Gadsden Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Gadsden, AL: $17.63/hr median hourly wage, $36,660 median annual salary, cost of living index 80.4, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Alabama taxes.
Gadsden Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Gadsden, AL is $17.63/hr,and the median annual wage is $36,660. Entry-level pay estimates around $10.93/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $25.03/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Gadsden, AL metropolitan statistical area (33,220 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Gadsden shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$36,660
$17.63/hr
Cost of Living
80.4
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
2.9%
rate
Gadsden, AL Overview
Population
33,856
Median Salary
$36,660
Average Salary
$47,400
Avg Commute
16 min
Median Home Price
$180,000
Median Rent
$737/mo
Job Growth
+1.5%
Sales Tax
4%
Gadsden is located in Alabama with a population of 33,856. The median annual wage across all occupations is $36,660 ($17.63/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Gadsden, AL metro), which is $14,320 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 16 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.5%.
Gadsden Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Gadsden, AL built around the $36,660 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Gadsden, AL metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $22,729 | $10.93/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $36,660 | $17.63/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $52,057 | $25.03/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $65,255 | $31.38/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Gadsden Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Gadsden, AL, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$29,993
$2,499.44/month · $1,153.59/biweekly · Effective Rate: 18.2%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,153.59 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
$36,660
Federal Tax
-$2,219
State Tax
-$1,643
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$2,804
Net Pay
$29,993
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $3,055.00 | $36,660.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$184.93 | -$2,219.20 |
| Alabama State Tax (4.48% eff.) | -$136.92 | -$1,643.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$189.41 | -$2,272.92 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$44.30 | -$531.57 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $2,499.44 | $29,993.31 |
Salary Comparison: Gadsden vs Other Cities
See how Gadsden's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gadsden, AL | $36,660 | 80.4 | $45,597 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $36,540 | 82.8 | $44,130 |
| Brownsville, TX | $36,490 | 78 | $46,782 |
| Harlingen, TX | $36,490 | 98.5 | $37,046 |
| Paragould, AR | $37,099 | 82.6 | $44,914 |
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 Gadsden
Gadsden's cost of living index is 80.4 (national average = 100). Living in Gadsden is 19.599999999999994% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$180,000
Median Monthly Rent
$737
Annual Rent Cost
$8,844
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $29,993 annual take-home pay in Gadsden has the purchasing power of approximately $37,305 in an average-cost US area. Your $36,660 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Gadsden
Gadsden's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $36,660.
Salary Tips for Gadsden Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Gadsden has a cost of living 19.599999999999994% below the national average. A salary of $36,660 here has the purchasing power of about $45,597 in an average-cost area.
- Research top industries. Gadsden's top industries include Automotive Manufacturing, Aerospace, Healthcare. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $36,660 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.
Other Cities in Alabama
Hoover
Huntsville
Madison
Mobile
Montgomery
Opelika
Phenix City
Prattville
Tuscaloosa
Vestavia Hills
Alabaster
Auburn
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Gadsden salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Gadsden, AL metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Gadsden indexed at 80.4.
- Median salary: $36,660 annual, $17.63 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Gadsden, AL MSA (33,220 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $47,400 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Gadsden was $45,614.
- Tax burden reflects Alabama 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 5%) (no local income tax), sales tax (4%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Gadsden: 2.9%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Automotive Manufacturing, Aerospace, Healthcare, 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 $180,000, median rent $737/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Gadsden, AL:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Gadsden unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Gadsden 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. Gadsden'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 Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Gadsden, AL?
The median hourly wage in Gadsden, AL is $17.63 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Gadsden, AL metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $36,660. Entry-level workers are estimated around $10.93/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $25.03/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Gadsden, AL?
The median salary in Gadsden, AL is $36,660 per year, or $17.63 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Gadsden, AL metro area). The BLS mean salary is $47,400. This is $14,320 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Gadsden, AL?
Gadsden's cost of living index is 80.4 (national average = 100), meaning it is 19.599999999999994% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $180,000 and the median monthly rent is $737.
What are the best industries in Gadsden?
The top industries in Gadsden, AL include Automotive Manufacturing, Aerospace, Healthcare. The city has a job growth rate of 1.5% and an unemployment rate of 2.9%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $36,660.
How does Gadsden's salary compare to other cities?
Gadsden's median salary of $36,660 is 28.1% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 80.4), the real purchasing power is approximately $45,597.
What is the minimum wage in Gadsden, AL?
The minimum wage in Gadsden, 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.