Bookkeeper salary in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area
The Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for bookkeepers: the median of $45,940 a year1 is 4.2% below the South Carolina statewide median of $47,940, and 9.3% below the US median of $50,670. Among US areas it comes in at #363 of 521. BLS counts about 750 people in this job here, 4% of the South Carolina total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area against South Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern South Carolina (Nonmetro) | $31,200 | $45,940 | $66,940 | |
| South Carolina | $33,370 | $47,940 | $68,870 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $66,940, 2.1 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area earns $36,650–$54,340. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $17,690 wide, against $18,430 across South Carolina and $17,950 nationally: employers in the Northwestern South Carolina 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 | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 | $40,258 |
| 25th percentile | $36,650 | $3,054 | $17.62 | $47,290 |
| Median | $45,940 | $3,828 | $22.09 | $59,277 |
| 75th percentile | $54,340 | $4,528 | $26.12 | $70,116 |
| 90th percentile | $66,940 | $5,578 | $32.18 | $86,374 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $9,290 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $8,400, or about $10,839 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 Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area, and the South Carolina statewide median of $47,940 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area
At the $45,940 median, a local hire costs about $59,277 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,337 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 Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area
Of the 16 roles we track in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($47,800) and administrative assistants ($41,800). Project Coordinator is the highest at $93,590.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +4.6% | 90 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +4.0% | 70 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 750 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -9.0% | 1,100 | |
| HR Assistant | -13.7% | 30 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #4 of the 16 roles we track in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area (-9.3%), between project coordinators (-8.5%) and virtual receptionists (-11.9%). The typical role here is at -13.8%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 10.3% of the jobs in these 16 roles in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area, 8.0% across South Carolina and 8.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in South Carolina
Across the 11 areas of South Carolina with data for this job, the median runs from $43,810 in Sumter to $50,400 in Charleston-North Charleston, a gap of $6,590 a year. All 6 areas in South Carolina with more bookkeepers than the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area also pay more, among them Greenville-Anderson, SC ($49,600) and Charleston-North Charleston, SC ($50,400).
| Area | Median | vs the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg, SC | +5.5% | 1,150 | |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC | +1.9% | 1,370 | |
| Columbia, SC | +1.6% | 3,260 | |
| Northwestern South Carolina (Nonmetro) | this area | 750 | |
| Florence, SC | -1.4% | 730 | |
| Northeastern South Carolina (Nonmetro) | -2.7% | 650 | |
| Southern South Carolina (Nonmetro) | -3.3% | 500 |
the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area is #337 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside South Carolina, Corpus Christi and Kokomo pay just above the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area and Tallahassee and Great Falls just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula, MT | +3.2% | 760 | jobs | |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | +1.2% | 760 | jobs | |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | +0.7% | 760 | jobs | |
| Kokomo, IN | +0.1% | 280 | pay | |
| Corpus Christi, TX | +0.0% | 1,570 | pay | |
| Northwestern South Carolina (Nonmetro) | this area | 750 | ||
| Tallahassee, FL | -0.1% | 1,130 | pay | |
| Great Falls, MT | -0.1% | 440 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Northwestern South Carolina (Nonmetro)?
About $59,277 a year at the median, or $4,940 a month: $45,940 in pay plus about $13,337 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area?
The median was $45,940 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,200, the 90th $66,940, and the middle half earned $36,650 to $54,340.
Is the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of South Carolina for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $45,940 against $47,940 statewide. The next area up in South Carolina is Columbia at $46,690, the next down Florence at $45,300.
How many bookkeepers work in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 750 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the South Carolina total of 19,980. 6 areas in South Carolina have more; the closest in size is Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, with about 850.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area?
Yes: $4,140 a year more at the median. The medians are $45,940 and $41,800.
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.