Bookkeeper salary in the West South Dakota nonmetro area
The West South Dakota nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for bookkeepers: the median of $45,760 a year1 is 1.3% below the South Dakota statewide median of $46,340, and 9.7% below the US median of $50,670. Among US areas it comes in at #377 of 521. BLS counts about 1,540 people in this job here, 15% of the South Dakota total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the West South Dakota nonmetro area against South Dakota and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West South Dakota (Nonmetro) | $34,510 | $45,760 | $58,430 | |
| South Dakota | $35,730 | $46,340 | $59,140 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in the West South Dakota nonmetro area earns $38,200–$51,420. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $58,430, only 1.7 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 $13,220 wide, between the figure for South Dakota ($12,630) 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 | $34,510 | $2,876 | $16.59 | $44,529 |
| 25th percentile | $38,200 | $3,183 | $18.37 | $49,290 |
| Median | $45,760 | $3,813 | $22.00 | $59,045 |
| 75th percentile | $51,420 | $4,285 | $24.72 | $66,348 |
| 90th percentile | $58,430 | $4,869 | $28.09 | $75,394 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $5,660 a year in pay and about $7,303 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $7,560 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 median and the 75th percentile in the West South Dakota nonmetro area, and the South Dakota statewide median of $46,340 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the West South Dakota 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 $13,285 to the $45,760 median and brings it to $59,045 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 South Dakota nonmetro area
Of the 14 roles we track in the West South Dakota nonmetro area, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($47,680) and administrative assistants ($41,120). Project Coordinator is the highest at $80,370.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | +17.4% | 260 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +4.2% | 50 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 1,540 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -10.1% | 1,120 | |
| HR Assistant | -12.2% | 30 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #4 of the 14 roles we track in the West South Dakota nonmetro area (-9.7%), between accountants (-8.5%) and sales development representatives (-10.7%). The typical role here is at -17.1%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in the West South Dakota nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 27.5% of the jobs in these 14 roles in the West South Dakota nonmetro area, 23.7% across South Dakota and 9.3% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in South Dakota
Across the 4 areas of South Dakota with data for this job, the median runs from $45,140 in the East South Dakota nonmetro area to $46,910 in Sioux Falls, a gap of $1,770 a year. Of the 3 areas in South Dakota with more bookkeepers than the West South Dakota nonmetro area, 1 pays less: the East South Dakota nonmetro area ($45,140).
| Area | Median | vs the West South Dakota nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | +2.5% | 3,390 | |
| Rapid City, SD | +2.3% | 1,720 | |
| West South Dakota (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,540 | |
| East South Dakota (Nonmetro) | -1.4% | 3,300 |
the West South Dakota nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the West South Dakota nonmetro area is #165 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside South Dakota, Macon-Bibb County and Cape Girardeau pay just above the West South Dakota nonmetro area and Springfield and Wilmington just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in the West South Dakota nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the West South Dakota nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | +10.5% | 1,520 | jobs | |
| Corpus Christi, TX | +0.4% | 1,570 | jobs | |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | +0.1% | 310 | pay | |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | +0.0% | 720 | pay | |
| West South Dakota (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,540 | ||
| Springfield, OH | -0.0% | 520 | pay | |
| Wilmington, NC | -0.1% | 2,300 | pay | |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY | -6.6% | 1,550 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in West South Dakota (Nonmetro)?
About $59,045 a year at the median, or $4,920 a month: $45,760 in pay plus about $13,285 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in the West South Dakota nonmetro area?
The median was $45,760 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $34,510, the 90th $58,430, and the middle half earned $38,200 to $51,420.
Is the West South Dakota nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of South Dakota for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $45,760 against $46,340 statewide. The next area up in South Dakota is Rapid City at $46,810, the next down the East South Dakota nonmetro area at $45,140.
How many bookkeepers work in the West South Dakota nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 1,540 in the May 2025 survey. That is 15% of the South Dakota total of 10,200. 3 areas in South Dakota have more; the closest in size is Rapid City, with about 1,720.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in the West South Dakota nonmetro area?
Yes: $4,640 a year more at the median. The medians are $45,760 and $41,120.
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.