Average salary in Alabama
City living is often more expensive than living in more rural areas, but it’s also where the money is. Alabama’s own cities can vary in average salary; cities like Hoover command above $75,000, while Birmingham’s average is less than half that.
Average earnings by city—or any other geographical metric—is just one way of calculating wealth, and certainly shouldn’t be the only way you look at your own earning potential in a given place. It doesn’t take into account the type of jobs that people do to earn above or below this average bracket, and omits any consideration for the number of people living in a household. However, it’s certainly one way of establishing which place offers good earning opportunities.
The US Census Bureau’s latest American Community Survey has calculated the average earnings for the largest cities in Alabama, which you can find ranked below.
Average salary in Alabama by city
| City | Average household income |
|---|---|
| Hoover | $76,469 |
| Hunstville | $49,060 |
| Montgomery | $43,535 |
| Decatur | $42,867 |
| Dothan | $42,026 |
| Mobile | $39,241 |
| Tuscaloosa | $38,762 |
| Auburn | $37,406 |
| Birmingham | $31,217 |
Average salary in Alabama by county
Reviewing average salaries in Alabama by city is not necessarily an adequate metric for average salaries across the state, since it’s entirely urban focused. A good idea is to weigh these figures up against the average salary in Alabama by county, as this will take areas outside the main cities into account and offer a broader idea of salary ranges.
The same survey from the US Census Bureau gives further insight this way, with the average household income calculated for each county.
| County | Average salary |
|---|---|
| Shelby | $78,889 |
| Madison | $66,887 |
| Limestone | $64,270 |
| St. Clair | $62,531 |
| Elmore | $62,324 |
| Baldwin | $61,756 |
| Autauga | $57,982 |
| Coffee | $56,799 |
| Jefferson | $55,088 |
| Tuscaloosa | $54,283 |
Highest paying jobs in Alabama
There’s another weighty factor that will influence how much you earn if you live in Alabama: your job type. Average salaries for various sectors and job roles can vary massively across the state, so it’s absolutely something to consider when looking at salaries by location.
SoFi Learn has calculated a comprehensive list of annual salaries by occupation area, which you can also find below.
| Occupation | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|
| Management | $138,148 |
| Computer & Mathematical | $119,872 |
| Legal | $117,935 |
| Architecture & Engineering | $105,770 |
| Healthcare Practitioners & Technical | $105,245 |
| Life, Physical, & Social Science | $91,100 |
| Business & Financial Operations | $84,198 |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, & Media | $69,625 |
| Education, Training, & Library | $64,168 |
| Construction & Extraction | $62,681 |
Frequently asked questions about salaries in Alabama
What is the average salary in Alabama by age?
Alongside location and occupation, salaries in Alabama are also dependent on age, since more senior workers will be paid more. Then, when they retire, their income will dip again as they will rely on pensions and other forms of set income.
The Census Bureau data finds that the median income for householders under 25 is $29,240, for householders aged 25 to 44 years old it is $54,740, for those aged 45 to 64 years old it is $56,828, and for those 65 and older it is $39,986.
What is a ‘good’ salary in Alabama?
The median income in Alabama is $47,385. While salaries in Alabama may not be as high as those in some other states, they still offer a good quality of life. For example, a salary of $75,000 in Birmingham would be considered good as the cost of living in Alabama is lower compared to other states.
What is the average salary in Alabama by hour?
If Americans work an average of 1,801 hours per year—at 37.5 hours a week—then the average hourly salary in Alabama is $22.06.
Content writer
Kate has written for leading publications and blue chip companies over the last 20 years.