Bookkeeper salary in the Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area
For this job the Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area sits right at the US figure, with a median of $50,560 a year1. That is about level with the US median of $50,670, and 7.4% below the Minnesota statewide median of $54,600. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#122 of 521). BLS counts about 1,300 people in this job here, 5% of the Minnesota total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area against Minnesota and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Minnesota (Nonmetro) | $35,610 | $50,560 | $73,110 | |
| Minnesota | $37,800 | $54,600 | $73,450 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in the Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area earns $44,030–$60,210. The top tenth earns $73,110 or more, 2.1 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.1 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $16,180 wide, between the figure for Minnesota ($15,670) 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 | $35,610 | $2,968 | $17.12 | $45,948 |
| 25th percentile | $44,030 | $3,669 | $21.17 | $56,813 |
| Median | $50,560 | $4,213 | $24.31 | $65,239 |
| 75th percentile | $60,210 | $5,018 | $28.95 | $77,690 |
| 90th percentile | $73,110 | $6,092 | $35.15 | $94,335 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,530 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $9,650, or about $12,452 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 Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area, and the Minnesota statewide median of $54,600 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Southwest Minnesota 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 $14,679 to the $50,560 median and brings it to $65,239 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 Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area
Of the 15 roles we track in the Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between HR assistants ($53,310) and administrative assistants ($48,090). Project Coordinator is the highest at $80,840.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +15.5% | 100 | |
| HR Assistant | +5.4% | 100 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 1,300 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -4.9% | 1,300 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -8.0% | 550 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #5 of the 15 roles we track in the Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area (-0.2%), between payroll specialists (+0.3%) and customer support specialists (-0.5%). The typical role here is at -0.9%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 16.1% of the jobs in these 15 roles in the Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area, 9.2% across Minnesota and 8.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Minnesota
Across the 9 areas of Minnesota with data for this job, the median runs from $49,620 in the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area to $58,350 in Rochester, a gap of $8,730 a year. Of the 3 areas in Minnesota with more bookkeepers than the Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area, 2 pay less: the Northwest Minnesota nonmetro area ($50,190) and the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area ($49,620).
| Area | Median | vs the Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mankato, MN | +0.4% | 490 | |
| Duluth, MN-WI | +0.2% | 1,080 | |
| St. Cloud, MN | +0.0% | 880 | |
| Southwest Minnesota (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,300 | |
| Northwest Minnesota (Nonmetro) | -0.7% | 2,050 | |
| Northeast Minnesota (Nonmetro) | -1.0% | 460 | |
| Southeast Minnesota (Nonmetro) | -1.9% | 1,470 |
the Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area is #204 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside Minnesota, Fargo and Des Moines-West Des Moines pay just above the Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area and Lansing-East Lansing and North Port-Bradenton just below. All four are within $100 a year of the median in the Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas, CA | +17.0% | 1,270 | jobs | |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | +0.1% | 3,670 | pay | |
| Fargo, ND-MN | +0.0% | 1,520 | pay | |
| Southwest Minnesota (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,300 | ||
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | -0.1% | 1,940 | pay | |
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | -0.2% | 3,610 | pay | |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | -0.3% | 1,290 | jobs | |
| Evansville, IN | -7.7% | 1,320 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Southwest Minnesota (Nonmetro)?
About $65,239 a year at the median, or $5,437 a month: $50,560 in pay plus about $14,679 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in the Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $50,560 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,610, the 90th $73,110, and the middle half earned $44,030 to $60,210.
Is the Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Minnesota for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $50,560 against $54,600 statewide. The next area up in Minnesota is St. Cloud at $50,570, the next down the Northwest Minnesota nonmetro area at $50,190.
How many bookkeepers work in the Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 1,300 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Minnesota total of 26,850. 3 areas in Minnesota have more; the closest in size is the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area, with about 1,470.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in the Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area?
Yes: $2,470 a year more at the median. The medians are $50,560 and $48,090.
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.