Civil Engineer Salary in Birmingham, AL
Civil Engineers in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn a median $97,420 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $72,759 take-home, or $6,063 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Birmingham, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,602
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,040
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,413
- Alabama income tax$4,606
- Take-home pay$72,759
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Birmingham, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,340 | $32.38 | $53,102 | $4,425 |
| 25th percentile | $78,290 | $37.64 | $60,258 | $5,021 |
| Median (50th) | $97,420 | $46.84 | $72,759 | $6,063 |
| 75th percentile | $127,820 | $61.45 | $92,505 | $7,709 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,370 | $80.95 | $118,193 | $9,849 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $97,420 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 civil engineer's $72,759 take-home pay has the buying power of $79,393 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Civil Engineer jobs are about as common in Birmingham, AL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.87).
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Birmingham, AL ranks #47 of 125 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennewick, WA | $121,370 | $94,214 | $94,139 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | $112,430 | $84,938 | $93,565 |
| 3 | Mobile, AL | $107,810 | $79,549 | $90,296 |
| 4 | New Orleans, LA | $108,240 | $82,116 | $88,681 |
| 5 | Sioux Falls, SD | $99,700 | $78,969 | $87,132 |
| 6 | Tulsa, OK | $102,080 | $76,595 | $85,856 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $130,150 | $90,657 | $84,988 |
| 8 | Beaumont, TX | $95,510 | $76,021 | $84,425 |
| 47 | Birmingham, AL | $97,420 | $72,759 | $79,393 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 125 metros →
Civil Engineer salaries elsewhere in Alabama
- Mobile, AL — $107,810
- Huntsville, AL — $105,760
- Montgomery, AL — $97,470
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Birmingham, AL?
The median civil engineer salary in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $97,420 a year, or about $46.84 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,290 and $127,820.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Birmingham, AL?
On the median $97,420 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $72,759 a year ($6,063 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,606 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Birmingham, AL a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 8.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $79,393 would in a typical U.S. city. Birmingham, AL ranks #47 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer 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) — 18% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Birmingham, AL
- Electrical Engineer — $112,960
- Industrial Engineer — $100,480
- Mechanical Engineer — $98,810
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $96,730