Jobs, pay and daily life in Anniston, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Anniston is a city in Alabama with 21,271 residents. The median household earns $46,668 a year and the median rent is $799 a month, which is 20.5% of the median household income. It is part of the Anniston-Oxford, AL metropolitan area, where BLS counts 43,570 jobs.
How Anniston compares. Among the 80 largest places in Alabama, Anniston is #32 by population, #72 for household income (#1 = highest), #13 for rent (#1 = cheapest), #62 for college degrees (#1 = most). Its county, Calhoun County, is #32 of 67 counties for average pay ($51,354).
Anniston has 21,271 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.4% of the population of Alabama. It covers 46 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 464 people per square mile. The median age is 42.8, 9% older than the state median (42.8 against 39.3).
The median gross rent is $799 a month (rent plus utilities), 21% below the state median ($799 against $1,007). Over a year that is 20.5% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $158,800, which is 3.4 times the median household income ($46,668); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 58.5% of households own their home, 17% below the state average (58.5% against 70.2%).
The Anniston-Oxford, AL metropolitan area has 43,570 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $42,680 a year, 16% below the national median ($42,680 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are production (5,840 jobs, median $46,070); food preparation and serving related (4,580 jobs, median $26,410); sales and related (4,440 jobs, median $30,420). The area is most specialised in production (2.4 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are production ($46,070). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Calhoun County was 4.1%. 49.6% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Calhoun County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 80.4% drive alone, 0.4% use public transit, 1.8% walk, 7.7% work from home. 14.0% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 5% below the state average (14.0% against 14.7%).
20.5% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 28% below the state share (20.5% against 28.4%). 2.8% of residents were born outside the United States, 31% below the state share (2.8% against 4.0%). The poverty rate is 20.6%, 32% above the state rate (20.6% against 15.6%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 80°F (26.6°C), and the coolest is Jan at 42°F (5.3°C). About 1,312 mm (52 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Dec is the wettest month (132 mm) and Oct the driest (79 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Saks (4 miles, rent 12% higher); Oxford (6 miles, rent 16% higher); Jacksonville (10 miles, similar rent); Southside (19 miles, rent 48% higher). Rent differences are against Anniston; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Alabama (395) →State guide: AlabamaCountry guideCalhoun CountyAlabama rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 395 federal postings open in Alabama (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in Alabama →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 1,530 | 1.40 | $29,400 | $22,470 | $44,750 | -17% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 1,450 | 3.67 | $46,070 | $31,680 | $51,040 | +3% |
| Cashiers | 1,290 | 1.49 | $27,130 | $21,200 | $32,720 | -17% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,080 | 1.00 | $22,650 | $20,420 | $28,580 | -27% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,060 | 1.33 | $29,810 | $27,100 | $43,610 | -20% |
| Registered Nurses | 990 | 1.04 | $72,730 | $50,190 | $89,470 | -25% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 900 | 1.88 | $39,800 | $27,520 | $56,720 | -16% |
| Cooks, Fast Food | 820 | 4.59 | $26,410 | $22,500 | $30,590 | -15% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 800 | 0.97 | $38,710 | $25,560 | $48,400 | -4% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 680 | 1.17 | $50,550 | $38,430 | $71,200 | -14% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 670 | 1.72 | $61,200 | $47,360 | $71,790 | -4% |
| Nursing Assistants | 660 | 1.62 | $31,920 | $26,080 | $38,870 | -24% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 600 | 0.95 | $24,640 | $16,010 | $34,580 | -30% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 590 | 1.86 | $44,350 | $26,990 | $69,970 | -9% |
| General and Operations Managers | 550 | 0.56 | $98,540 | $47,990 | $222,780 | -7% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 520 | 0.84 | $29,530 | $23,690 | $38,110 | -20% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 470 | 1.37 | $35,510 | $28,380 | $55,330 | -19% |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanics | 460 | 3.73 | $60,640 | $45,830 | $73,770 | -6% |
| Helpers--Production Workers | 460 | 9.83 | $29,340 | $26,780 | $37,910 | -25% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 430 | 0.59 | $36,190 | $29,450 | $48,310 | -19% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 550 | 0.56 | $98,540 | $47,990 | $222,780 | -7% |
