Bookkeeper salary in Birmingham, AL
Birmingham is the most expensive place in Alabama to hire a bookkeeper. The median is $47,330 a year1, 6.0% above the Alabama statewide median of $44,640 and 6.6% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally it ranks #272 of 521 areas. With about 5,430 bookkeepers, 27% of the Alabama total, no area in Alabama employs more.
BLS occupation 43-3031, 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 | $32,160 | $47,330 | $61,680 | |
| Alabama | $30,460 | $44,640 | $60,250 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $61,680, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Birmingham earns $38,900–$55,430. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $16,530 wide, between the figure for Alabama ($14,290) and the US figure ($17,950).
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,160 | $2,680 | $15.46 | $41,497 |
| 25th percentile | $38,900 | $3,242 | $18.70 | $50,194 |
| Median | $47,330 | $3,944 | $22.75 | $61,071 |
| 75th percentile | $55,430 | $4,619 | $26.65 | $71,523 |
| 90th percentile | $61,680 | $5,140 | $29.65 | $79,587 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $8,430 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $8,100, or about $10,452 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 median and the 75th percentile in Birmingham, and the Alabama statewide median of $44,640 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Birmingham
At the $47,330 median, a local hire costs about $61,071 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,741 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 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 Birmingham
Of the 16 roles we track in Birmingham, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($48,380) and HR assistants ($45,500). Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,820.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +12.3% | 2,420 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +2.2% | 340 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 5,430 | |
| HR Assistant | -3.9% | 180 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -5.8% | 10,900 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #6 of the 16 roles we track in Birmingham (-6.6%), between virtual receptionists (-6.3%) and data entry specialists (-7.3%). The typical role here is at -8.6%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 9.5% of the jobs in the 15 of these roles with a job count in Birmingham, 9.9% across Alabama and 9.3% 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. No other area in Alabama has as many bookkeepers, and all 15 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Birmingham | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | this area | 5,430 | |
| Huntsville, AL | -0.4% | 1,830 | |
| Decatur, AL | -2.7% | 580 | |
| Mobile, AL | -6.0% | 1,600 | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | -6.5% | 560 | |
| Montgomery, AL | -7.6% | 1,400 | |
| Daphne-Fairhope, AL | -7.8% | 1,000 |
Birmingham against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Birmingham is #47 of 521 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, Athens-Clarke County and Sioux City pay just above Birmingham and Idaho Falls and Knoxville just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Birmingham. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Birmingham | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | +9.0% | 5,890 | jobs | |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC | +2.9% | 5,880 | jobs | |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | +2.6% | 5,070 | jobs | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | +0.1% | 690 | pay | |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | +0.1% | 820 | pay | |
| Birmingham, AL | this area | 5,430 | ||
| Idaho Falls, ID | +0.0% | 830 | pay | |
| Knoxville, TN | -0.0% | 4,510 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Birmingham, AL?
About $61,071 a year at the median, or $5,089 a month: $47,330 in pay plus about $13,741 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Birmingham?
The median was $47,330 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $32,160, the 90th $61,680, and the middle half earned $38,900 to $55,430.
Is Birmingham the most expensive area in Alabama for bookkeepers?
Yes. Its median of $47,330 is the highest of 16 areas in Alabama. Huntsville comes next at $47,130.
How many bookkeepers work in Birmingham?
BLS counts about 5,430 in the May 2025 survey. That is 27% of the Alabama total of 19,890. No other area in Alabama has as many.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in Birmingham?
Yes: $1,830 a year more at the median. The medians are $47,330 and $45,500.
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.