Bookkeeper salary in the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area
The Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area is the least expensive place in Nebraska to hire a bookkeeper. The median is $42,180 a year1, 10.5% below the Nebraska statewide median of $47,110 and 16.8% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally that is #484 of 521 areas, in the bottom tenth. BLS counts about 500 people in this job here, 5% of the Nebraska total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area against Nebraska and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Nebraska (Nonmetro) | $30,160 | $42,180 | $59,260 | |
| Nebraska | $33,060 | $47,110 | $62,460 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $59,260, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area earns $35,400–$49,760. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $14,360 wide, against $15,900 across Nebraska and $17,950 nationally: employers in the Northwest 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 | $30,160 | $2,513 | $14.50 | $38,916 |
| 25th percentile | $35,400 | $2,950 | $17.02 | $45,677 |
| Median | $42,180 | $3,515 | $20.28 | $54,426 |
| 75th percentile | $49,760 | $4,147 | $23.92 | $64,206 |
| 90th percentile | $59,260 | $4,938 | $28.49 | $76,465 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $7,580 a year in pay and about $9,781 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $6,780 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 75th and 90th percentiles in the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area, and the Nebraska statewide median of $47,110 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local bookkeepers earn.
What a hire really costs in the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area
At the $42,180 median, a local hire costs about $54,426 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $12,246 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 Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area
Of the 15 roles we track in the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area, this one ranks #12 by median pay, between administrative assistants ($43,710) and customer support specialists ($40,200). Project Coordinator is the highest at $94,600.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +9.1% | 170 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +3.6% | 700 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 500 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -4.7% | 320 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -14.3% | 240 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #8 of the 15 roles we track in the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area (-16.8%), between office managers (-16.7%) and recruiters (-18.9%). The typical role here is at -16.8%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 15.7% of the jobs in these 15 roles in the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area, 10.2% 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. All 4 areas in Nebraska with more bookkeepers than the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area also pay more, among them Omaha, NE-IA ($49,230) and the South Nebraska nonmetro area ($44,200).
| Area | Median | vs the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | +16.7% | 4,110 | |
| Lincoln, NE | +13.6% | 1,660 | |
| Grand Island, NE | +10.5% | 440 | |
| Northeast Nebraska (Nonmetro) | +5.2% | 1,050 | |
| South Nebraska (Nonmetro) | +4.8% | 1,990 | |
| Northwest Nebraska (Nonmetro) | this area | 500 |
the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area is #429 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a small market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Nebraska, Beckley and Altoona pay just above the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area and Monroe and McAllen-Edinburg just below. All four are within $480 a year of the median in the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glens Falls, NY | +16.9% | 500 | jobs | |
| Jackson, MI | +15.4% | 500 | jobs | |
| Harrisonburg, VA | +11.6% | 500 | jobs | |
| Altoona, PA | +1.1% | 470 | pay | |
| Beckley, WV | +0.9% | 450 | pay | |
| Northwest Nebraska (Nonmetro) | this area | 500 | ||
| Monroe, LA | -0.5% | 1,020 | pay | |
| McAllen-Edinburg, TX | -0.5% | 2,070 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Northwest Nebraska (Nonmetro)?
About $54,426 a year at the median, or $4,535 a month: $42,180 in pay plus about $12,246 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $42,180 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,160, the 90th $59,260, and the middle half earned $35,400 to $49,760.
Is the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area the cheapest area in Nebraska for bookkeepers?
Yes. Its median of $42,180 is the lowest of 6 areas in Nebraska. The South Nebraska nonmetro area is next at $44,200.
How many bookkeepers work in the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 500 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Nebraska total of 10,050. 4 areas in Nebraska have more; the closest in size is the Northeast Nebraska nonmetro area, with about 1,050.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than a customer support specialist in the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area?
Yes: $1,980 a year more at the median. The medians are $42,180 and $40,200.
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.