Cost of hiring in Auburn-Opelika, AL
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 15 jobs in Auburn-Opelika, with about 1,570 people1. Medians run from $31,600 a year for virtual receptionists to $77,690 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Auburn-Opelika
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +1.9% | 40 | |
| Bookkeeper | -12.6% | 560 | |
| Accountant | -13.3% | 680 | |
| Office Manager | -14.7% | 660 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -14.9% | 1,570 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -16.9% | 330 | |
| Recruiter | -17.0% | 350 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -17.2% | 30 | |
| Executive Assistant | -17.9% | 110 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -20.0% | 960 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -20.9% | 500 | |
| Project Coordinator | -24.1% | 60 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -24.3% | 280 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -26.1% | 340 | |
| Paralegal | -31.2% | 100 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $40,460 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $52,206 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Auburn-Opelika against the US
Auburn-Opelika pays above the US median for only one of the 15 roles, HR assistants (+1.9%), and below it for 14, furthest for paralegals (-31.2%). The middle gap across all 15 is -17.2%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for HR assistants, #88 of 384 areas by median pay; its lowest is for paralegals, #492 of 506.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Auburn-Opelika has more administrative assistants (23.9% of these jobs here, against 10.9% nationally) and medical administrative assistants (7.6% against 6.1%), and fewer project coordinators (0.9% against 6.8%) and data entry specialists (0.5% against 0.8%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Morristown, TN is nearest, at -17.2%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Station-Bryan, TX | -16.9% | 17 | 12,750 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | -17.2% (this area) | 15 | 6,570 |
| Morristown, TN | -17.2% | 17 | 3,900 |
| Springfield, MO | -17.3% | 16 | 20,430 |
| Jackson, MS | -17.4% | 17 | 25,750 |
| Owensboro, KY | -17.4% | 14 | 4,240 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in Auburn-Opelika span $37,320–$106,870, the widest band (2.9×); data entry specialists the narrowest, $29,030–$43,670. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 9 of 15 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, project coordinators, marketing specialists and 3 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($62,560 against a $51,720 median for sales development representatives).
Auburn-Opelika against Alabama
Against Alabama as a whole, Auburn-Opelika pays more only for HR assistants (+22.4%), and less for 12, most of all project coordinators (-22.9%). It has the highest median in Alabama for HR assistants, and the lowest for project coordinators.
Other areas in Alabama
By jobs in these roles, Auburn-Opelika is #9 of 16 areas in Alabama. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Mobile to Florence-Muscle Shoals.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile, AL | 17,970 | 16 |
| Northeast Alabama (Nonmetro) | 11,230 | 16 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 8,910 | 16 |
| Daphne-Fairhope, AL | 8,510 | 16 |
| Southeast Alabama (Nonmetro) | 6,900 | 15 |
| Dothan, AL | 5,820 | 14 |
| Southwest Alabama (Nonmetro) | 5,550 | 15 |
| Decatur, AL | 5,210 | 15 |
| Northwest Alabama (Nonmetro) | 5,170 | 13 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 5,090 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Auburn-Opelika?
Of the 15 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $77,690 a year, about $100,245 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $31,600.
Is hiring in Auburn-Opelika cheaper than the US median?
For 14 of the 15 roles, yes, most of all paralegals (-31.2%). One pays more than the US median: HR assistants (+1.9%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.