Jobs, pay and daily life in Selma, 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.
Selma is a city in Alabama with 17,057 residents. The median household earns $33,197 a year and the median rent is $713 a month, which is 25.8% of the median household income. The nearest metropolitan area with BLS wage data is Montgomery, AL (165,550 jobs), about 34 miles away; this place is probably not part of it, so its pay tables are a reference only.
How Selma compares. Among the 80 largest places in Alabama, Selma is #39 by population, #80 for household income (#1 = highest), #77 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #6 for rent (#1 = cheapest). Its county, Dallas County, is #40 of 67 counties for average pay ($49,753).
Selma has 17,057 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.3% of the population of Alabama. It covers 14 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 1,235 people per square mile. The median age is 38.5, about the same as the state median (38.5 against 39.3).
The median gross rent is $713 a month (rent plus utilities), 29% below the state median ($713 against $1,007). Over a year that is 25.8% 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 $96,500, which is 2.9 times the median household income ($33,197); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 46.0% of households own their home, 35% below the state average (46.0% against 70.2%). A low ownership share points to a rental-heavy market with more apartments and shorter stays.
The nearest metropolitan area with wage data is Montgomery, AL, metropolitan area has 165,550 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $44,950 a year, 12% below the national median ($44,950 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (18,780 jobs, median $39,990); production (16,960 jobs, median $45,380); transportation and material moving (16,260 jobs, median $37,580). The area is most specialised in production (1.9 times) and protective service (1.3 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($101,650) and business and financial operations ($72,490). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Dallas County was 5.3%. 55.4% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Dallas County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 78.7% drive alone, 1.2% use public transit, 2.0% walk, 6.8% work from home. 15.4% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 5% above the state average (15.4% against 14.7%).
19.9% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 30% below the state share (19.9% against 28.4%). 3.4% of residents were born outside the United States, 15% below the state share (3.4% against 4.0%). The poverty rate is 30.8%, 97% above the state rate (30.8% against 15.6%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 82°F (27.5°C), and the coolest is Jan at 45°F (7.0°C). About 1,381 mm (54 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Dec is the wettest month (139 mm) and Oct the driest (73 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: Prattville (34 miles, rent 84% higher); Clanton (38 miles, rent 22% higher); Millbrook (39 miles, rent 56% higher); Montgomery (45 miles, rent 53% higher). Rent differences are against Selma; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Alabama (395) →State guide: AlabamaCountry guideDallas 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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 7,410 | 4.96 | $45,380 | $26,640 | $63,130 | +2% |
| Retail Salespersons | 4,720 | 1.14 | $29,650 | $22,630 | $43,930 | -16% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 4,060 | 2.24 | $40,260 | $29,270 | $56,480 | -15% |
| Registered Nurses | 3,990 | 1.11 | $79,570 | $55,180 | $121,850 | -18% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 3,780 | 1.25 | $34,370 | $28,820 | $47,170 | -8% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 3,510 | 1.12 | $37,370 | $24,970 | $44,500 | -7% |
| Cashiers | 3,450 | 1.05 | $28,330 | $21,740 | $34,940 | -14% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 3,170 | 0.77 | $22,960 | $20,860 | $31,060 | -26% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 2,540 | 1.16 | $54,860 | $37,340 | $81,280 | -6% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 2,530 | 1.64 | $75,040 | $52,750 | $110,560 | -10% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 2,500 | 0.91 | $36,960 | $29,890 | $52,870 | -17% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 2,300 | 0.95 | $26,360 | $16,550 | $35,400 | -25% |
| General and Operations Managers | 2,230 | 0.60 | $107,980 | $56,990 | $230,590 | +2% |
| Cooks, Fast Food | 2,130 | 3.13 | $27,650 | $22,640 | $33,360 | -10% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 2,120 | 0.90 | $30,450 | $21,960 | $38,850 | -17% |
| Nursing Assistants | 1,940 | 1.26 | $35,210 | $29,240 | $39,980 | -17% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 1,790 | 0.39 | $26,660 | $18,880 | $31,520 | -26% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 1,750 | 1.47 | $45,480 | $28,160 | $74,730 | -6% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 1,690 | 1.10 | $60,100 | $40,630 | $94,260 | -14% |
| Office Clerks, General | 1,560 | 0.59 | $33,050 | $22,800 | $46,660 | -27% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 570 | 0.79 | $134,810 | $80,980 | $204,740 | -23% |
| Financial Managers | 650 | 0.72 | $131,570 | $81,220 | $214,400 | -21% |
| Lawyers | 960 | 1.20 | $125,290 | $71,390 | $214,820 | -22% |
| Software Developers | 780 | 0.44 | $110,620 | $67,340 | $169,300 | -19% |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | 740 | 1.59 | $109,300 | $78,850 | $136,990 | -6% |
| General and Operations Managers | 2,230 | 0.60 | $107,980 | $56,990 | $230,590 | +2% |
| Civil Engineers | 520 | 1.34 | $97,470 | $59,990 | $135,510 | -3% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 740 | 1.17 | $96,820 | $64,650 | $159,450 | -22% |
| Construction Managers | 660 | 1.63 | $94,650 | $62,320 | $131,520 | -18% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 730 | 0.63 | $89,320 | $54,950 | $126,440 | +8% |
| Registered Nurses | 3,990 | 1.11 | $79,570 | $55,180 | $121,850 | -18% |
| Industrial Engineers | 540 | 1.39 | $79,480 | $66,180 | $125,320 | -22% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 1,320 | 1.84 | $76,610 | $46,580 | $127,660 | +3% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 2,530 | 1.64 | $75,040 | $52,750 | $110,560 | -10% |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | 540 | 1.57 | $71,710 | $49,750 | $99,920 | -8% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | 1,020 | 1.55 | $69,950 | $44,690 | $107,710 | -12% |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | 630 | 1.21 | $65,060 | $43,340 | $109,480 | -16% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 970 | 1.00 | $64,140 | $39,460 | $105,400 | -16% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 1,240 | 0.94 | $63,020 | $36,810 | $110,590 | -13% |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanics | 1,230 | 2.62 | $62,700 | $40,370 | $79,550 | -3% |
These figures are for the nearest metropolitan area with wage data, Montgomery, AL, about 34 miles away. They show what the regional labour market pays; they are not a measure of this city.
