Bookkeeper salary in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area
No other area in Wisconsin pays bookkeepers less than the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area. The median is $47,540 a year1, 5.6% below the Wisconsin statewide median of $50,340 and 6.2% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally it ranks #262 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 550 people in this job here, 2% of the Wisconsin total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area against Wisconsin and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | $35,900 | $47,540 | $64,690 | |
| Wisconsin | $36,350 | $50,340 | $65,460 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area earns $40,560–$57,870. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $64,690, 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 $17,310 wide, between the figure for Wisconsin ($14,800) 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 | $35,900 | $2,992 | $17.26 | $46,323 |
| 25th percentile | $40,560 | $3,380 | $19.50 | $52,335 |
| Median | $47,540 | $3,962 | $22.86 | $61,342 |
| 75th percentile | $57,870 | $4,822 | $27.82 | $74,671 |
| 90th percentile | $64,690 | $5,391 | $31.10 | $83,471 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,980 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $10,330, or about $13,329 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 Wisconsin nonmetro area, and the Wisconsin statewide median of $50,340 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area
At the $47,540 median, a local hire costs about $61,342 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,802 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 Wisconsin nonmetro area
Of the 15 roles we track in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($50,100) and medical administrative assistants ($46,850). Project Coordinator is the highest at $94,170.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +7.2% | 60 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +5.4% | 40 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 550 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -1.5% | 80 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -5.9% | 440 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #5 of the 15 roles we track in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area (-6.2%), between administrative assistants (-5.9%) and project coordinators (-8.0%). The typical role here is at -9.9%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 16.3% of the jobs in these 15 roles in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area, 9.3% across Wisconsin and 8.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Wisconsin
Across the 17 areas of Wisconsin with data for this job, the median runs from $47,540 in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area to $53,240 in Madison, a gap of $5,700 a year. All 14 areas in Wisconsin with more bookkeepers than the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area also pay more, among them Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI ($50,920) and Madison, WI ($53,240).
| Area | Median | vs the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Central Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | +3.1% | 1,780 | |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | +3.1% | 600 | |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | +3.0% | 580 | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | +3.0% | 720 | |
| Wausau, WI | +2.8% | 600 | |
| Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | +2.2% | 1,780 | |
| Northwestern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | this area | 550 |
the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area is #408 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Wisconsin, Waterloo-Cedar Falls and York-Hanover pay just above the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area and Deltona-Daytona Beach and Battle Creek just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester, VA-WV | +2.1% | 550 | jobs | |
| Carson City, NV | +1.5% | 550 | jobs | |
| York-Hanover, PA | +0.1% | 1,270 | pay | |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | +0.0% | 580 | pay | |
| Northwestern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | this area | 550 | ||
| Deltona-Daytona Beach, FL | -0.0% | 1,810 | pay | |
| Battle Creek, MI | -0.1% | 370 | pay | |
| Terre Haute, IN | -3.1% | 550 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Northwestern Wisconsin (Nonmetro)?
About $61,342 a year at the median, or $5,112 a month: $47,540 in pay plus about $13,802 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area?
The median was $47,540 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,900, the 90th $64,690, and the middle half earned $40,560 to $57,870.
Is the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area the cheapest area in Wisconsin for bookkeepers?
Yes. Its median of $47,540 is the lowest of 17 areas in Wisconsin. The Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area is next at $48,570.
How many bookkeepers work in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 550 in the May 2025 survey. That is 2% of the Wisconsin total of 25,960. 14 areas in Wisconsin have more; the closest in size is Racine-Mount Pleasant, with about 580.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than a medical administrative assistant in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area?
Yes: $690 a year more at the median. The medians are $47,540 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.