Jobs, pay and daily life in Leeds, 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.
Leeds is a city in Alabama with 12,028 residents. The median household earns $69,737 a year and the median rent is $1,058 a month, which is 18.2% of the median household income. It is part of the Birmingham, AL metropolitan area, where BLS counts 520,290 jobs.
How Leeds compares. Among the 80 largest places in Alabama, Leeds is #61 by population, #26 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #55 for remote work (#1 = most), #46 for long commutes (#1 = fewest). Its county, Jefferson County, is #3 of 67 counties for average pay ($71,562).
Leeds has 12,028 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.2% of the population of Alabama. It covers 23 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 527 people per square mile. The median age is 39.3, about the same as the state median (39.3 against 39.3).
The median gross rent is $1,058 a month (rent plus utilities), 5% above the state median ($1,058 against $1,007). Over a year that is 18.2% 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 $224,600, which is 3.2 times the median household income ($69,737); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 72.0% of households own their home, about the same as the state average (72.0% against 70.2%).
The Birmingham, AL metropolitan area has 520,290 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $47,770 a year, 6% below the national median ($47,770 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (61,750 jobs, median $44,450); sales and related (52,600 jobs, median $36,720); transportation and material moving (48,440 jobs, median $41,030). The area is most specialised in healthcare practitioners and technical (1.4 times) and legal (1.3 times), where the share of workers is above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($107,070) and computer and mathematical ($97,580). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Jefferson County was 3.8%. 64.5% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Jefferson County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 82.1% drive alone, 0.0% use public transit, 0.7% walk, 6.5% work from home. 12.1% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 18% below the state average (12.1% against 14.7%).
27.7% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, about the same as the state share (27.7% against 28.4%). 9.4% of residents were born outside the United States, 136% above the state share (9.4% against 4.0%). The poverty rate is 12.8%, 18% below the state rate (12.8% against 15.6%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 81°F (27.2°C), and the coolest is Jan at 42°F (5.6°C). About 1,368 mm (54 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Dec is the wettest month (139 mm) and Oct the driest (80 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: Irondale (5 miles, rent 25% higher); Moody (6 miles, rent 47% higher); Trussville (8 miles, rent 62% higher); Center Point (9 miles, rent 15% higher). Rent differences are against Leeds; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Alabama (395) →State guide: AlabamaCountry guideJefferson 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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 18.1% |
| Construction | 17.0% |
| Retail trade | 13.0% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 9.8% |
| Manufacturing | 9.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 8.5% |
| Other services | 6.7% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 5.9% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 5.3% |
| Public administration | 2.5% |
| Information | 1.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.2% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 1.1% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county (the first of several) where Leeds lies and cover the whole county, not only the city. The city also extends into Saint Clair County, Shelby County.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 667,755 | $65,539 million | $98,149 | 367,081 | 22,923 | $71,562 | +1.2% | 3.8% | 319,109 |
| Saint Clair County | 94,166 | $3,156 million | $33,520 | 21,980 | 1,943 | $51,425 | +4.1% | 3.3% | 45,769 |
| Shelby County | 230,211 | $17,333 million | $75,291 | 85,169 | 7,251 | $66,772 | -0.5% | 3.0% | 123,452 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 52,958 | 17.3% | $74,069 | 1.01 |
| Retail trade | 37,132 | 12.2% | $41,068 | 1.01 |
| Accommodation and food services | 30,093 | 9.8% | $27,247 | 0.90 |
| Manufacturing | 24,420 | 8.0% | $87,685 | 0.81 |
| Administrative and waste services | 23,087 | 7.6% | $42,156 | 1.07 |
| Professional and technical services | 20,418 | 6.7% | $106,932 | 0.80 |
| Finance and insurance | 20,023 | 6.6% | $122,416 | 1.34 |
| Construction | 19,368 | 6.3% | $85,941 | 1.01 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 17,645 | 5.8% | $57,630 | 1.14 |
| Wholesale trade | 16,179 | 5.3% | $93,827 | 1.12 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 10,508 | 3.4% | $58,527 | 0.95 |
| Information | 5,980 | 2.0% | $84,598 | 0.87 |
| Management of companies | 5,746 | 1.9% | $137,914 | 0.93 |
| Real estate and rental | 5,720 | 1.9% | $74,244 | 1.00 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 5,420 | 1.8% | $29,409 | 0.88 |
| Utilities | 4,960 | 1.6% | $142,974 | 3.55 |
| Educational services | 4,635 | 1.5% | $49,632 | 0.61 |
| Mining, oil and gas | 1,219 | 0.4% | $134,725 | 0.88 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing | 84 | 0.0% | $65,348 | 0.03 |
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 | 82.1% |
| Public transit | 0.0% |
| Walk | 0.7% |
| Work from home | 6.5% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 12.1% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $69,737 |
| Income per person | $35,318 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,058 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 18.2% |
| Median home value | $224,600 |
| Homeowners | 72.0% |
| Poverty rate | 12.8% |
| 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 | 39.3 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 87.9% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 27.7% |
| Born abroad | 9.4% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 64.5% |
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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irondale | AL | 5 mi | 13,464 | $72,343 | $1,320 |
| Moody | AL | 6 mi | 13,488 | $86,627 | $1,553 |
| Trussville | AL | 8 mi | 26,673 | $123,275 | $1,711 |
| Center Point | AL | 9 mi | 15,914 | $56,417 | $1,218 |
| Mountain Brook | AL | 10 mi | 22,029 | $201,479 | $1,456 |
| Clay | AL | 11 mi | 10,273 | $81,920 | $2,240 |
| Vestavia Hills | AL | 11 mi | 38,616 | $134,369 | $1,515 |
| Meadowbrook | AL | 13 mi | 9,117 | $141,862 | $1,365 |
| Birmingham | AL | 13 mi | 198,173 | $46,051 | $1,107 |
| Fultondale | AL | 14 mi | 9,384 | $73,575 | $1,269 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
12,028 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,058 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 18.2% of the median household income.
$69,737 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.8% (BLS county, Jefferson County (latest month 2026M09)).
Alabama. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.