StateRates

Auburn-Opelika salaries

The median worker in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area earned $38,060 a year in 2024, about $18.30 an hour. That ranks #372 of the 391 metro areas published here, 23.1% below the national median.

Alabama

Median pay $38,060 $18.30 per hour
Vs national -23.1% U.S. $49,500
Workers 71,720 wage and salary
Metro rank #372 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Auburn-Opelika pays 13.2% less than Alabama as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Cooks, Fast Food 3.88× 1,200 $23,840
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 2.56× 700 $37,040
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 2.51× 1,700 $34,760
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 1.97× 630 $64,170
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers 1.81× 1,000 $34,870
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators 1.76× 660 $41,370
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 1.64× 1,330 $39,580
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers 1.62× 840 $42,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 1.45× 720 $60,800
Food Preparation Workers 1.44× 590 $27,340
Cashiers 1.39× 2,040 $26,890
Construction Laborers 1.33× 660 $34,730

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Auburn-Opelika
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Pharmacists $133,180 $64.03 230
General and Operations Managers $99,470 $47.82 960
Medical and Health Services Managers $97,490 $46.87 280
Construction Managers $85,830 $41.27 350
Industrial Engineers $78,440 $37.71 310
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary $78,380 n/a 230
Registered Nurses $77,720 $37.37 1,350
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $68,440 $32.91 370
Accountants and Auditors $67,490 $32.45 710
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $64,170 $30.85 630
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $61,830 $29.73 460
Computer User Support Specialists $61,720 $29.67 230
Human Resources Specialists $61,320 $29.48 360
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $60,800 n/a 720
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $60,650 $29.16 450
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $60,530 n/a 710
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $60,350 n/a 240
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors $60,180 $28.93 320
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $59,420 $28.57 410
Food Service Managers $59,140 $28.43 230
Instructional Coordinators $58,950 $28.34 300
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $57,930 $27.85 400
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $57,910 $27.84 360
Coaches and Scouts $56,620 n/a 270
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $55,720 $26.79 640
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $52,860 $25.41 260
Postal Service Mail Carriers $52,210 $25.10 200
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $52,180 $25.09 350
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators $51,490 $24.76 300
Electricians $49,890 $23.99 240
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers $48,520 $23.33 230
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $48,320 $23.23 1,080
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $48,200 $23.17 200
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $48,140 $23.15 340
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $45,760 $22.00 300
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $44,350 $21.32 220
Firefighters $43,910 $21.11 230
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $42,370 $20.37 840
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $41,370 $19.89 660
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $39,580 $19.03 1,330
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $38,690 $18.60 520
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $38,320 $18.42 800
Pharmacy Technicians $38,240 $18.39 280
Light Truck Drivers $38,060 $18.30 350
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $37,040 $17.81 700
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks $37,000 $17.79 280
Tellers $36,250 $17.43 220
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants $35,920 $17.27 400
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $35,630 $17.13 240
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $35,230 $16.94 340
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $34,870 $16.77 1,000
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $34,760 $16.71 1,700
Construction Laborers $34,730 $16.70 660
Medical Assistants $34,200 $16.44 390
Customer Service Representatives $33,470 $16.09 1,100
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $33,430 $16.07 1,200
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers $33,390 $16.05 520
Stockers and Order Fillers $32,810 $15.77 1,690
Counter and Rental Clerks $30,840 $14.83 260
Receptionists and Information Clerks $30,590 $14.71 350

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Auburn-Opelika by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Retail Salespersons 2,170 $28,950 $13.92
Fast Food and Counter Workers 2,130 $23,820 $11.45
Cashiers 2,040 $26,890 $12.93
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 1,700 $34,760 $16.71
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,690 $32,810 $15.77
Waiters and Waitresses 1,370 $22,090 $10.62
Registered Nurses 1,350 $77,720 $37.37
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 1,330 $39,580 $19.03
Cooks, Fast Food 1,200 $23,840 $11.46
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1,200 $33,430 $16.07
Customer Service Representatives 1,100 $33,470 $16.09
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1,080 $48,320 $23.23
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers 1,000 $34,870 $16.77
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 970 $28,740 $13.82
General and Operations Managers 960 $99,470 $47.82
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers 840 $42,370 $20.37
Cooks, Restaurant 830 $29,320 $14.10
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 800 $38,320 $18.42
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 720 $60,800 n/a
Accountants and Auditors 710 $67,490 $32.45

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Alabama metro areas

Auburn-Opelika pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Auburn-Opelika?

The median across all occupations is $38,060, or $18.30 an hour, covering 71,720 wage and salary workers. The mean is $49,870, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Auburn-Opelika pay more than the rest of Alabama?

No. The metro median of $38,060 is 13.2% below the Alabama median of $43,830. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Auburn-Opelika?

Pharmacists ($133,180), General and Operations Managers ($99,470), Medical and Health Services Managers ($97,490). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Auburn-Opelika unusually full of?

Cooks, Fast Food, at 3.88× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.