Childcare Worker Salary in Birmingham, AL
Childcare Workers in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn a median $23,070 a year — 34% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $19,720 take-home, or $1,643 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median childcare worker salary in Birmingham, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$697
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,430
- Medicare (1.45%)$335
- Alabama income tax$889
- Take-home pay$19,720
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.00% state
Childcare Worker pay by experience in Birmingham, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,450 | $10.31 | $18,467 | $1,539 |
| 25th percentile | $21,940 | $10.55 | $18,846 | $1,570 |
| Median (50th) | $23,070 | $11.09 | $19,720 | $1,643 |
| 75th percentile | $28,980 | $13.93 | $24,281 | $2,023 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $30,720 | $14.77 | $25,593 | $2,133 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $23,070 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 childcare worker's $19,720 take-home pay has the buying power of $21,518 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Childcare Worker jobs are less concentrated in Birmingham, AL than nationally (location quotient 0.53), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for childcare workers, adjusted for cost of living
Birmingham, AL ranks #169 of 171 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Port, FL | $47,300 | $40,186 | $39,237 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | $44,320 | $36,549 | $34,552 |
| 3 | Boulder, CO | $43,380 | $35,836 | $34,064 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $45,720 | $37,504 | $33,964 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $43,710 | $37,301 | $33,564 |
| 6 | Modesto, CA | $41,920 | $34,652 | $33,284 |
| 7 | St. Cloud, MN | $34,030 | $28,521 | $32,546 |
| 8 | Las Cruces, NM | $34,270 | $29,210 | $32,379 |
| 169 | Birmingham, AL | $23,070 | $19,720 | $21,518 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 171 metros →
Childcare Worker salaries elsewhere in Alabama
- Montgomery, AL — $22,720
- Huntsville, AL — $23,110
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make in Birmingham, AL?
The median childcare worker salary in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $23,070 a year, or about $11.09 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $21,940 and $28,980.
What is a childcare worker’s take-home pay in Birmingham, AL?
On the median $23,070 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $19,720 a year ($1,643 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $889 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Birmingham, AL a good place to work as a childcare worker?
Pay here is 34% below the national median of $34,980. Local prices are 8.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $21,518 would in a typical U.S. city. Birmingham, AL ranks #169 of 171 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a childcare worker 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) — 68% of a median childcare worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Birmingham, AL
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services — $46,070
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $41,850
- Residential Advisor — $32,730
- Recreation Worker — $30,030
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $29,000
- Animal Caretaker — $28,710
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $23,760