Administrative Assistant salary in Decatur, AL
Decatur pays administrative assistants more than Alabama as a whole but less than the country. The median is $43,900 a year1: 5.5% above the Alabama statewide median of $41,630 and 7.7% below the US median of $47,540. Nationally it ranks #292 of 520 areas. BLS counts about 1,260 people in this job here, 3% of the Alabama total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Decatur, AL. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Decatur against Alabama and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur, AL | $29,770 | $43,900 | $59,810 | |
| Alabama | $29,170 | $41,630 | $59,090 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Decatur earns $36,410–$51,490. The top tenth earns $59,810 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 $15,080 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 | $29,770 | $2,481 | $14.31 | $38,413 |
| 25th percentile | $36,410 | $3,034 | $17.50 | $46,981 |
| Median | $43,900 | $3,658 | $21.11 | $56,645 |
| 75th percentile | $51,490 | $4,291 | $24.75 | $66,439 |
| 90th percentile | $59,810 | $4,984 | $28.75 | $77,174 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,490 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $7,590, or about $9,794 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 Decatur, and the Alabama statewide median of $41,630 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Decatur
At the $43,900 median, a local hire costs about $56,645 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $12,745 here. 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 Decatur
Of the 15 roles we track in Decatur, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between bookkeepers ($46,060) and paralegals ($42,510). Project Coordinator is the highest at $106,140.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +6.6% | 40 | |
| Bookkeeper | +4.9% | 580 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 1,260 | |
| Paralegal | -3.2% | 60 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -6.4% | 710 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #2 of the 15 roles we track in Decatur (-7.7%), between project coordinators (+3.7%) and customer support specialists (-8.3%). The typical role here is at -12.6%, so, measured against the US, administrative assistants cost more in Decatur than the area's general pay level would suggest. Administrative assistants hold 24.2% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Decatur, 20.8% across Alabama and 10.9% 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. Of the 11 areas in Alabama with more administrative assistants than Decatur, 9 pay less, the largest of them Montgomery, AL ($40,260), Mobile, AL ($42,840) and the Northeast Alabama nonmetro area ($39,000).
| Area | Median | vs Decatur | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | +5.0% | 4,700 | |
| Birmingham, AL | +1.5% | 10,900 | |
| Decatur, AL | this area | 1,260 | |
| Mobile, AL | -2.4% | 3,780 | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | -5.4% | 2,330 | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | -7.8% | 1,570 | |
| Montgomery, AL | -8.3% | 4,060 |
Decatur against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Decatur is #262 of 520 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Alabama, Canton-Massillon and Pocatello pay just above Decatur and Lebanon and Springfield just below. All four are within $90 a year of the median in Decatur. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Decatur | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | +16.4% | 1,250 | jobs | |
| Lexington Park, MD | +9.0% | 1,260 | jobs | |
| Pocatello, ID | +0.2% | 380 | pay | |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | +0.1% | 1,560 | pay | |
| Decatur, AL | this area | 1,260 | ||
| Lebanon, PA | +0.0% | 630 | pay | |
| Springfield, OH | -0.1% | 460 | pay | |
| Ocala, FL | -8.0% | 1,270 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Decatur, AL?
About $56,645 a year at the median, or $4,720 a month: $43,900 in pay plus about $12,745 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do administrative assistants earn in Decatur?
The median was $43,900 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,770, the 90th $59,810, and the middle half earned $36,410 to $51,490.
Is Decatur cheaper than the rest of Alabama for administrative assistants?
No, it costs more: a median of $43,900 against $41,630 statewide. The next area up in Alabama is Birmingham at $44,580, the next down Mobile at $42,840.
How many administrative assistants work in Decatur?
BLS counts about 1,260 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Alabama total of 45,050. 11 areas in Alabama have more; the closest in size is the Northwest Alabama nonmetro area, with about 1,440.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a paralegal in Decatur?
Yes: $1,390 a year more at the median. The medians are $43,900 and $42,510.
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.