Accountant salary in Huntsville, AL
Accountants earn more in Huntsville than anywhere else in Alabama. Expect a median of $79,220 a year1, 5.8% above the Alabama statewide median of $74,880 and 5.3% below the US median of $83,680. Among US areas it comes in at #156 of 521. About 3,010 accountants work here, 12% of the Alabama total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Huntsville, AL. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Huntsville against Alabama and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | $53,920 | $79,220 | $134,360 | |
| Alabama | $50,240 | $74,880 | $123,170 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Huntsville earns $63,780–$103,240. The top tenth earns $134,360 or more, 2.5 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.6 times. The mean ($88,300) is 11% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $39,460 wide, between the figure for Alabama ($35,030) and the US figure ($42,790).
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $53,920 | $4,493 | $25.92 | $69,574 |
| 25th percentile | $63,780 | $5,315 | $30.66 | $82,297 |
| Median | $79,220 | $6,602 | $38.09 | $102,219 |
| 75th percentile | $103,240 | $8,603 | $49.63 | $133,213 |
| 90th percentile | $134,360 | $11,197 | $64.60 | $173,368 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $24,020 over the median, the 25th only $15,440 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $30,994 a year in employer cost. 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 $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Huntsville, and the Alabama statewide median of $74,880 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Huntsville
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 $22,999 to the $79,220 median and brings it to $102,219 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 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Huntsville
Of the 16 roles we track in Huntsville, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($112,130); recruiters come next at $78,780.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +41.5% | 850 | |
| Accountant | this role | 3,010 | |
| Recruiter | -0.6% | 1,630 | |
| Executive Assistant | -5.7% | 440 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -18.6% | 1,810 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #6 of the 16 roles we track in Huntsville (-5.3%), between administrative assistants (-3.1%) and bookkeepers (-7.0%). The typical role here is at -7.8%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Accountants hold 12.2% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Huntsville, 11.2% across Alabama and 9.2% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Alabama
Across the 16 areas of Alabama with data for this job, the median runs from $63,250 in Gadsden to $79,220 in Huntsville, a gap of $15,970 a year. The one area in Alabama with more accountants, Birmingham, AL ($78,660), pays less: a bigger pool at a lower median.
| Area | Median | vs Huntsville | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | this area | 3,010 | |
| Birmingham, AL | -0.7% | 7,790 | |
| Montgomery, AL | -5.3% | 2,530 | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | -8.4% | 680 | |
| Mobile, AL | -8.9% | 2,010 | |
| Decatur, AL | -9.1% | 530 | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | -9.5% | 960 |
Huntsville against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Huntsville is #71 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Alabama, Wichita and Rapid City pay just above Huntsville and Lansing-East Lansing and Lawrence just below. All four are within $170 a year of the median in Huntsville. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Huntsville | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | +18.7% | 3,090 | jobs | |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | +7.4% | 3,060 | jobs | |
| Rapid City, SD | +0.1% | 840 | pay | |
| Wichita, KS | +0.1% | 3,120 | pay | |
| Huntsville, AL | this area | 3,010 | ||
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | -0.0% | 2,270 | pay | |
| Lawrence, KS | -0.2% | 400 | pay | |
| Provo-Orem, UT | -4.4% | 3,020 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Huntsville, AL?
About $102,219 a year at the median, or $8,518 a month: $79,220 in pay plus about $22,999 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in Huntsville?
The median was $79,220 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $53,920, the 90th $134,360, and the middle half earned $63,780 to $103,240.
Is Huntsville the most expensive area in Alabama for accountants?
Yes. Its median of $79,220 is the highest of 16 areas in Alabama. Birmingham comes next at $78,660.
How many accountants work in Huntsville?
BLS counts about 3,010 in the May 2025 survey. That is 12% of the Alabama total of 24,300. Only Birmingham has more in Alabama.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in Huntsville?
Yes: $440 a year more at the median. The medians are $79,220 and $78,780.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: 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.