Jobs, pay and daily life in Birmingham, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Birmingham is a city in Alabama with 198,173 residents. The median household earns $46,051 a year and the median rent is $1,107 a month, which is 28.8% of the median household income. It is part of the Birmingham, AL metropolitan area, where BLS counts 520,290 jobs.
Federal jobs in Alabama (395) →State guide: AlabamaCountry guide
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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 17,850 | 1.58 | $78,680 | $62,230 | $102,960 | -19% |
| Retail Salespersons | 15,280 | 1.17 | $31,450 | $23,450 | $46,160 | -11% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 10,900 | 1.91 | $44,580 | $30,960 | $60,380 | -6% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 10,890 | 1.15 | $35,660 | $29,580 | $48,810 | -4% |
| Cashiers | 10,690 | 1.03 | $29,310 | $22,400 | $36,140 | -11% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 10,080 | 0.78 | $27,020 | $22,010 | $33,990 | -13% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 9,850 | 1.13 | $40,530 | $31,400 | $58,660 | -9% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 9,170 | 1.33 | $54,460 | $38,370 | $77,460 | -7% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 8,200 | 0.83 | $37,500 | $28,600 | $48,030 | -7% |
| General and Operations Managers | 7,950 | 0.68 | $123,560 | $61,350 | $278,780 | +17% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 7,790 | 1.61 | $78,660 | $52,140 | $128,530 | -6% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 7,000 | 0.92 | $27,670 | $16,840 | $36,540 | -21% |
| Nursing Assistants | 6,380 | 1.32 | $35,470 | $29,800 | $39,110 | -16% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 6,210 | 1.50 | $71,450 | $39,290 | $128,110 | -1% |
| Cooks, Fast Food | 6,120 | 2.85 | $28,320 | $23,800 | $34,650 | -8% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 5,860 | 1.56 | $46,210 | $28,880 | $77,120 | -5% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 5,820 | 1.21 | $64,170 | $45,070 | $100,160 | -8% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 5,760 | 0.78 | $33,370 | $25,080 | $43,730 | -9% |
| Security Guards | 5,660 | 1.32 | $33,820 | $23,070 | $44,410 | -11% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 5,430 | 1.18 | $47,330 | $32,160 | $61,680 | -7% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | 1,420 | 1.24 | $237,040 | $112,820 | $384,160 | -11% |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 750 | 4.31 | $175,850 | $101,450 | $235,860 | -26% |
| Lawyers | 2,800 | 1.11 | $170,230 | $65,650 | $272,900 | +7% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 600 | 0.81 | $166,670 | $107,440 | $265,380 | -3% |
| Financial Managers | 2,700 | 0.96 | $153,930 | $99,530 | $292,490 | -8% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 2,230 | 0.99 | $140,230 | $83,880 | $217,290 | -20% |
| Pharmacists | 1,550 | 1.44 | $138,800 | $107,330 | $161,190 | -1% |
| Computer Network Architects | 880 | 1.46 | $131,140 | $74,810 | $168,740 | -2% |
| Marketing Managers | 660 | 0.50 | $130,160 | $76,750 | $227,330 | -22% |
| Human Resources Managers | 620 | 0.84 | $127,080 | $77,180 | $215,000 | -15% |
| Software Developers | 3,830 | 0.68 | $125,410 | $74,110 | $175,330 | -8% |
| General and Operations Managers | 7,950 | 0.68 | $123,560 | $61,350 | $278,780 | +17% |
| Sales Managers | 1,560 | 0.73 | $119,740 | $59,400 | $212,420 | -19% |
| Information Security Analysts | 670 | 1.06 | $115,520 | $68,310 | $164,520 | -11% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 650 | 0.79 | $113,270 | $64,630 | $194,060 | -10% |
| Electrical Engineers | 900 | 1.35 | $112,960 | $64,630 | $166,820 | -6% |
| Management Analysts | 1,290 | 0.43 | $108,220 | $64,270 | $203,800 | +6% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 1,350 | 1.25 | $107,700 | $89,240 | $137,560 | -19% |
| Construction Managers | 2,460 | 1.93 | $102,170 | $63,340 | $162,950 | -11% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 2,060 | 2.78 | $100,950 | $61,270 | $212,070 | -6% |
These figures are for the whole Birmingham, AL metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $47,770 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.5% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.3% |
| Retail trade | 12.7% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 10.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 9.8% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 8.0% |
| Manufacturing | 7.8% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 7.2% |
| Construction | 4.9% |
| Other services | 4.7% |
| Public administration | 4.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.9% |
| Information | 1.2% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.4% |
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 73.7% |
| Public transit | 1.2% |
| Walk | 3.5% |
| Work from home | 9.9% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 5.6% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $46,051 |
| Income per person | $32,216 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,107 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 28.8% |
| Median home value | $158,800 |
| Homeowners | 45.5% |
| Poverty rate | 24.7% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 91.6 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $47,770 |
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 | 35.6 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 89.0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 31.1% |
| Born abroad | 4.7% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 59.2% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5.6 | 42 | 116 |
| Feb | 7.8 | 46 | 137 |
| Mar | 12.3 | 54 | 129 |
| Apr | 16.7 | 62 | 122 |
| May | 21.2 | 70 | 114 |
| Jun | 25.5 | 78 | 110 |
| Jul | 27.2 | 81 | 121 |
| Aug | 27.1 | 81 | 106 |
| Sep | 23.9 | 75 | 92 |
| Oct | 17.9 | 64 | 80 |
| Nov | 11.4 | 53 | 102 |
| Dec | 7.3 | 45 | 139 |
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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | AL | 81 mi | 222,791 | $74,714 | $1,171 |
| Montgomery | AL | 87 mi | 197,494 | $56,811 | $1,089 |
| Columbus | GA | 132 mi | 203,711 | $58,073 | $1,106 |
| Atlanta | GA | 138 mi | 520,066 | $88,165 | $1,765 |
| Chattanooga | TN | 138 mi | 185,783 | $64,523 | $1,256 |
| Murfreesboro | TN | 162 mi | 161,445 | $80,108 | $1,481 |
| Nashville | TN | 183 mi | 704,965 | $80,090 | $1,669 |
| Macon-Bibb County | GA | 186 mi | 156,578 | $51,234 | $1,066 |
| Athens | GA | 199 mi | 127,345 | $52,974 | $1,219 |
| Memphis | TN | 211 mi | 610,936 | $52,679 | $1,263 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
198,173 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,107 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 28.8% of the median household income.
$46,051 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.5% (BLS metro area 2026M09).
Alabama. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.