SOC 43-3051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks — Alabama
Alabama · 9 metro areas compared
The median wage for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in Alabama is $46,170 per year, 20.8% below the national median of $58,260.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in Alabama is $46,170 per year, 20.8% below the national median of $58,260. Pay ranges from under $32,210 at the tenth percentile to more than $64,170 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $37,520 to $55,030.
Employment stands at 1,360, or 0.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Alabama ranks 49th by median wage. Huntsville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $52,020. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 441st of 690 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,210 | −44.7% |
| 25th | $37,520 | −35.6% |
| Median (50th) | $46,170 | −20.8% |
| 75th | $55,030 | −5.5% |
| 90th | $64,170 | +10.1% |
| Mean | $47,530 | −18.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huntsville | $52,020 | 150 | |
| 2 | Birmingham | $48,380 | 340 | |
| 3 | Decatur | $46,810 | 40 | |
| 4 | Montgomery | $46,450 | 130 | |
| 5 | Tuscaloosa | $45,540 | 40 | |
| 6 | Mobile | $45,280 | 110 | |
| 7 | Florence | $44,690 | 30 | |
| 8 | Daphne | $40,370 | 60 | |
| 9 | Dothan | $38,550 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Alabama run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $46,170 goes as far as $51,993 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$46,170as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$51,993US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,170 a year, 20.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $32,210 to $64,170 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,360 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 49th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Huntsville, at $52,020.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in Alabama?
The median annual wage is $46,170, or $22.20 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $58,260, so pay in Alabama is 20.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Alabama earns more than $64,170 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $32,210 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Huntsville, at $52,020 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,360 jobs in this occupation in Alabama. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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