Bookkeeper salary in the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area
Hiring a bookkeeper costs less in the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area than in Nebraska or the country as a whole. The median is $44,360 a year1: 5.8% below the Nebraska statewide median of $47,110 and 12.5% below the US median of $50,670. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#441 of 521). About 1,050 bookkeepers work here, 10% of the Nebraska total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area against Nebraska and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Nebraska (Nonmetro) | $31,750 | $44,360 | $62,400 | |
| Nebraska | $33,060 | $47,110 | $62,460 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area earns $37,490–$52,490. The top tenth earns $62,400 or more, 2.0 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.1 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $15,000 wide, against $15,900 across Nebraska and $17,950 nationally: employers in the Northeast Nebraska 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 | $31,750 | $2,646 | $15.26 | $40,968 |
| 25th percentile | $37,490 | $3,124 | $18.02 | $48,374 |
| Median | $44,360 | $3,697 | $21.33 | $57,239 |
| 75th percentile | $52,490 | $4,374 | $25.24 | $67,729 |
| 90th percentile | $62,400 | $5,200 | $30.00 | $80,516 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,870 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $8,130, or about $10,490 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 Nebraska nonmetro area, and the Nebraska statewide median of $47,110 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Northeast Nebraska 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 $12,879 to the $44,360 median and brings it to $57,239 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 Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area
Of the 16 roles we track in the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area, this one ranks #12 by median pay, between medical administrative assistants ($45,140) and administrative assistants ($43,950). Project Coordinator is the highest at $81,640.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +7.2% | 40 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +1.8% | 330 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 1,050 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -0.9% | 1,500 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -5.4% | 750 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #9 of the 16 roles we track in the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area (-12.5%), between paralegals (-10.9%) and office managers (-14.1%). The typical role here is at -11.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 14.8% of the jobs in these 16 roles in the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area, 10.1% across Nebraska and 8.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Nebraska
Across the 6 areas of Nebraska with data for this job, the median runs from $42,180 in the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area to $49,230 in Omaha, a gap of $7,050 a year. Of the 3 areas in Nebraska with more bookkeepers than the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area, 1 pays less: the South Nebraska nonmetro area ($44,200).
| Area | Median | vs the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | +11.0% | 4,110 | |
| Lincoln, NE | +8.0% | 1,660 | |
| Grand Island, NE | +5.1% | 440 | |
| Northeast Nebraska (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,050 | |
| South Nebraska (Nonmetro) | -0.4% | 1,990 | |
| Northwest Nebraska (Nonmetro) | -4.9% | 500 |
the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area is #262 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 Nebraska, Homosassa Springs and Las Cruces pay just above the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area and Rocky Mount and San Angelo just below. All four are within $100 a year of the median in the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WI | +14.5% | 1,050 | jobs | |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach, FL | +12.6% | 1,050 | jobs | |
| Las Cruces, NM | +0.2% | 580 | pay | |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | +0.0% | 310 | pay | |
| Northeast Nebraska (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,050 | ||
| Rocky Mount, NC | -0.1% | 590 | pay | |
| San Angelo, TX | -0.2% | 490 | pay | |
| Charleston, WV | -2.3% | 1,050 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Northeast Nebraska (Nonmetro)?
About $57,239 a year at the median, or $4,770 a month: $44,360 in pay plus about $12,879 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $44,360 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,750, the 90th $62,400, and the middle half earned $37,490 to $52,490.
Is the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Nebraska for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $44,360 against $47,110 statewide. The next area up in Nebraska is Grand Island at $46,610, the next down the South Nebraska nonmetro area at $44,200.
How many bookkeepers work in the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 1,050 in the May 2025 survey. That is 10% of the Nebraska total of 10,050. 3 areas in Nebraska have more; the closest in size is Lincoln, with about 1,660.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area?
Yes: $410 a year more at the median. The medians are $44,360 and $43,950.
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.