Retail Salesperson Salary in Birmingham, AL
Retail Salespersons in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn a median $31,450 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,143 take-home, or $2,179 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median retail salesperson salary in Birmingham, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,594
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,950
- Medicare (1.45%)$456
- Alabama income tax$1,308
- Take-home pay$26,143
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Living in Birmingham? City residents also pay Birmingham’s Occupational Tax — about $315 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $25,828 ($2,152 a month). Choose “Birmingham” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Retail Salesperson pay by experience in Birmingham, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,450 | $11.27 | $20,014 | $1,668 |
| 25th percentile | $28,140 | $13.53 | $23,641 | $1,970 |
| Median (50th) | $31,450 | $15.12 | $26,143 | $2,179 |
| 75th percentile | $36,830 | $17.71 | $30,196 | $2,516 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,160 | $22.19 | $37,227 | $3,102 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,450 buys in Birmingham, AL
Prices in Birmingham, AL are 8.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median retail salesperson's $26,143 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,526 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Retail Salesperson jobs are about as common in Birmingham, AL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for retail salespersons, adjusted for cost of living
Birmingham, AL ranks #143 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fargo, ND | $35,860 | $30,994 | $34,107 |
| 2 | St. Cloud, MN | $34,860 | $29,144 | $33,257 |
| 3 | Yakima, WA | $36,640 | $31,620 | $33,095 |
| 4 | Sioux Falls, SD | $34,600 | $29,981 | $33,080 |
| 5 | Rochester, MN | $36,000 | $29,999 | $33,030 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $44,220 | $36,378 | $32,944 |
| 7 | Duluth, MN | $34,650 | $28,986 | $32,654 |
| 8 | Rapid City, SD | $33,350 | $28,977 | $32,500 |
| 143 | Birmingham, AL | $31,450 | $26,143 | $28,526 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
About the job: retail salespersons
Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.3% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Retail Salesperson salaries elsewhere in Alabama
- Huntsville, AL — $33,120
- Dothan, AL — $28,770
- Tuscaloosa, AL — $29,630
- Mobile, AL — $29,710
- Montgomery, AL — $29,650
- Daphne, AL — $29,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a retail salesperson make in Birmingham, AL?
The median retail salesperson salary in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $31,450 a year, or about $15.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,140 and $36,830.
What is a retail salesperson’s take-home pay in Birmingham, AL?
On the median $31,450 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $26,143 a year ($2,179 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,308 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Birmingham, AL a good place to work as a retail salesperson?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $35,410. Local prices are 8.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,526 would in a typical U.S. city. Birmingham, AL ranks #143 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Birmingham, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Birmingham, AL is $1,115 a month ($1,234 for two bedrooms) — 51% of a median retail salesperson’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Birmingham, AL
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $71,450
- Insurance Sales Agent — $66,640
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $60,040
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $46,210
- Cashier — $29,310