Bookkeeper salary in Montgomery, AL
Montgomery is a lower-cost market for bookkeepers: the median of $43,710 a year1 is 2.1% below the Alabama statewide median of $44,640, and 13.7% below the US median of $50,670. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#460 of 521). About 1,400 bookkeepers work here, 7% of the Alabama total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Montgomery, AL. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Montgomery against Alabama and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery, AL | $29,390 | $43,710 | $59,520 | |
| Alabama | $30,460 | $44,640 | $60,250 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Montgomery earns $35,970–$49,100. The top tenth earns $59,520 or more, 2.0 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.1 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $13,130 wide, against $14,290 across Alabama and $17,950 nationally: employers in Montgomery 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 | $29,390 | $2,449 | $14.13 | $37,923 |
| 25th percentile | $35,970 | $2,998 | $17.29 | $46,413 |
| Median | $43,710 | $3,642 | $21.01 | $56,400 |
| 75th percentile | $49,100 | $4,092 | $23.61 | $63,355 |
| 90th percentile | $59,520 | $4,960 | $28.62 | $76,800 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $5,390 a year in pay and about $6,955 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $7,740 in pay. 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 Montgomery, 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 Montgomery
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 $12,690 to the $43,710 median and brings it to $56,400 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 Montgomery
Of the 16 roles we track in Montgomery, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($46,450) and administrative assistants ($40,260). Project Coordinator is the highest at $91,080.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +9.4% | 170 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +6.3% | 130 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 1,400 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -7.9% | 4,060 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -15.4% | 2,500 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #5 of the 16 roles we track in Montgomery (-13.7%), between office managers (-13.5%) and executive assistants (-15.0%). The typical role here is at -15.5%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 7.7% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Montgomery, 9.2% across Alabama and 8.7% 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. All 3 areas in Alabama with more bookkeepers than Montgomery also pay more, among them Birmingham, AL ($47,330) and Huntsville, AL ($47,130).
| Area | Median | vs Montgomery | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur, AL | +5.4% | 580 | |
| Mobile, AL | +1.7% | 1,600 | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | +1.3% | 560 | |
| Montgomery, AL | this area | 1,400 | |
| Daphne-Fairhope, AL | -0.1% | 1,000 | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | -0.7% | 900 | |
| Northwest Alabama (Nonmetro) | -1.3% | 610 |
Montgomery against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Montgomery is #186 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Alabama, Enid and Houma-Bayou Cane pay just above Montgomery and Hammond and Cleveland just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Montgomery. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Montgomery | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bend, OR | +25.6% | 1,420 | jobs | |
| Visalia, CA | +17.1% | 1,390 | jobs | |
| Peoria, IL | +9.1% | 1,390 | jobs | |
| Houma-Bayou Cane, LA | +0.1% | 770 | pay | |
| Enid, OK | +0.1% | 220 | pay | |
| Montgomery, AL | this area | 1,400 | ||
| Hammond, LA | -0.1% | 380 | pay | |
| Cleveland, TN | -0.1% | 400 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Montgomery, AL?
About $56,400 a year at the median, or $4,700 a month: $43,710 in pay plus about $12,690 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Montgomery?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $43,710 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,390, the 90th $59,520, and the middle half earned $35,970 to $49,100.
Is Montgomery cheaper than the rest of Alabama for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $43,710 against $44,640 statewide. The next area up in Alabama is Auburn-Opelika at $44,270, the next down Daphne-Fairhope at $43,660.
How many bookkeepers work in Montgomery?
BLS counts about 1,400 in the May 2025 survey. That is 7% of the Alabama total of 19,890. 3 areas in Alabama have more; the closest in size is Mobile, with about 1,600.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in Montgomery?
Yes: $3,450 a year more at the median. The medians are $43,710 and $40,260.
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.