Cost of hiring in the Southwest Alabama nonmetro area
BLS counts about 5,550 people in these 15 roles in the Southwest Alabama nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($91,000 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($29,640), and Administrative Assistant is the largest job, with about 1,660 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Southwest Alabama nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | -11.1% | 50 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -16.7% | 640 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -19.8% | 1,660 | |
| Recruiter | -20.1% | 270 | |
| Bookkeeper | -21.7% | 640 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -22.0% | 210 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -22.0% | 40 | |
| Accountant | -22.2% | 520 | |
| Executive Assistant | -23.0% | 70 | |
| Office Manager | -23.9% | 540 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -24.1% | 450 | |
| HR Assistant | -31.9% | 30 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -33.5% | 180 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -34.0% | 130 | |
| Paralegal | -38.6% | 120 |
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 $38,120 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $49,187 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Southwest Alabama nonmetro area against the US
The Southwest Alabama nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 15 roles. The gap is smallest for project coordinators (-11.1%) and customer support specialists (-16.7%) and largest for paralegals (-38.6%). The middle gap across all 15 is -22.2%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for project coordinators, #281 of 518 areas by median pay; its lowest is for HR assistants, #383 of 384.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Southwest Alabama nonmetro area has more administrative assistants (29.9% of these jobs here, against 10.9% nationally) and medical administrative assistants (8.1% against 6.1%), and fewer project coordinators (0.9% against 6.8%) and sales development representatives (3.2% against 8.0%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Fort Smith, AR-OK is nearest, at -22.1%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | -22.1% | 16 | 7,690 |
| Southwest Alabama (Nonmetro) | -22.2% (this area) | 15 | 5,550 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | -22.3% | 14 | 3,590 |
| Hammond, LA | -22.6% | 14 | 3,540 |
| Valdosta, GA | -22.8% | 15 | 4,420 |
| Monroe, LA | -22.8% | 16 | 7,200 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in the Southwest Alabama nonmetro area span $30,620–$99,480, the widest band (3.2×); payroll specialists the narrowest, $36,620–$61,060. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 8 of 15 roles, project coordinators most ($61,580–$167,970 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, marketing specialists, accountants and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($57,160 against a $46,570 median for sales development representatives).
the Southwest Alabama nonmetro area against Alabama
Against Alabama as a whole, the Southwest Alabama nonmetro area pays less for every one of the 15 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for payroll specialists (-1.6%) and is furthest below for sales development representatives (-20.9%). It has the lowest median in Alabama for sales development representatives and HR assistants.
Other areas in Alabama
By jobs in these roles, the Southwest Alabama nonmetro area is #11 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 |
| Decatur, AL | 5,210 | 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 the Southwest Alabama nonmetro area?
Of the 15 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $91,000 a year, about $117,419 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $29,640.
Is hiring in the Southwest Alabama nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 15 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for paralegals (-38.6%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.