Cost of hiring in Decatur, AL
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 15 jobs in Decatur, with about 1,260 people1. Medians run from $33,280 a year for virtual receptionists to $106,140 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Decatur
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +3.7% | 100 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -7.7% | 1,260 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -8.3% | 710 | |
| Bookkeeper | -9.1% | 580 | |
| Executive Assistant | -11.4% | 60 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -12.4% | 250 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -12.5% | 40 | |
| Office Manager | -12.6% | 510 | |
| Accountant | -13.9% | 530 | |
| Recruiter | -17.0% | 260 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -18.1% | 370 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -19.7% | 40 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -28.3% | 180 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -28.9% | 260 | |
| Paralegal | -32.4% | 60 |
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 $43,900 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $56,645 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Decatur against the US
Decatur pays above the US median for only one of the 15 roles, project coordinators (+3.7%), and below it for 14, furthest for paralegals (-32.4%). The middle gap across all 15 is -12.6%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for project coordinators, #41 of 518 areas by median pay; its lowest is for paralegals, #494 of 506.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Decatur has more administrative assistants (24.2% of these jobs here, against 10.9% nationally) and bookkeepers (11.1% against 8.7%), and fewer project coordinators (1.9% against 6.8%) and executive assistants (1.2% against 2.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Gettysburg, PA is nearest, at -12.6%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Island, NE | -12.5% | 13 | 2,920 |
| Waco, TX | -12.5% | 17 | 13,190 |
| Lima, OH | -12.6% | 16 | 3,780 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale, AR | -12.6% | 17 | 25,800 |
| Decatur, AL | -12.6% (this area) | 15 | 5,210 |
| Gettysburg, PA | -12.6% | 12 | 2,320 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in Decatur span $37,420–$125,060, the widest band (3.3×); data entry specialists the narrowest, $31,740–$45,680. Wider than nationally for virtual receptionists and medical administrative assistants, narrower for data entry specialists and sales development representatives. Budget from the median for sales development representatives, marketing specialists, paralegals and 3 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($62,470 against a $49,780 median for sales development representatives).
Decatur against Alabama
Against Alabama as a whole, Decatur pays more for 8 of 15 roles, led by customer support specialists (+7.0%) and administrative assistants (+5.5%), and less for 6, most of all sales development representatives (-15.4%). It has the highest median in Alabama for customer support specialists.
Other areas in Alabama
By jobs in these roles, Decatur is #12 of 16 areas in Alabama. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Tuscaloosa to Gadsden.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 8,910 | 16 |
| Daphne-Fairhope, AL | 8,510 | 16 |
| Southeast Alabama (Nonmetro) | 6,900 | 15 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | 6,570 | 15 |
| Dothan, AL | 5,820 | 14 |
| Southwest Alabama (Nonmetro) | 5,550 | 15 |
| Northwest Alabama (Nonmetro) | 5,170 | 13 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 5,090 | 14 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | 3,450 | 11 |
| Gadsden, AL | 2,870 | 11 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Decatur?
Of the 15 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $106,140 a year, about $136,955 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $33,280.
Is hiring in Decatur cheaper than the US median?
For 14 of the 15 roles, yes, most of all paralegals (-32.4%). One pays more than the US median: project coordinators (+3.7%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.