Administrative Assistant salary in Birmingham, AL
Birmingham pays administrative assistants more than Alabama as a whole but less than the country. The median is $44,580 a year1: 7.1% above the Alabama statewide median of $41,630 and 6.2% below the US median of $47,540. Among US areas it comes in at #265 of 520. It is the largest market for the job in Alabama: about 10,900 people, 24% of the Alabama total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Birmingham, AL. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Birmingham against Alabama and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | $30,960 | $44,580 | $60,380 | |
| Alabama | $29,170 | $41,630 | $59,090 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Birmingham earns $36,840–$51,890. The top tenth earns $60,380 or more, 2.0 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.0 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $15,050 wide, between the figure for Alabama ($13,540) and the US figure ($19,170).
What to budget for an administrative assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,960 | $2,580 | $14.88 | $39,948 |
| 25th percentile | $36,840 | $3,070 | $17.71 | $47,535 |
| Median | $44,580 | $3,715 | $21.43 | $57,523 |
| 75th percentile | $51,890 | $4,324 | $24.95 | $66,955 |
| 90th percentile | $60,380 | $5,032 | $29.03 | $77,910 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,740 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $7,310, or about $9,432 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 $47,540 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Birmingham, and the Alabama statewide median of $41,630 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Birmingham
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 $12,943 to the $44,580 median and brings it to $57,523 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 administrative assistants 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 Birmingham
Of the 16 roles we track in Birmingham, this one ranks #12 by median pay, between HR assistants ($45,500) and customer support specialists ($40,530). Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,820.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +6.2% | 5,430 | |
| HR Assistant | +2.1% | 180 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 10,900 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -9.1% | 9,850 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -12.2% | n/a |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #4 of the 16 roles we track in Birmingham (-6.2%), between accountants (-6.0%) and virtual receptionists (-6.3%). The typical role here is at -8.6%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Administrative assistants hold 19.0% of the jobs in the 15 of these roles with a job count in Birmingham, 22.5% across Alabama and 11.5% 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 $37,480 in the Southeast Alabama nonmetro area to $46,090 in Huntsville, a gap of $8,610 a year. No other area in Alabama has as many administrative assistants, and 14 of the other 15 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Birmingham | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | +3.4% | 4,700 | |
| Birmingham, AL | this area | 10,900 | |
| Decatur, AL | -1.5% | 1,260 | |
| Mobile, AL | -3.9% | 3,780 | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | -6.8% | 2,330 | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | -9.2% | 1,570 | |
| Montgomery, AL | -9.7% | 4,060 |
Birmingham against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Birmingham is #31 of 520 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, Sandusky and St. George pay just above Birmingham and Saginaw and Lima just below. All four are within $120 a year of the median in Birmingham. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Birmingham | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | +5.3% | 11,020 | jobs | |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | +5.0% | 11,330 | jobs | |
| Las Vegas-Henderson, NV | +3.3% | 11,080 | jobs | |
| St. George, UT | +0.1% | 880 | pay | |
| Sandusky, OH | +0.0% | 520 | pay | |
| Birmingham, AL | this area | 10,900 | ||
| Saginaw, MI | -0.0% | 740 | pay | |
| Lima, OH | -0.3% | 490 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Birmingham, AL?
About $57,523 a year at the median, or $4,794 a month: $44,580 in pay plus about $12,943 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for administrative assistants in Birmingham?
The median was $44,580 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,960, the 90th $60,380, and the middle half earned $36,840 to $51,890.
Is Birmingham cheaper than the rest of Alabama for administrative assistants?
No, it costs more: a median of $44,580 against $41,630 statewide. The next area up in Alabama is Huntsville at $46,090, the next down Decatur at $43,900.
How many administrative assistants work in Birmingham?
BLS counts about 10,900 in the May 2025 survey. That is 24% of the Alabama total of 45,050. No other area in Alabama has as many.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a customer support specialist in Birmingham?
Yes: $4,050 a year more at the median. The medians are $44,580 and $40,530.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6014: 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.