Median pay across all occupations: $44,950 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.8% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.9% |
| Manufacturing | 15.1% |
| Retail trade | 10.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 10.0% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 9.2% |
| Public administration | 7.5% |
| Other services | 5.1% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 4.9% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 4.4% |
| Construction | 4.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 2.0% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 1.2% |
| Information | 0.8% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Selma 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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas County | 36,858 | $1,724 million | $46,782 | 11,290 | 976 | $49,753 | -1.0% | 5.3% | 14,594 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2,384 | 26.9% | $68,108 | 2.57 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,714 | 19.4% | $46,934 | 1.06 |
| Retail trade | 1,370 | 15.5% | $31,698 | 1.22 |
| Accommodation and food services | 753 | 8.5% | $18,555 | 0.73 |
| Construction | 507 | 5.7% | $64,647 | 0.86 |
| Administrative and waste services | 462 | 5.2% | $32,157 | 0.70 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 392 | 4.4% | $63,702 | 1.15 |
| Wholesale trade | 250 | 2.8% | $53,039 | 0.56 |
| Finance and insurance | 242 | 2.7% | $68,924 | 0.53 |
| Professional and technical services | 209 | 2.4% | $51,970 | 0.27 |
| Educational services | 131 | 1.5% | $22,242 | 0.56 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 121 | 1.4% | $61,233 | 0.25 |
| Real estate and rental | 90 | 1.0% | $35,295 | 0.51 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 67 | 0.8% | $15,662 | 0.35 |
| Information | 59 | 0.7% | $50,541 | 0.28 |
| Utilities | 56 | 0.6% | $91,169 | 1.30 |
| Management of companies | 43 | 0.5% | $75,733 | 0.23 |
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 | 78.7% |
| Public transit | 1.2% |
| Walk | 2.0% |
| Work from home | 6.8% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 15.4% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $33,197 |
| Income per person | $25,156 |
| Median gross rent per month | $713 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 25.8% |
| Median home value | $96,500 |
| Homeowners | 46.0% |
| Poverty rate | 30.8% |
| Price level of the nearest metro area (US = 100) | 89.7 |
| Nearest metro median pay, all occupations | $44,950 |
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 | 38.5 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 89.1% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 19.9% |
| Born abroad | 3.4% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 55.4% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7.0 | 45 | 116 |
| Feb | 9.4 | 49 | 136 |
| Mar | 13.5 | 56 | 135 |
| Apr | 17.7 | 64 | 117 |
| May | 22.2 | 72 | 113 |
| Jun | 26.2 | 79 | 114 |
| Jul | 27.5 | 82 | 127 |
| Aug | 27.3 | 81 | 121 |
| Sep | 24.5 | 76 | 91 |
| Oct | 18.8 | 66 | 73 |
| Nov | 12.5 | 54 | 99 |
| Dec | 8.6 | 47 | 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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prattville | AL | 34 mi | 39,482 | $81,337 | $1,313 |
| Clanton | AL | 38 mi | 8,958 | $47,520 | $869 |
| Millbrook | AL | 39 mi | 17,189 | $70,313 | $1,111 |
| Montgomery | AL | 45 mi | 197,494 | $56,811 | $1,089 |
| Calera | AL | 52 mi | 17,714 | $87,194 | $1,601 |
| Pike Road | AL | 54 mi | 10,574 | $117,091 | $1,653 |
| Alabaster | AL | 56 mi | 33,917 | $91,357 | $1,372 |
| Helena | AL | 61 mi | 21,769 | $115,139 | $1,574 |
| McCalla | AL | 61 mi | 13,253 | $87,468 | $1,777 |
| Tuscaloosa | AL | 63 mi | 111,038 | $51,464 | $1,055 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
17,057 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$713 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 25.8% of the median household income.
$33,197 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
5.3% (BLS county, Dallas County (latest month 2026M09)).
Alabama. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.