Bookkeeper salary and cost of hiring in Alabama
The median bookkeeper in Alabama earned $44,640 a year in May 2025[1], 11.9% below the US median of $50,670. That puts Alabama at #48 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3031. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $30,460 | $44,640 | $60,250 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Alabama earns $36,390–$50,680; the top tenth earns $60,250 or more, 2.0 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 $63,771 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 bookkeepers 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | $55,430 | 5,430 | |
| Huntsville, AL | $55,600 | 1,830 | |
| Decatur, AL | $54,680 | 580 | |
| Mobile, AL | $49,320 | 1,600 | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $49,840 | 560 | |
| Montgomery, AL | $49,100 | 1,400 | |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $50,400 | 1,000 | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $49,630 | 900 | |
| Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $48,870 | 610 | |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $48,090 | 330 | |
| Dothan, AL | $47,750 | 560 | |
| Gadsden, AL | $48,180 | 290 | |
| Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $47,950 | 740 | |
| Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $47,730 | 1,270 | |
| Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $48,120 | 640 | |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $47,750 | 580 |
Birmingham, AL pays the most ($47,330) and Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL the least ($38,810): $8,520 a year apart for the same job.
What a bookkeeper does
A bookkeeper records the company's transactions, reconciles bank accounts, keeps receivables and payables in order and prepares the books for the accountant.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | +3.4% | |
| Louisiana | +0.6% | |
| Alabama | +0.0% | |
| West Virginia | -3.9% | |
| Arkansas | -4.0% |
Questions
How much does a bookkeeper earn in Alabama?
The median was $44,640 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $36,390 to $50,680.
What does it cost to employ a bookkeeper in Alabama?
About $63,771 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 bookkeepers earn the most?
Birmingham, AL, with a median of $47,330 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3031: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433031.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.