Cost of Living in Huntsville, AL
Huntsville, AL — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
93.1
U.S. average = 100 · #208 of 387
Median wage
$51,740
all jobs · $3,453/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$1,136
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Huntsville, AL to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
—
Prices in Huntsville, AL vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.1 | −6.9% |
| Housing | 77.9 | −22.1% |
| Goods | 96.4 | −3.6% |
| Utilities | 83.9 | −16.1% |
| Other services | 96.7 | −3.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Huntsville, AL
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,030 | $41,200/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,136 | $45,440/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,310 | $52,400/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,690 | $67,600/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,109 | $84,360/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Huntsville, AL
Your take-home pay
$41,431
per year · effective tax rate 19.9%
$3,453Monthly
$1,726Twice a month
$1,594Every 2 weeks
$19.92Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,029
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,208
- Medicare (1.45%)$750
- Alabama income tax$2,322
- Take-home pay$41,431
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Huntsville, AL
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $168,380 | $118,200 | $126,998 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $164,060 | $115,463 | $124,058 |
| Financial Manager | $158,620 | $112,017 | $120,355 |
| Engineers, All Other | $155,630 | $110,123 | $118,320 |
| Managers, All Other | $153,920 | $109,039 | $117,156 |
| Purchasing Manager | $146,970 | $104,636 | $112,425 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $142,670 | $101,912 | $109,499 |
| Pharmacist | $136,840 | $98,219 | $105,530 |
| General and Operations Manager | $136,340 | $97,902 | $105,190 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $136,240 | $97,839 | $105,122 |
| Sales Manager | $134,690 | $96,857 | $104,067 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $133,330 | $95,996 | $103,141 |
| Lawyer | $133,220 | $95,926 | $103,066 |
| Computer Network Architect | $132,410 | $95,413 | $102,515 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $131,090 | $94,577 | $101,617 |
| Electrical Engineer | $130,330 | $94,095 | $101,099 |
| Information Security Analyst | $130,330 | $94,095 | $101,099 |
| Software Developer | $128,080 | $92,670 | $99,568 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $124,950 | $90,687 | $97,437 |
| Management Analyst | $121,970 | $88,799 | $95,409 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Huntsville, AL expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Huntsville, AL metro area are 93.1% of the U.S. average, with housing at 77.9%. It is the #208 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Huntsville, AL?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $55,843 in Huntsville, AL (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $51,740.
How much is rent in Huntsville, AL?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Huntsville, AL are $1,030 for a studio, $1,136 for one bedroom, $1,310 for two bedrooms and $1,690 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Huntsville, AL
Management Occupations
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $168,380
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $164,060
- Financial Manager — $158,620
- Managers, All Other — $153,920
- Purchasing Manager — $146,970
- General and Operations Manager — $136,340
- Industrial Production Manager — $136,240
- Sales Manager — $134,690
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $99,170
- Construction Manager — $96,030
- Food Service Manager — $66,240
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $124,950
- Management Analyst — $121,970
- Logistician — $117,060
- Budget Analyst — $113,400
- Project Management Specialist — $112,130
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $99,400
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $94,990
- Compliance Officer — $84,990
- Accountant and Auditor — $79,220
- Human Resources Specialist — $78,780
- Training and Development Specialist — $76,360
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $59,230
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Computer Network Architect — $132,410
- Information Security Analyst — $130,330
- Software Developer — $128,080
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $120,450
- Data Scientist — $111,810
- Computer Systems Analyst — $107,350
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $105,610
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $100,120
- Computer User Support Specialist — $49,740
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Engineers, All Other — $155,630
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $142,670
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $133,330
- Aerospace Engineer — $131,090
- Electrical Engineer — $130,330
- Industrial Engineer — $106,110
- Civil Engineer — $105,760
- Mechanical Engineer — $102,450
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $68,690
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $133,220
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $46,580
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $64,220
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $62,250
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,140
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $26,110
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary — $25,930
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $25,340
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Pharmacist — $136,840
- Nurse Practitioner — $103,900
- Registered Nurse — $77,090
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $61,100
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $59,860
- Surgical Technologist — $51,710
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $47,490
- Pharmacy Technician — $43,910
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $36,920
- Nursing Assistant — $35,210
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $29,520
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $64,550
- Firefighter — $48,010
- Security Guard — $36,210
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,130
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,520
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,310
- Bartender — $28,210
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,160
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $28,110
- Waiter and Waitress — $27,990
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,180
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $37,510
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $33,600
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $28,530
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $29,150
- Animal Caretaker — $29,110
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $24,010
- Childcare Worker — $23,110
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $65,070
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $64,460
- Insurance Sales Agent — $63,860
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $49,180
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $47,430
- Parts Salesperson — $36,800
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $36,710
- Retail Salesperson — $33,120
- Cashier — $29,860
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $74,710
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $62,950
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $61,840
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $57,470
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $47,130
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $46,090
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $43,010
- Teller — $39,210
- Customer Service Representative — $38,400
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $37,680
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $35,060
- Office Clerks, General — $31,750
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $62,650
- Electrician — $58,500
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $57,020
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $49,110
- Construction Laborer — $37,510
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $75,610
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $63,370
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist — $55,110
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $49,940
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $46,840
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $46,430
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $68,010
- Machinist — $62,490
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $61,790
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $48,000
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $47,950
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $46,390
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $44,210
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $44,020
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $43,630
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $38,210
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $59,120
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $56,690
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $45,200
- Light Truck Driver — $42,800
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $39,500
- Driver/Sales Worker — $37,270
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,620
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $29,680
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $27,680
- Bus Drivers, School — $18,750