Average and median wage in Alabama
Half of the 2,113,660 workers in Alabama earn less than $45,670 a year, the median wage, while the average pay is $57,500, or $27.65 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% make $26,090 or less and the top 10% $101,250 or more. The average is 18% less than the U.S. average ($69,770) and the median 10% less than the U.S. median ($50,980).
- $26K10th
- $32K25th
- $46KMedian
- $67K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Alabama per year | Per hour* | U.S. per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,500 | $27.64 | $69,770 |
| Median | $45,670 | $21.96 | $50,980 |
| 10th percentile | $26,090 | $12.54 | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile | $32,050 | $15.41 | $37,590 |
| 75th percentile | $66,790 | $32.11 | $80,520 |
| 90th percentile | $101,250 | $48.68 | $128,560 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Statewide figures include every employer in the state, metro and rural. Median vs. average salary · reading percentiles.
Average salary by city in Alabama
- Huntsville$71,090
- Birmingham$60,770
- Mobile$58,170
- Decatur$57,830
- Montgomery$55,740
- Tuscaloosa$54,150
- Auburn$52,160
- Anniston$50,950
- Dothan$50,850
- Florence$50,400
- Daphne$50,200
- Gadsden$47,400
Map of Alabama metro areas
Loading map…
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Salary, take-home pay and cost of living by city
| City | Average | Median | Take-home* | Cost of living | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $71,090 | $51,740 | $55,868 | 93 | $316,645 |
| Birmingham | $60,770 | $47,770 | $48,466 | 92 | $262,556 |
| Mobile | $58,170 | $47,000 | $46,491 | 88 | $197,857 |
| Decatur | $57,830 | $46,280 | $46,233 | 87 | $232,614 |
| Montgomery | $55,740 | $44,950 | $44,646 | 90 | $214,099 |
| Tuscaloosa | $54,150 | $45,220 | $43,438 | 88 | $223,201 |
| Auburn | $52,160 | $39,070 | $41,926 | 88 | $349,842 |
| Anniston | $50,950 | $42,680 | $41,007 | 86 | $170,653 |
| Dothan | $50,850 | $38,170 | $40,932 | 84 | $196,979 |
| Florence | $50,400 | $39,740 | $40,590 | 85 | $216,659 |
| Daphne | $50,200 | $38,520 | $40,438 | 95 | $373,114 |
| Gadsden | $47,400 | $36,660 | $38,312 | 86 | $184,689 |
*Average salary after federal and state income tax and payroll taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Highest-paying jobs in Alabama
- Physicians, All Other · Mobile$339,690
- Physicians, All Other · Dothan$330,960
- Physicians, All Other · Huntsville$311,500
- General Internal Medicine Physicians · Birmingham$307,190
- Physicians, All Other · Decatur$305,990
- Physicians, All Other · Auburn$273,250
- Physicians, All Other · Montgomery$265,740
- Physicians, All Other · Birmingham$246,650
- Dentists, General · Mobile$240,610
- Chief Executives · Huntsville$234,140
Most common jobs in Alabama
| Job | Jobs statewide | Average | Median | Highest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 60,880 | $33,340 | $30,040 | $34,900 |
| Registered Nurses | 54,340 | $77,020 | $77,080 | $86,590 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 53,280 | $44,740 | $42,700 | $55,790 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 46,580 | $35,980 | $34,290 | $38,730 |
| Cashiers | 46,420 | $27,830 | $28,250 | $29,660 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 45,050 | $43,060 | $41,630 | $46,410 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 41,460 | $25,600 | $23,700 | $27,030 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 36,650 | $56,230 | $52,120 | $60,530 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 36,140 | $37,480 | $36,670 | $41,440 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 33,290 | $41,290 | $38,400 | $43,560 |
Jobs, average and median: BLS statewide estimates. Highest city average: best-paid metro area we cover in the state.
Average salary by job family in Alabama
Alabama income tax and take-home pay
Take-home figures on these pages apply Alabama's 2026 income tax rules for a single filer with the standard deduction, plus federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security and Medicare. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Alabama at a glance
Average salary in other states
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
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- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Salary in Alabama: questions
What is the average salary in Alabama?
$57,500 a year across all jobs, according to BLS statewide estimates (OEWS, May 2025). That is 18% less than the U.S. average ($69,770).
What is the median salary in Alabama?
$45,670 a year: half of Alabama workers earn more and half earn less. The median is lower than the average because a minority of high earners lifts the average.
What is the average hourly wage in Alabama?
$27.65 an hour on average, and $21.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
Which city in Alabama pays the most?
Huntsville, with an average of $71,090 a year among the metro areas we cover.
Is Alabama expensive to live in?
BEA puts Alabama prices 11% below the U.S. average (price parity 88.8). Within the state, Daphne 95, Huntsville 93, Birmingham 92 are the most expensive metros.
Sources and how to read this page
- Statewide figures: BLS OEWS state estimates, May 2025, all occupations and every employer in the state (metro and rural areas).
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. City figures: the metro areas we cover in Alabama.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent and property crimes reported by agencies statewide, latest 12 months available.
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