SOC 43-6014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — Southwest Alabama
Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Southwest Alabama, AL is $38,120 a year, trailing the national median of $47,540 by 19.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Southwest Alabama, AL is $38,120 a year, trailing the national median of $47,540 by 19.8%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $31,320 and $46,950. The lowest tenth earn under $27,230, while the highest tenth earn more than $55,360.
The area has 1,660 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.34 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Huntsville records the highest median at $46,090. Of the 252 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 167th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,230 | −42.7% |
| 25th | $31,320 | −34.1% |
| Median (50th) | $38,120 | −19.8% |
| 75th | $46,950 | −1.2% |
| 90th | $55,360 | +16.4% |
| Mean | $39,990 | −15.9% |
Other metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huntsville | $46,090 | 4,700 | |
| 2 | Birmingham | $44,580 | 10,900 | |
| 3 | Decatur | $43,900 | 1,260 | |
| 4 | Mobile | $42,840 | 3,780 | |
| 5 | Tuscaloosa | $41,550 | 2,330 | |
| 6 | Auburn | $40,460 | 1,570 | |
| 7 | Montgomery | $40,260 | 4,060 | |
| 8 | Anniston | $39,800 | 900 | |
| 9 | Daphne | $39,560 | 1,820 | |
| 10 | Dothan | $39,500 | 1,190 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southwest Alabama run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $38,120 goes as far as $42,928 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$38,120as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$42,928US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,120 a year, 19.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,230 to $55,360 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,660 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Huntsville, at $46,090.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in Southwest Alabama, AL?
The median annual wage is $38,120, or $18.33 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 $47,540, so pay in Southwest Alabama, AL is 19.8% 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 Southwest Alabama, AL earns more than $55,360 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,230 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 $46,090 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,660 jobs in this occupation in Southwest Alabama, AL. 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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