Firefighter Salary in Birmingham, AL
Firefighters in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn a median $51,050 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,911 take-home, or $3,409 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Birmingham, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,946
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,165
- Medicare (1.45%)$740
- Alabama income tax$2,288
- Take-home pay$40,911
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Firefighter pay by experience in Birmingham, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,860 | $16.76 | $28,712 | $2,393 |
| 25th percentile | $39,340 | $18.91 | $32,088 | $2,674 |
| Median (50th) | $51,050 | $24.54 | $40,911 | $3,409 |
| 75th percentile | $64,900 | $31.20 | $51,347 | $4,279 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,560 | $37.29 | $59,780 | $4,982 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,050 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 firefighter's $40,911 take-home pay has the buying power of $44,641 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Birmingham, AL has 2.0× the national concentration of firefighter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Birmingham, AL ranks #76 of 133 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $152,100 | $103,333 | $93,580 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $101,090 | $79,947 | $71,938 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $113,700 | $80,995 | $70,057 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $106,420 | $78,458 | $69,701 |
| 5 | Rochester, NY | $89,120 | $67,308 | $69,365 |
| 6 | Spokane, WA | $83,310 | $67,439 | $67,206 |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $81,360 | $66,067 | $65,404 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $94,080 | $69,272 | $64,941 |
| 76 | Birmingham, AL | $51,050 | $40,911 | $44,641 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 133 metros →
Firefighter salaries elsewhere in Alabama
- Tuscaloosa, AL — $58,400
- Montgomery, AL — $48,780
- Mobile, AL — $46,770
- Huntsville, AL — $48,010
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Birmingham, AL?
The median firefighter salary in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $51,050 a year, or about $24.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,340 and $64,900.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Birmingham, AL?
On the median $51,050 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $40,911 a year ($3,409 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,288 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Birmingham, AL a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 8.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $44,641 would in a typical U.S. city. Birmingham, AL ranks #76 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter 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) — 33% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Birmingham, AL
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $60,590
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $57,570
- Security Guard — $33,820