Everything we can verify about jobs, pay and living in Alabama, from official statistics, with source and date 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.
Alabama is in the South region (East South Central division), with 5,157,699 residents, a median age of 39.6 and a median household income of $66,659. The unemployment rate was 3.5% in 2026M09, and the state's price level is 88.8 against 100 for the US as a whole.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ | Rank among 50 states + DC ⇅ | Direction ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $66,659 | 45 of 51 | higher is better |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 18 of 51 | lower is better |
| Job openings rate | 4.0% | 24 of 51 | higher is better |
| Price level (RPP) | 88.8 | 7 of 51 | lower is better |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.9% | 44 of 51 | higher is better |
| Foreign-born share | 4.5% | 45 of 51 | higher is better |
See the 395 federal jobs open now →Country guide: United States250 largest cities
Neighbouring states in the East South Central division: Kentucky · Mississippi · Tennessee.
| Industry ⇅ | GDP ($ million, annual rate) ⇅ | Share of state GDP ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| Government and government enterprises | 53,347 | 15.3% |
| Manufacturing | 50,694 | 14.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 42,494 | 12.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 24,445 | 7.0% |
| Retail trade | 24,349 | 7.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 23,256 | 6.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 23,139 | 6.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 23,038 | 6.6% |
| Construction | 16,760 | 4.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 10,514 | 3.0% |
| Utilities | 10,127 | 2.9% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 8,818 | 2.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 8,818 | 2.5% |
| Other services (except government and government enterprises) | 8,385 | 2.4% |
| Information | 7,666 | 2.2% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 3,609 | 1.0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 2,969 | 0.9% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 2,300 | 0.7% |
| Educational services | 1,677 | 0.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 1,435 | 0.4% |
| Sector ⇅ | Jobs (payroll) ⇅ | Change in 12 months ⇅ | Month ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mining and logging | 9,500 | +3.3% | 2026M09 |
| Construction | 113,800 | +2.6% | 2026M09 |
| Manufacturing | 282,800 | +0.1% | 2026M09 |
| Trade, transportation and utilities | 397,200 | -1.6% | 2026M09 |
| Information | 21,400 | -4.0% | 2026M09 |
| Financial activities | 101,300 | -2.8% | 2026M09 |
| Professional and business services | 270,000 | +2.6% | 2026M09 |
| Education and health services | 272,000 | +2.8% | 2026M09 |
| Leisure and hospitality | 224,300 | +4.8% | 2026M09 |
| Other services | 95,200 | +1.8% | 2026M09 |
| Government | 431,300 | +1.2% | 2026M09 |
BEA values are seasonally adjusted annual rates averaged over the latest four quarters. BLS payroll counts are not seasonally adjusted. The state total of jobs is 2,218,800 (latest month).
| Occupation field ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Per 1,000 jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support | 226,670 | 107.2 | 0.94 | $40,460 | $28,810 | $63,380 | -15% |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related | 184,640 | 87.4 | 0.99 | $27,780 | $20,730 | $38,440 | -21% |
| Transportation and Material Moving | 208,000 | 98.4 | 1.12 | $38,220 | $25,350 | $65,140 | -14% |
| Sales and Related | 202,240 | 95.7 | 1.11 | $35,000 | $22,740 | $79,910 | -9% |
| Management | 112,960 | 53.4 | 0.75 | $103,980 | $56,920 | $208,110 | -18% |
| Business and Financial Operations | 108,150 | 51.2 | 0.76 | $76,390 | $45,410 | $133,370 | -8% |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | 145,300 | 68.7 | 1.09 | $67,360 | $37,970 | $133,880 | -22% |
| Educational Instruction and Library | 113,630 | 53.8 | 0.92 | $56,690 | $23,060 | $77,950 | -6% |
| Production | 215,430 | 101.9 | 1.85 | $44,250 | $29,100 | $74,680 | -6% |
| Healthcare Support | 75,330 | 35.6 | 0.70 | $33,790 | $25,600 | $46,200 | -12% |
