Cost of hiring in the Northwest Alabama nonmetro area
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 13 jobs in the Northwest Alabama nonmetro area, with about 1,440 people1. Medians run from $30,420 a year for virtual receptionists to $71,420 for accountants.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Northwest Alabama nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | -14.7% | 480 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -14.7% | 630 | |
| Bookkeeper | -14.9% | 610 | |
| Office Manager | -15.0% | 590 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -17.1% | 1,440 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -20.0% | 200 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -21.5% | 490 | |
| Recruiter | -21.8% | 250 | |
| Executive Assistant | -21.9% | 60 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -27.1% | 30 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -28.8% | 170 | |
| Paralegal | -32.3% | 80 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -33.5% | 140 |
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 $39,430 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $50,877 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Northwest Alabama nonmetro area against the US
The Northwest Alabama nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 13 roles. The gap is smallest for accountants (-14.7%) and customer support specialists (-14.7%) and largest for marketing specialists (-33.5%). The middle gap across all 13 is -21.5%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for customer support specialists, #364 of 520 areas by median pay; its lowest is for paralegals, #493 of 506.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Northwest Alabama nonmetro area has more administrative assistants (27.9% of these jobs here, against 11.8% nationally) and medical administrative assistants (9.5% against 6.6%), and fewer executive assistants (1.2% against 3.2%) and sales development representatives (3.3% against 8.7%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Hattiesburg, MS is nearest, at -21.5%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texarkana, TX-AR | -21.1% | 15 | 4,440 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | -21.5% | 15 | 5,210 |
| Northwest Alabama (Nonmetro) | -21.5% (this area) | 13 | 5,170 |
| McAllen-Edinburg, TX | -21.6% | 17 | 28,300 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | -22.1% | 16 | 7,690 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | -22.3% | 14 | 3,590 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in the Northwest Alabama nonmetro area span $29,170–$107,570, the widest band (3.7×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $28,510–$48,270. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 5 of 13 roles, payroll specialists most ($39,500–$81,350 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, marketing specialists, executive assistants and 2 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($62,210 against a $49,830 median for sales development representatives).
the Northwest Alabama nonmetro area against Alabama
Against Alabama as a whole, the Northwest Alabama nonmetro area pays about the same or less for all 13 roles, and less for 12, most of all sales development representatives (-15.3%). Its best rank within Alabama is #5 of 16 areas, for customer support specialists.
Other areas in Alabama
By jobs in these roles, the Northwest Alabama nonmetro area is #13 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 |
| Decatur, AL | 5,210 | 15 |
| 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 the Northwest Alabama nonmetro area?
Of the 13 roles we track, Accountant: a median of $71,420 a year, about $92,155 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $30,420.
Is hiring in the Northwest Alabama nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 13 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for marketing specialists (-33.5%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.