Bookkeeper salary in the West Arkansas nonmetro area
Hiring a bookkeeper costs less in the West Arkansas nonmetro area than in Arkansas or the country as a whole. The median is $41,410 a year1: 3.3% below the Arkansas statewide median of $42,840 and 18.3% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally that is #496 of 521 areas, in the bottom tenth. BLS counts about 650 people in this job here, 5% of the Arkansas total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the West Arkansas nonmetro area against Arkansas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Arkansas (Nonmetro) | $27,580 | $41,410 | $59,940 | |
| Arkansas | $28,130 | $42,840 | $62,230 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in the West Arkansas nonmetro area earns $34,710–$50,560. The top tenth earns $59,940 or more, 2.2 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.1 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $15,850 wide, between the figure for Arkansas ($15,080) 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 | $27,580 | $2,298 | $13.26 | $35,587 |
| 25th percentile | $34,710 | $2,892 | $16.69 | $44,787 |
| Median | $41,410 | $3,451 | $19.91 | $53,432 |
| 75th percentile | $50,560 | $4,213 | $24.31 | $65,239 |
| 90th percentile | $59,940 | $4,995 | $28.82 | $77,342 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,700 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $9,150, or about $11,806 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 75th and 90th percentiles in the West Arkansas nonmetro area, and the Arkansas statewide median of $42,840 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 West Arkansas 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 $12,022 to the $41,410 median and brings it to $53,432 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 West Arkansas nonmetro area
Of the 15 roles we track in the West Arkansas nonmetro area, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($42,120) and administrative assistants ($36,870). Project Coordinator is the highest at $80,570.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +10.7% | 90 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +1.7% | 50 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 650 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -11.0% | 630 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -12.1% | 900 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #3 of the 15 roles we track in the West Arkansas nonmetro area (-18.3%), between virtual receptionists (-17.7%) and customer support specialists (-18.7%). The typical role here is at -23.8%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in the West Arkansas nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 13.2% of the jobs in these 15 roles in the West Arkansas nonmetro area, 11.8% across Arkansas and 8.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Arkansas
Across the 9 areas of Arkansas with data for this job, the median runs from $38,450 in Hot Springs to $45,830 in Fayetteville-Springdale, a gap of $7,380 a year. Of the 5 areas in Arkansas with more bookkeepers than the West Arkansas nonmetro area, 2 pay less: the North Arkansas nonmetro area ($39,160) and the South Arkansas nonmetro area ($40,560).
| Area | Median | vs the West Arkansas nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | +8.7% | 960 | |
| Jonesboro, AR | +7.8% | 470 | |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR | +7.4% | 3,480 | |
| West Arkansas (Nonmetro) | this area | 650 | |
| South Arkansas (Nonmetro) | -2.1% | 990 | |
| East Arkansas (Nonmetro) | -3.4% | 570 | |
| North Arkansas (Nonmetro) | -5.4% | 1,130 |
the West Arkansas nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the West Arkansas nonmetro area is #364 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Arkansas, El Paso and Brownsville-Harlingen pay just above the West Arkansas nonmetro area and Dothan and Gadsden just below. All four are within $600 a year of the median in the West Arkansas nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the West Arkansas nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | +18.9% | 660 | jobs | |
| Helena, MT | +10.8% | 650 | jobs | |
| Abilene, TX | +10.2% | 650 | jobs | |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | +0.3% | 1,020 | pay | |
| El Paso, TX | +0.3% | 2,790 | pay | |
| West Arkansas (Nonmetro) | this area | 650 | ||
| Dothan, AL | -0.2% | 560 | pay | |
| Gadsden, AL | -1.4% | 290 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in West Arkansas (Nonmetro)?
About $53,432 a year at the median, or $4,453 a month: $41,410 in pay plus about $12,022 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in the West Arkansas nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $41,410 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,580, the 90th $59,940, and the middle half earned $34,710 to $50,560.
Is the West Arkansas nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Arkansas for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $41,410 against $42,840 statewide. The next area up in Arkansas is Little Rock-North Little Rock at $44,470, the next down the South Arkansas nonmetro area at $40,560.
How many bookkeepers work in the West Arkansas nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 650 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Arkansas total of 12,510. 5 areas in Arkansas have more; the closest in size is Fort Smith, with about 960.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in the West Arkansas nonmetro area?
Yes: $4,540 a year more at the median. The medians are $41,410 and $36,870.
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.