| Construction and Extraction | 89,430 | 42.3 | 1.02 | $47,810 | $31,050 | $76,060 | -20% |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair | 108,070 | 51.1 | 1.31 | $56,530 | $35,590 | $93,410 | -5% |
| Computer and Mathematical | 57,370 | 27.1 | 0.80 | $100,030 | $50,240 | $165,580 | -8% |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance | 53,490 | 25.3 | 0.87 | $32,240 | $23,870 | $47,070 | -14% |
| Protective Service | 48,670 | 23.0 | 0.95 | $44,450 | $27,720 | $77,530 | -11% |
| Personal Care and Service | 36,990 | 17.5 | 0.84 | $28,560 | $20,280 | $48,680 | -22% |
| Community and Social Service | 24,610 | 11.6 | 0.68 | $49,020 | $33,680 | $77,450 | -16% |
| Architecture and Engineering | 49,580 | 23.5 | 1.39 | $99,990 | $55,020 | $171,270 | +0% |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media | 18,140 | 8.6 | 0.65 | $49,140 | $26,620 | $98,670 | -22% |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science | 14,570 | 6.9 | 0.73 | $74,070 | $45,320 | $128,020 | -10% |
| Legal | 14,110 | 6.7 | 0.79 | $73,480 | $37,390 | $205,710 | -28% |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry | 6,260 | 3.0 | 1.06 | $37,750 | $28,230 | $62,590 | +3% |
| Industry ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.9% |
| Manufacturing | 14.0% |
| Retail trade | 11.4% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 10.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 8.2% |
| Construction | 6.8% |
| Public administration | 5.9% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 5.7% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 5.6% |
| Other services | 4.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.9% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 1.3% |
| Information | 1.2% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | 3,980 | 0.85 | $272,610 | $98,690 | $424,420 | +3% |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 1,810 | 2.57 | $190,300 | $101,450 | $270,220 | -20% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 3,790 | 1.27 | $162,350 | $106,100 | $236,230 | -5% |
| Engineers, All Other | 3,460 | 1.65 | $152,550 | $87,780 | $195,190 | +24% |
| Financial Managers | 7,200 | 0.63 | $140,500 | $86,340 | $256,750 | -16% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 7,670 | 0.84 | $138,670 | $83,260 | $213,460 | -21% |
| Managers, All Other | 1,970 | 0.23 | $135,890 | $55,490 | $203,530 | -4% |
| Pharmacists | 5,400 | 1.23 | $134,630 | $90,010 | $161,940 | -4% |
| Lawyers | 6,730 | 0.66 | $131,970 | $62,310 | $249,090 | -17% |
| Computer Network Architects | 4,200 | 1.72 | $130,810 | $76,960 | $173,400 | -2% |
| Purchasing Managers | 1,520 | 1.32 | $130,710 | $77,990 | $188,140 | -12% |
| Aerospace Engineers | 5,820 | 6.32 | $127,540 | $78,660 | $195,190 | -5% |
| Electrical Engineers | 4,600 | 1.70 | $125,630 | $77,840 | $180,220 | +4% |
| Sales Managers | 4,670 | 0.54 | $124,040 | $66,050 | $218,270 | -16% |
| Information Security Analysts | 4,010 | 1.55 | $122,730 | $66,090 | $170,690 | -5% |
| Software Developers | 17,450 | 0.76 | $122,540 | $71,590 | $175,330 | -10% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 3,620 | 1.08 | $122,520 | $69,560 | $204,050 | -3% |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | 1,940 | 1.47 | $120,720 | $77,100 | $195,190 | -7% |
| Marketing Managers | 1,540 | 0.29 | $120,160 | $70,790 | $225,300 | -28% |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | 1,250 | 0.41 | $118,320 | $63,710 | $198,970 | +10% |
| Human Resources Managers | 2,160 | 0.72 | $113,210 | $70,520 | $195,570 | -24% |
| General and Operations Managers | 30,170 | 0.63 | $111,790 | $55,160 | $243,600 | +6% |
| Management Analysts | 4,900 | 0.40 | $108,040 | $63,400 | $193,370 | +6% |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | 2,630 | 0.44 | $106,330 | $59,260 | $151,300 | -9% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 5,640 | 1.29 | $105,750 | $86,300 | $134,650 | -20% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logging Equipment Operators | 1,860 | 6.50 | $47,810 | $29,180 | $65,560 | -4% |
| Aerospace Engineers | 5,820 | 6.32 | $127,540 | $78,660 | $195,190 | -5% |
| Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | 1,090 | 5.63 | $50,600 | $38,240 | $74,710 | +5% |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | 1,250 | 5.50 | $54,260 | $36,130 | $79,780 | -0% |
| Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | 2,520 | 5.45 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 1,710 | 4.99 | $53,380 | $39,170 | $78,370 | +6% |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | 9,140 | 4.61 | $31,080 | $22,130 | $39,330 | -19% |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | 2,160 | 3.75 | $38,810 | $29,310 | $50,110 | -6% |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,060 | 3.54 | $40,210 | $34,100 | $50,850 | +4% |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | 1,880 | 3.38 | $37,520 | $29,950 | $51,620 | -12% |
| Helpers--Production Workers | 7,230 | 3.21 | $35,910 | $27,060 | $45,840 | -8% |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | 2,580 | 3.08 | $36,750 | $29,140 | $49,390 | -15% |
| Cooks, Fast Food | 26,740 | 3.07 | $27,870 | $22,640 | $34,170 | -10% |
| Helpers--Electricians | 2,630 | 3.04 | $36,490 | $30,230 | $46,910 | -14% |
| Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | 2,130 | 3.00 | $52,220 | $38,180 | $66,820 | +2% |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanics | 17,850 | 2.99 | $61,920 | $42,940 | $91,840 | -4% |
| Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals | 1,300 | 2.92 | $36,620 | $22,190 | $53,040 | -0% |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,250 | 2.91 | $40,050 | $30,230 | $60,410 | -16% |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 3,800 | 2.91 | $52,290 | $36,670 | $79,660 | +4% |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 5,900 | 2.88 | $39,010 | $29,010 | $58,810 | -12% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 53,280 | 2.79 | $42,700 | $29,050 | $69,780 | -4% |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 6,000 | 2.58 | $43,830 | $34,660 | $54,760 | -5% |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 1,810 | 2.57 | $190,300 | $101,450 | $270,220 | -20% |
| Millwrights | 1,400 | 2.56 | $61,410 | $45,300 | $76,070 | -7% |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 5,250 | 2.43 | $44,250 | $31,200 | $60,920 | -8% |
Occupations with a page of their own link to it. Pay above $239,200 a year is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top-code). "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure.
There are 395 federal job postings open now in Alabama (USAJOBS). This is the federal government only: most US jobs are in the private sector and are advertised on employers' own sites, so use the pay and demand tables on this page for the whole labour market.
| Agency ⇅ | Open postings ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Veterans Health Administration | 47 |
| Federal Aviation Administration | 37 |
| United States Army Installation Management Command | 28 |
| Army National Guard Units | 28 |
| Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System | 27 |
| Air Force Civilian Career Training | 21 |
| Department of the Air Force Headquarters | 13 |
| Defense Commissary Agency | 13 |
| Air Education and Training Command | 13 |
| Air National Guard Units | 11 |
| Missile Defense Agency | 11 |
| Headquarters, Air Force Reserve Command | 10 |
| Army Tank-Automotive and Armament Command (TACOM) | 9 |
| U.S. Coast Guard | 9 |
| Internal Revenue Service | 9 |
| Series ⇅ | Open postings ⇅ |
|---|---|
| General Engineering | 16 |
| Aviation Safety | 14 |
| Nurse | 12 |
| Police | 11 |
| General Business And Industry | 11 |
| Information Technology Management | 11 |
| Medical Officer | 10 |
| Management And Program Analysis | 10 |
| Miscellaneous Transportation/Mobile Equipment Maintenance | 9 |
| Criminal Investigation | 8 |
| Aircraft Mechanic | 8 |
| General Inspection, Investigation, Enforcement, And Compliance Series | 8 |
| Security Guard | 7 |
| Miscellaneous Administration And Program | 7 |
| Correctional Officer | 7 |
Median starting salary in postings that list a yearly range: $74,678 (313 postings).
4 of the 250 largest US cities are in Alabama.
| City ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ | Unemployment (ACS) ⇅ | Bachelor's+ ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | 222,791 | $74,714 | $1,171 | 4.1% | 47.2% |
| Mobile | 203,416 | $53,558 | $1,068 | 5.6% | 32.0% |
| Birmingham | 198,173 | $46,051 | $1,107 | 5.8% | 31.1% |
| Montgomery | 197,494 | $56,811 | $1,089 | 6.4% | 33.8% |
Click a state or a city. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
The median wage in Alabama is $45,670 a year ($21.96 an hour) against $50,980 nationally (-10%). The 10th percentile earns $26,090 and the 90th $101,250.
