Bookkeeper salary in Auburn-Opelika, AL
For this job Auburn-Opelika sits right at the Alabama figure, with a median of $44,270 a year1. That is about level with the Alabama statewide median of $44,640, and 12.6% below the US median of $50,670. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#445 of 521). About 560 bookkeepers work here, 3% of the Alabama total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Auburn-Opelika, AL. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Auburn-Opelika against Alabama and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $30,620 | $44,270 | $57,900 | |
| Alabama | $30,460 | $44,640 | $60,250 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $57,900, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Auburn-Opelika earns $36,660–$49,840. The mean ($44,230) is no higher than the median, so few high earners skew the figures here. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $13,180 wide, against $14,290 across Alabama and $17,950 nationally: employers in Auburn-Opelika pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,620 | $2,552 | $14.72 | $39,510 |
| 25th percentile | $36,660 | $3,055 | $17.62 | $47,303 |
| Median | $44,270 | $3,689 | $21.28 | $57,123 |
| 75th percentile | $49,840 | $4,153 | $23.96 | $64,310 |
| 90th percentile | $57,900 | $4,825 | $27.84 | $74,710 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,610 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $5,570, or about $7,187 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 $50,670 falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles in Auburn-Opelika, and the Alabama statewide median of $44,640 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local bookkeepers earn.
What a hire really costs in Auburn-Opelika
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 $12,853 to the $44,270 median and brings it to $57,123 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 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Auburn-Opelika
Of the 15 roles we track in Auburn-Opelika, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between HR assistants ($51,570) and paralegals ($43,280). Project Coordinator is the highest at $77,690.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +16.8% | 340 | |
| HR Assistant | +16.5% | 40 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 560 | |
| Paralegal | -2.2% | 100 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -8.6% | 1,570 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #2 of the 15 roles we track in Auburn-Opelika (-12.6%), between HR assistants (+1.9%) and accountants (-13.3%). The typical role here is at -17.2%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in Auburn-Opelika than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 8.5% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Auburn-Opelika, 9.2% across Alabama and 8.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Alabama
Across the 16 areas of Alabama with data for this job, the median runs from $38,810 in Florence-Muscle Shoals to $47,330 in Birmingham, a gap of $8,520 a year. Of the 12 areas in Alabama with more bookkeepers than Auburn-Opelika, 8 pay less, the largest of them Montgomery, AL ($43,710), the Northeast Alabama nonmetro area ($40,630) and Daphne-Fairhope, AL ($43,660).
| Area | Median | vs Auburn-Opelika | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | +6.5% | 1,830 | |
| Decatur, AL | +4.0% | 580 | |
| Mobile, AL | +0.5% | 1,600 | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | this area | 560 | |
| Montgomery, AL | -1.3% | 1,400 | |
| Daphne-Fairhope, AL | -1.4% | 1,000 | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | -2.0% | 900 |
Auburn-Opelika against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Auburn-Opelika is #394 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a small market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Alabama, San Angelo and Rocky Mount pay just above Auburn-Opelika and Bowling Green and Morristown just below. All four are within $230 a year of the median in Auburn-Opelika. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Auburn-Opelika | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon, PA | +20.8% | 560 | jobs | |
| Farmington, NM | +3.9% | 560 | jobs | |
| Rocky Mount, NC | +0.1% | 590 | pay | |
| San Angelo, TX | +0.0% | 490 | pay | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | this area | 560 | ||
| Bowling Green, KY | -0.2% | 900 | pay | |
| Morristown, TN | -0.5% | 420 | pay | |
| Elizabethtown, KY | -1.0% | 560 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Auburn-Opelika, AL?
About $57,123 a year at the median, or $4,760 a month: $44,270 in pay plus about $12,853 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Auburn-Opelika?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $44,270 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,620, the 90th $57,900, and the middle half earned $36,660 to $49,840.
Is Auburn-Opelika cheaper than the rest of Alabama for bookkeepers?
About the same: a median of $44,270 against $44,640 statewide. The next area up in Alabama is Mobile at $44,470, the next down Montgomery at $43,710.
How many bookkeepers work in Auburn-Opelika?
BLS counts about 560 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Alabama total of 19,890. 12 areas in Alabama have more; the closest in size is Florence-Muscle Shoals, with about 580.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than a paralegal in Auburn-Opelika?
Yes: $990 a year more at the median. The medians are $44,270 and $43,280.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3031: 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.