The Birmingham, AL metropolitan statistical area, as BLS defines it.
Pay data · metro area
Average Salary in Birmingham, AL (2026)
The average salary in the Birmingham metro area is $60,770 a year and the median is $47,770: 6% below the US median and 5% above Alabama's (BLS, May 2025). At national-average prices the median is worth $52,130, 152nd of 387 metro areas.
- Average (mean) salary
- $60,770US $69,770
- Median salary
- $47,770US $50,980
- Median hourly
- $22.97BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Price level
- 91.6US = 100 · BEA 2024
The spread
What workers in Birmingham earn
| Percentile | Birmingham area | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,820 | $26,090 | $31,200 |
| 25th | $34,990 | $32,050 | $37,590 |
| 50th (median) | $47,770 | $45,670 | $50,980 |
| 75th | $72,240 | $66,790 | $80,520 |
| 90th | $103,950 | $101,250 | $128,560 |
| Mean | $60,770 | $57,500 | $69,770 |
Prices
Cost of living in Birmingham
BEA Regional Price Parities put the Birmingham area at 91.6 against a US average of 100. Matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $91,640 here. Compare with another city.
US = 100
- All items91.6
- Housing (rents)71.9
- Goods96.4
- Utilities83.8
- Other services96.7
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| All items | 91.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 71.9 |
| Goods | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 83.8 |
| Other services | 96.7 |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Common jobs
What common jobs pay in Birmingham
Mean annual wage in the Birmingham area against the national mean for the same occupation (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Occupation | Birmingham area | US mean | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $78,940 | $101,420 | -22% |
| Software Developer | $123,010 | $148,100 | -17% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $62,290 | $72,650 | -14% |
| Accountant | $85,110 | $94,750 | -10% |
| Electrician | $57,450 | $71,490 | -20% |
| Truck Driver | $56,600 | $59,710 | -5% |
| Customer Service Representative | $43,560 | $46,590 | -7% |
| Retail Salesperson | $34,240 | $37,310 | -8% |
| Nursing Assistant | $34,940 | $42,700 | -18% |
| General and Operations Manager | $148,780 | $134,940 | +10% |
| Maintenance and Repair Worker, General | $48,300 | $53,780 | -10% |
| Cook, Restaurant | $34,010 | $38,730 | -12% |
The jobs
Best-paying jobs in Birmingham
BLS publishes estimates for 484 occupations in this metro. Highest mean pay, and the large occupations this area pays furthest above their national average.
Highest-paying jobs
Mean annual wage
- 1Chief Executive$222,120
- 2Pediatrician, General$213,120
- 3Architectural and Engineering Manager$181,670
- 4Financial Manager$172,470
- 5Family Medicine Physician$171,790
- 6Nurse Anesthetist$170,830
- 7Lawyer$165,900
- 8Natural Sciences Manager$160,950
- 9Compensation and Benefits Manager$152,670
- 10IT Manager$151,720
Jobs Birmingham pays above the national average
Occupations with 100,000+ US workers
- 1Insurance Sales Agent$93,250 · +14%
- 2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Manager$135,260 · +11%
- 3Driver/Sales Worker$45,050 · +11%
- 4General and Operations Manager$148,780 · +10%
- 5Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer$46,550 · +9%
- 6Management Analyst$123,570 · +9%
- 7Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$58,740 · +8%
- 8Facilities Manager$126,030 · +8%
- 9Architect$114,420 · +8%
- 10Administrative Services Manager$137,320 · +6%
Compare
Other metro areas in Alabama
Method
About these numbers
- All-occupations wages for the metro are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 estimates (api.bls.gov). Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed.
- Pay by occupation is the OEWS May 2025 mean for that occupation in this metro, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 prevailing-wage file. Only figures BLS estimated for this metro itself are used, never state or national fallbacks.
- Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. Price-adjusted pay is a NueCareer calculation (wage ÷ RPP/100).
Questions
Average salary in Birmingham: FAQ
What is the average salary in Birmingham?
Across all occupations in the Birmingham, AL metro area, the average (mean) annual wage is $60,770 and the median is $47,770, 6% below the US median (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That covers 520,290 wage and salary jobs.
What is a good salary in Birmingham?
Above $47,770 out-earns half of workers in the Birmingham area; the top 25% start at $72,240 and the top 10% at $103,950. Prices run 8% below the national average (BEA, 2024), so matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $91,640 here.
Is Birmingham expensive to live in?
BEA's price level for the Birmingham metro is 91.6 (US = 100, 2024). Housing rents are 71.9, goods 96.4, utilities 83.8. At local prices the median wage is worth $52,130, 152nd of 387 metros.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Birmingham?
By mean annual wage: Chief Executive ($222,120), Pediatrician, General ($213,120), Architectural and Engineering Manager ($181,670), Financial Manager ($172,470), Family Medicine Physician ($171,790) (BLS OEWS May 2025, via the DOL wage file).