| Occupation field ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Per 1,000 jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support | 226,670 | 107.2 | 0.94 | $40,460 | $28,810 | $63,380 | -15% |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related | 184,640 | 87.4 | 0.99 | $27,780 | $20,730 | $38,440 | -21% |
| Transportation and Material Moving | 208,000 | 98.4 | 1.12 | $38,220 | $25,350 | $65,140 | -14% |
| Sales and Related | 202,240 | 95.7 | 1.11 | $35,000 | $22,740 | $79,910 | -9% |
| Management | 112,960 | 53.4 | 0.75 | $103,980 | $56,920 | $208,110 | -18% |
| Business and Financial Operations | 108,150 | 51.2 | 0.76 | $76,390 | $45,410 | $133,370 | -8% |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | 145,300 | 68.7 | 1.09 | $67,360 | $37,970 | $133,880 | -22% |
| Educational Instruction and Library | 113,630 | 53.8 | 0.92 | $56,690 | $23,060 | $77,950 | -6% |
| Production | 215,430 | 101.9 | 1.85 | $44,250 | $29,100 | $74,680 | -6% |
| Healthcare Support | 75,330 | 35.6 | 0.70 | $33,790 | $25,600 | $46,200 | -12% |
| Construction and Extraction | 89,430 | 42.3 | 1.02 | $47,810 | $31,050 | $76,060 | -20% |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair | 108,070 | 51.1 | 1.31 | $56,530 | $35,590 | $93,410 | -5% |
| Computer and Mathematical | 57,370 | 27.1 | 0.80 | $100,030 | $50,240 | $165,580 | -8% |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance | 53,490 | 25.3 | 0.87 | $32,240 | $23,870 | $47,070 | -14% |
| Protective Service | 48,670 | 23.0 | 0.95 | $44,450 | $27,720 | $77,530 | -11% |
| Personal Care and Service | 36,990 | 17.5 | 0.84 | $28,560 | $20,280 | $48,680 | -22% |
| Community and Social Service | 24,610 | 11.6 | 0.68 | $49,020 | $33,680 | $77,450 | -16% |
| Architecture and Engineering | 49,580 | 23.5 | 1.39 | $99,990 | $55,020 | $171,270 | +0% |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media | 18,140 | 8.6 | 0.65 | $49,140 | $26,620 | $98,670 | -22% |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science | 14,570 | 6.9 | 0.73 | $74,070 | $45,320 | $128,020 | -10% |
| Legal | 14,110 | 6.7 | 0.79 | $73,480 | $37,390 | $205,710 | -28% |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry | 6,260 | 3.0 | 1.06 | $37,750 | $28,230 | $62,590 | +3% |
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.
| Rule ⇅ | In Alabama ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Minimum wage (per hour) | No state minimum law: federal $7.25 applies |
| State income tax on wages | Graduated, top rate 5.00% |
| Right-to-work state | Yes |
| State paid family and medical leave program | No program listed in our source |
| Employment | At-will in most states (either side can end the job with notice, with legal exceptions) |
Nationwide rules (overtime after 40 hours, family leave, discrimination, visas) are on the country guide. Many cities and counties set higher minimum wages or paid sick leave; check the local government. Confirm all figures with the official sources before acting.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Price level, all items (US = 100) | 88.8 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,077 |
| Median home value | $233,300 |
| Homeowners (share of households) | 71.0% |
| Poverty rate | 15.2% |
| Drive alone to work | 80.8% |
| Public transit to work | 0.4% |
| Work from home | 8.3% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 15.1% |
Regional price parities measure how much it costs to buy the same basket of goods and services: 100 is the national average.
4.5% of residents of Alabama were born abroad (231,065 people).
| Country of birth ⇅ | Residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Mexico | 56,312 |
| Guatemala | 16,907 |
| Korea | 10,929 |
| India | 9,810 |
| China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan | 8,900 |
| Germany | 7,390 |
| Vietnam | 6,005 |
| Philippines | 5,297 |
| Canada | 4,456 |
| El Salvador | 3,817 |
| Colombia | 3,808 |
| Honduras | 3,717 |
| Venezuela | 2,948 |
| Jamaica | 2,747 |
| Cuba | 2,652 |
Work permits and visas are federal. See permits and first steps and, for your country, Working in the US from your country.
Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal $7.25 applies (the federal minimum is $7.25; the higher rate applies for most workers). Source: US Department of Labor.
Graduated, top rate 5.00% (Tax Foundation, rates as of 01/01/2026).
3.5% in 2026M09 (BLS, seasonally adjusted).
$66,659 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024, 2024 dollars).
395 postings on USAJOBS today. Private-sector jobs are not included.