StateRates

Decatur salaries

The median worker in the Decatur, AL metro area earned $44,470 a year in 2024, about $21.38 an hour. That ranks #284 of the 391 metro areas published here, 10.2% below the national median.

Alabama

Median pay $44,470 $21.38 per hour
Vs national -10.2% U.S. $49,500
Workers 59,180 wage and salary
Metro rank #284 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Decatur pays 1.5% more 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
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers 17.06× 920 $21,650
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders 14.71× 720 $77,730
Industrial Machinery Mechanics 5.01× 810 $72,650
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 3.35× 550 $46,510
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 3.19× 840 $78,460
Cooks, Fast Food 2.98× 760 $27,360
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 2.92× 1,630 $37,780
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1.81× 1,440 $58,280
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 1.7× 1,140 $40,560
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators 1.63× 500 $40,080
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers 1.52× 650 $45,600
Construction Laborers 1.35× 550 $38,770

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Decatur
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Industrial Production Managers $146,990 $70.67 210
Mechanical Engineers $112,190 $53.94 320
General and Operations Managers $107,730 $51.79 950
Industrial Engineers $106,140 $51.03 440
Construction Managers $93,060 $44.74 210
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $80,240 $38.58 470
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $78,460 $37.72 840
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers $78,220 $37.60 220
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders $77,730 $37.37 720
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $72,650 $34.93 810
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $70,340 $33.82 430
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $68,900 $33.13 540
Registered Nurses $67,010 $32.22 760
Accountants and Auditors $66,250 $31.85 520
Buyers and Purchasing Agents $63,490 $30.52 210
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $62,340 $29.97 370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $62,150 n/a 550
Electricians $61,990 $29.80 450
Human Resources Specialists $61,490 $29.56 270
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $59,680 n/a 600
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $58,280 $28.02 1,440
Machinists $57,480 $27.63 300
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $57,110 $27.46 210
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $56,860 $27.34 480
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $56,590 $27.21 330
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers $55,990 $26.92 270
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $55,160 $26.52 230
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $51,170 $24.60 220
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $48,500 $23.32 250
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks $46,850 $22.52 320
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $46,570 $22.39 600
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $46,510 $22.36 550
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $45,600 $21.92 650
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $45,390 $21.82 300
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $44,330 $21.31 520
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $43,200 $20.77 390
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $40,560 $19.50 1,140
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $40,080 $19.27 500
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $39,720 $19.10 280
Construction Laborers $38,770 $18.64 550
Customer Service Representatives $38,250 $18.39 760
Pharmacy Technicians $37,950 $18.25 250
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $37,780 $18.17 1,630
Security Guards $37,720 $18.14 470
Light Truck Drivers $37,230 $17.90 360
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $36,500 $17.55 1,150
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers $36,230 $17.42 230
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $35,850 $17.23 510
Tellers $35,830 $17.23 240
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants $35,790 $17.21 340
Helpers--Production Workers $35,180 $16.91 410
Medical Assistants $34,580 $16.63 310
Packers and Packagers, Hand $34,130 $16.41 270
Nursing Assistants $34,120 $16.40 380
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners $31,900 $15.34 1,090
Stockers and Order Fillers $31,390 $15.09 1,090
Receptionists and Information Clerks $31,310 $15.05 260
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $31,250 $15.02 250
Cooks, Restaurant $30,790 $14.80 460
Retail Salespersons $30,770 $14.79 1,460

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Decatur by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 1,630 $37,780 $18.17
Retail Salespersons 1,460 $30,770 $14.79
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1,440 $58,280 $28.02
Cashiers 1,340 $26,960 $12.96
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1,150 $36,500 $17.55
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 1,140 $40,560 $19.50
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1,090 $31,900 $15.34
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,090 $31,390 $15.09
Fast Food and Counter Workers 1,050 $25,520 $12.27
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 1,010 $27,600 $13.27
General and Operations Managers 950 $107,730 $51.79
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers 920 $21,650 $10.41
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 840 $78,460 $37.72
Industrial Machinery Mechanics 810 $72,650 $34.93
Registered Nurses 760 $67,010 $32.22
Cooks, Fast Food 760 $27,360 $13.16
Customer Service Representatives 760 $38,250 $18.39
Waiters and Waitresses 750 $21,260 $10.22
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders 720 $77,730 $37.37
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers 650 $45,600 $21.92

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

Decatur pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Decatur?

The median across all occupations is $44,470, or $21.38 an hour, covering 59,180 wage and salary workers. The mean is $55,420, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Decatur pay more than the rest of Alabama?

Yes. The metro median of $44,470 is 1.5% above 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 Decatur?

Industrial Production Managers ($146,990), Mechanical Engineers ($112,190), General and Operations Managers ($107,730). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Decatur unusually full of?

Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers, at 17.06× 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.