | -0.0% | 360 | pay | |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | -0.1% | 340 | pay | |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | -0.4% | 1,130 | jobs | |
| Ocala, FL | -0.6% | 1,130 | jobs | |
| Tallahassee, FL | -1.7% | 1,130 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro)?
About $60,232 a year at the median, or $5,019 a month: $46,680 in pay plus about $13,552 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area?
The median was $46,680 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,890, the 90th $68,590, and the middle half earned $38,430 to $55,660.
Is the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Iowa for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $46,680 against $48,180 statewide. The next area up in Iowa is the Northwest Iowa nonmetro area at $46,870, the next down the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area at $46,640.
How many bookkeepers work in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 1,130 in the May 2025 survey. That is 8% of the Iowa total of 14,020. 4 areas in Iowa have more; the closest in size is Davenport-Moline, with about 1,360.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than a data entry specialist in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area?
Yes: $2,820 a year more at the median. The medians are $46,680 and $43,860.
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.