Bookkeeper salary in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area
Hiring a bookkeeper costs less in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area than in New Mexico or the country as a whole. The median is $47,050 a year1: 2.1% below the New Mexico statewide median of $48,080 and 7.1% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally it ranks #290 of 521 areas. About 740 bookkeepers work here, 10% of the New Mexico total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area against New Mexico and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | $35,360 | $47,050 | $63,960 | |
| New Mexico | $35,660 | $48,080 | $70,890 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area earns $38,980–$56,430. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $63,960, only 1.8 times the bottom tenth, against 2.1 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $17,450 wide, against $18,110 across New Mexico and $17,950 nationally: employers in the Northern New Mexico 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 | $35,360 | $2,947 | $17.00 | $45,626 |
| 25th percentile | $38,980 | $3,248 | $18.74 | $50,297 |
| Median | $47,050 | $3,921 | $22.62 | $60,710 |
| 75th percentile | $56,430 | $4,702 | $27.13 | $72,813 |
| 90th percentile | $63,960 | $5,330 | $30.75 | $82,529 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $9,380 a year in pay and about $12,103 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $8,070 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 Northern New Mexico nonmetro area, and the New Mexico statewide median of $48,080 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area
At the $47,050 median, a local hire costs about $60,710 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,660 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 Northern New Mexico nonmetro area
Of the 15 roles we track in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between administrative assistants ($47,550) and HR assistants ($46,850). Project Coordinator is the highest at $157,300.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +16.0% | 70 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +1.1% | 3,250 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 740 | |
| HR Assistant | -0.4% | 30 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -10.9% | 290 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #10 of the 15 roles we track in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area (-7.1%), between payroll specialists (-6.3%) and HR assistants (-7.4%). The typical role here is at -5.9%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 8.9% of the jobs in these 15 roles in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area, 8.2% across New Mexico and 8.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in New Mexico
Across the 6 areas of New Mexico with data for this job, the median runs from $44,460 in Las Cruces to $50,890 in Santa Fe, a gap of $6,430 a year. Of the 2 areas in New Mexico with more bookkeepers than the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area, 1 pays less: the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area ($46,010).
| Area | Median | vs the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NM | +8.2% | 560 | |
| Albuquerque, NM | +5.5% | 3,440 | |
| Northern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | this area | 740 | |
| Farmington, NM | -2.2% | 560 | |
| Eastern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | -2.2% | 1,540 | |
| Las Cruces, NM | -5.5% | 580 |
the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area is #339 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside New Mexico, Lynchburg and Harrisonburg pay just above the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area and Greensboro-High Point and New Orleans-Metairie just below. All four are within $70 a year of the median in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico, CA | +7.8% | 730 | jobs | |
| Harrisonburg, VA | +0.1% | 500 | pay | |
| Lynchburg, VA | +0.0% | 890 | pay | |
| Northern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | this area | 740 | ||
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | -0.1% | 3,440 | pay | |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | -0.1% | 3,840 | pay | |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | -1.2% | 760 | jobs | |
| Florence, SC | -3.7% | 730 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Northern New Mexico (Nonmetro)?
About $60,710 a year at the median, or $5,059 a month: $47,050 in pay plus about $13,660 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area?
The median was $47,050 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,360, the 90th $63,960, and the middle half earned $38,980 to $56,430.
Is the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of New Mexico for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $47,050 against $48,080 statewide. The next area up in New Mexico is Albuquerque at $49,660, the next down Farmington at $46,010.
How many bookkeepers work in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 740 in the May 2025 survey. That is 10% of the New Mexico total of 7,780. Only Albuquerque and the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area have more in New Mexico.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area?
Yes: $200 a year more at the median. The medians are $47,050 and $46,850.
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.