Administrative Assistant salary in Gadsden, AL
Hiring an administrative assistant costs less in Gadsden than in Alabama or the country as a whole. The median is $38,860 a year1: 6.7% below the Alabama statewide median of $41,630 and 18.3% below the US median of $47,540. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#446 of 520). BLS counts about 670 people in this job here, 1% of the Alabama total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Gadsden, AL. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Gadsden against Alabama and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gadsden, AL | $27,840 | $38,860 | $57,910 | |
| Alabama | $29,170 | $41,630 | $59,090 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Gadsden earns $32,840–$46,660. The top tenth earns $57,910 or more, 2.1 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.0 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $13,820 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 | $27,840 | $2,320 | $13.38 | $35,923 |
| 25th percentile | $32,840 | $2,737 | $15.79 | $42,374 |
| Median | $38,860 | $3,238 | $18.68 | $50,142 |
| 75th percentile | $46,660 | $3,888 | $22.43 | $60,206 |
| 90th percentile | $57,910 | $4,826 | $27.84 | $74,723 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,020 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $7,800, or about $10,065 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 75th and 90th percentiles in Gadsden, and the Alabama statewide median of $41,630 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local administrative assistants earn.
What a hire really costs in Gadsden
At the $38,860 median, a local hire costs about $50,142 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $11,282 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 Gadsden
Of the 11 roles we track in Gadsden, this one ranks #7 by median pay, between bookkeepers ($40,810) and paralegals ($37,980). Accountant is the highest at $63,250.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +21.1% | 140 | |
| Bookkeeper | +5.0% | 290 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 670 | |
| Paralegal | -2.3% | 70 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -8.8% | 340 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the best paid of the 11 roles we track in Gadsden (-18.3%); paralegals come last (-39.6%). The typical role here is at -24.4%, so, measured against the US, administrative assistants cost more in Gadsden than the area's general pay level would suggest. Administrative assistants hold 23.3% of the jobs in these 11 roles in Gadsden, 21.7% across Alabama and 12.3% 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 15 areas in Alabama with more administrative assistants than Gadsden, 3 pay less: the Southeast Alabama nonmetro area ($37,480), the Southwest Alabama nonmetro area ($38,120) and Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL ($38,850).
| Area | Median | vs Gadsden | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dothan, AL | +1.6% | 1,190 | |
| Northwest Alabama (Nonmetro) | +1.5% | 1,440 | |
| Northeast Alabama (Nonmetro) | +0.4% | 2,870 | |
| Gadsden, AL | this area | 670 | |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | -0.0% | 1,160 | |
| Southwest Alabama (Nonmetro) | -1.9% | 1,660 | |
| Southeast Alabama (Nonmetro) | -3.6% | 1,740 |
Gadsden against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Gadsden is #398 of 520 US areas for this job. It is a small market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Alabama, McAllen-Edinburg and Altoona pay just above Gadsden and Little Rock-North Little Rock and Homosassa Springs just below. All four are within $150 a year of the median in Gadsden. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Gadsden | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mankato, MN | +32.3% | 660 | jobs | |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | +21.0% | 670 | jobs | |
| Altoona, PA | +0.4% | 640 | pay | |
| McAllen-Edinburg, TX | +0.4% | 3,180 | pay | |
| Gadsden, AL | this area | 670 | ||
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR | -0.0% | 2,160 | pay | |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | -0.1% | 400 | pay | |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | -3.5% | 670 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Gadsden, AL?
About $50,142 a year at the median, or $4,178 a month: $38,860 in pay plus about $11,282 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do administrative assistants earn in Gadsden?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $38,860 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,840, the 90th $57,910, and the middle half earned $32,840 to $46,660.
Is Gadsden cheaper than the rest of Alabama for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $38,860 against $41,630 statewide. The next area up in Alabama is the Northeast Alabama nonmetro area at $39,000, the next down Florence-Muscle Shoals at $38,850.
How many administrative assistants work in Gadsden?
BLS counts about 670 in the May 2025 survey. That is 1% of the Alabama total of 45,050. 15 areas in Alabama have more; the closest in size is Anniston-Oxford, with about 900.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a paralegal in Gadsden?
Yes: $880 a year more at the median. The medians are $38,860 and $37,980.
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.