Accountant salary and cost of hiring in Alabama
The median accountant in Alabama earned $74,880 a year in May 2025[1], 10.5% below the US median of $83,680. That puts Alabama at #44 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 13-2011. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $50,240 | $74,880 | $123,170 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Alabama earns $60,840–$95,870; the top tenth earns $123,170 or more, 2.5 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Alabama median that makes about $106,971 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Alabama
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | $103,240 | 3,010 | |
| Birmingham, AL | $98,350 | 7,790 | |
| Montgomery, AL | $93,320 | 2,530 | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $91,760 | 680 | |
| Mobile, AL | $93,180 | 2,010 | |
| Decatur, AL | $91,830 | 530 | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $92,800 | 960 | |
| Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $92,870 | 480 | |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $84,830 | 820 | |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $89,990 | 460 | |
| Dothan, AL | $89,270 | 610 | |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $82,230 | 340 | |
| Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $85,260 | 980 | |
| Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $88,610 | 720 | |
| Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $85,890 | 520 | |
| Gadsden, AL | $76,980 | 280 |
Huntsville, AL pays the most ($79,220) and Gadsden, AL the least ($63,250): $15,970 a year apart for the same job.
What an accountant does
An accountant goes beyond bookkeeping: month-end close, financial statements, budgets, management reports and support for audits and tax filings.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | +1.1% | |
| Kentucky | +0.5% | |
| Alabama | +0.0% | |
| Idaho | -0.2% | |
| Hawaii | -0.5% |
Questions
How much does an accountant earn in Alabama?
The median was $74,880 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $60,840 to $95,870.
What does it cost to employ an accountant in Alabama?
About $106,971 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Alabama do accountants earn the most?
Huntsville, AL, with a median of $79,220 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.