Birmingham Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Birmingham, AL: $25.38/hr median hourly wage, $52,800 median annual salary, cost of living index 92, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Alabama taxes.
Birmingham Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Birmingham, AL is $25.38/hr, equivalent to $52,800 per year at 2,080 work hours. Entry-level pay estimates around $15.74/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $36.04/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Birmingham salary source review
Reviewed May 26, 2026 for Birmingham-Hoover metro labor market context.
Birmingham salaries are shaped by healthcare, finance, manufacturing, logistics, education, construction, and Alabama professional services. A salary of $52,800 in Birmingham converts to about $41,965 after estimated 2026 federal, FICA, state, and local income taxes before benefits or retirement deductions.
- Compare healthcare, finance, engineering, and skilled-trade offers against Birmingham-Hoover metro benchmarks.
- Alabama state income tax, local sales tax burden, housing costs, and commute time all affect the real value of a salary.
- UAB, hospital systems, banking, insurance, logistics, and industrial employers can price above the general city median.
Median Salary
$52,800
$25.38/hr
Cost of Living
92
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
3.8%
rate
Birmingham, AL Overview
Population
197,575
Median Salary
$52,800
Average Salary
$58,200
Avg Commute
25 min
Median Home Price
$175,000
Median Rent
$1,050/mo
Job Growth
+1.5%
Sales Tax
10%
Birmingham is located in Alabama with a population of 197,575. The median household salary is $52,800 per year ($25.38/hour), which is $6,584 below the national median of $59,384. The average commute time is 25 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.5%.
Birmingham Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Birmingham, AL based on BLS percentile breakdown of the $52,800 median salary. Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $32,736 | $15.74/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $52,800 | $25.38/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $74,976 | $36.04/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $93,984 | $45.18/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) derived from 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics distribution across all occupations in metro areas. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Birmingham Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Birmingham, AL, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$41,965
$3,497.07/month · $1,614.03/biweekly · Effective Rate: 20.5%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,614.03 take-home per paycheck after estimated Alabama and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$52,800
Federal Tax
-$4,156
State Tax
-$2,112
Local Tax
-$528
FICA
-$4,039
Net Pay
$41,965
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,400.00 | $52,800.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$346.33 | -$4,156.00 |
| Alabama State Tax (4%) | -$176.00 | -$2,112.00 |
| Local Tax (1%) | -$44.00 | -$528.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$272.80 | -$3,273.60 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$63.80 | -$765.60 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,497.07 | $41,964.80 |
Salary Comparison: Birmingham vs Other Cities
See how Birmingham's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | $52,800 | 92 | $57,391 |
| National Average | $59,384 | 100 | $59,384 |
| Clinton Township, MI | $52,802 | 96.2 | $54,888 |
| Des Plaines, IL | $52,811 | 92.9 | $56,847 |
| Coconut Creek, FL | $52,813 | 100.5 | $52,550 |
| Moorhead, MN | $52,783 | 92.7 | $56,940 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Birmingham
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92 (national average = 100). Living in Birmingham is 8% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$175,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,050
Annual Rent Cost
$12,600
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $41,965 annual take-home pay in Birmingham has the purchasing power of approximately $45,614 in an average-cost US area. Your $52,800 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Birmingham
Birmingham's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $52,800.
Salary Tips for Birmingham Workers
- Research top industries. Birmingham's top industries include Healthcare, Finance, Manufacturing. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $52,800 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Birmingham salary data: Our citywide compensation figures aggregate occupation-specific salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the Birmingham-AL metropolitan statistical area (MSA), weighted by local employment counts. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Birmingham indexed at 92.
- Median salary calculation: weighted average of Birmingham's occupation-specific medians from BLS OEWS, adjusted for local cost of living. Net result: $52,800 annual median.
- Tax burden reflects Alabama state income tax (4%), plus Birmingham local tax of 1%, sales tax (10%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Birmingham: 3.8%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Healthcare, Finance, Manufacturing — based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.5% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Alabama.
- Housing context: median home price $175,000, median rent $1,050/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Birmingham, AL:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — Birmingham unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau — Birmingham QuickFacts — population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) — county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance — Alabama — state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) — local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Birmingham's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines — always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Alabama labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk· Last updated 2026 · BLS & Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Birmingham, AL?
The median hourly wage in Birmingham, AL is $25.38 per hour. At a standard 2,080-hour work year, that equals about $52,800 per year. Entry-level workers are estimated around $15.74/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $36.04/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.
What is the median salary in Birmingham, AL?
The median salary in Birmingham, AL is $52,800 per year, or $25.38 per hour. The average salary is $58,200. This is $6,584 below the national median of $59,384.
What is the cost of living in Birmingham, AL?
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92 (national average = 100), meaning it is 8% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $175,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,050.
What are the best industries in Birmingham?
The top industries in Birmingham, AL include Healthcare, Finance, Manufacturing. The city has a job growth rate of 1.5% and an unemployment rate of 3.8%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $52,800.
How does Birmingham's salary compare to other cities?
Birmingham's median salary of $52,800 is 11.1% below the national median of $59,384. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 92), the real purchasing power is approximately $57,391.
What is the minimum wage in Birmingham, AL?
The minimum wage in Birmingham, AL is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.