| Registered Nurses | 990 | 1.04 | $72,730 | $50,190 | $89,470 | -25% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 670 | 1.72 | $61,200 | $47,360 | $71,790 | -4% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 680 | 1.17 | $50,550 | $38,430 | $71,200 | -14% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 1,450 | 3.67 | $46,070 | $31,680 | $51,040 | +3% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 590 | 1.86 | $44,350 | $26,990 | $69,970 | -9% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 900 | 1.88 | $39,800 | $27,520 | $56,720 | -16% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 800 | 0.97 | $38,710 | $25,560 | $48,400 | -4% |
| Nursing Assistants | 660 | 1.62 | $31,920 | $26,080 | $38,870 | -24% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,060 | 1.33 | $29,810 | $27,100 | $43,610 | -20% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 520 | 0.84 | $29,530 | $23,690 | $38,110 | -20% |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,530 | 1.40 | $29,400 | $22,470 | $44,750 | -17% |
| Cashiers | 1,290 | 1.49 | $27,130 | $21,200 | $32,720 | -17% |
| Cooks, Fast Food | 820 | 4.59 | $26,410 | $22,500 | $30,590 | -15% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 600 | 0.95 | $24,640 | $16,010 | $34,580 | -30% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,080 | 1.00 | $22,650 | $20,420 | $28,580 | -27% |
These figures are for the whole Anniston-Oxford, AL metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $42,680 (US $50,980); unemployment 4.1% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 21.0% |
| Education and health care | 20.6% |
| Retail trade | 13.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 12.9% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 9.2% |
| Other services | 4.8% |
| Public administration | 4.8% |
| Construction | 3.3% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 3.3% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 3.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 2.2% |
| Information | 1.3% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.1% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Anniston lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calhoun County | 116,090 | $6,288 million | $54,161 | 43,778 | 2,828 | $51,354 | +0.3% | 4.1% | 49,415 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 6,654 | 20.9% | $70,682 | 1.85 |
| Retail trade | 5,975 | 18.7% | $33,084 | 1.37 |
| Accommodation and food services | 4,841 | 15.2% | $20,792 | 1.22 |
| Health care and social assistance | 3,930 | 12.3% | $50,361 | 0.63 |
| Administrative and waste services | 2,217 | 6.9% | $40,364 | 0.86 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,645 | 5.2% | $65,110 | 0.95 |
| Construction | 1,142 | 3.6% | $69,642 | 0.50 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,077 | 3.4% | $50,186 | 0.58 |
| Professional and technical services | 1,064 | 3.3% | $57,365 | 0.35 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 908 | 2.8% | $38,932 | 0.69 |
| Finance and insurance | 816 | 2.6% | $75,411 | 0.46 |
| Real estate and rental | 446 | 1.4% | $45,205 | 0.66 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 324 | 1.0% | $23,571 | 0.44 |
| Information | 274 | 0.9% | $53,232 | 0.33 |
| Educational services | 273 | 0.9% | $36,019 | 0.30 |
| Utilities | 218 | 0.7% | $121,879 | 1.31 |
| Management of companies | 97 | 0.3% | $137,257 | 0.13 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 80.4% |
| Public transit | 0.4% |
| Walk | 1.8% |
| Work from home | 7.7% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 14.0% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $46,668 |
| Income per person | $30,565 |
| Median gross rent per month | $799 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 20.5% |
| Median home value | $158,800 |
| Homeowners | 58.5% |
| Poverty rate | 20.6% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 85.9 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $42,680 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; graduated states show 0 until you enter your own estimate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Graduated, top rate 5.00%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 83.7% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 20.5% |
| Born abroad | 2.8% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 49.6% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5.3 | 42 | 113 |
| Feb | 7.4 | 45 | 127 |
| Mar | 11.7 | 53 | 124 |
| Apr | 16.2 | 61 | 109 |
| May | 20.8 | 69 | 114 |
| Jun | 25.0 | 77 | 105 |
| Jul | 26.6 | 80 | 117 |
| Aug | 26.4 | 80 | 100 |
| Sep | 23.1 | 74 | 90 |
| Oct | 17.2 | 63 | 79 |
| Nov | 10.9 | 52 | 102 |
| Dec | 7.0 | 45 | 132 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saks | AL | 4 mi | 10,681 | $49,753 | $898 |
| Oxford | AL | 6 mi | 22,063 | $74,268 | $925 |
| Jacksonville | AL | 10 mi | 14,437 | $51,814 | $820 |
| Southside | AL | 19 mi | 9,483 | $76,487 | $1,184 |
| Talladega | AL | 24 mi | 14,760 | $44,198 | $776 |
| Rainbow City | AL | 24 mi | 10,284 | $56,398 | $1,048 |
| Gadsden | AL | 26 mi | 33,374 | $40,345 | $808 |
| Pell City | AL | 27 mi | 13,587 | $68,638 | $1,099 |
| Moody | AL | 40 mi | 13,488 | $86,627 | $1,553 |
| Boaz | AL | 41 mi | 10,814 | $49,846 | $663 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
21,271 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$799 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 20.5% of the median household income.
$46,668 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
4.1% (BLS county, Calhoun County (latest month 2026M09)).
Alabama. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.