Lawyer Salary in Birmingham, AL
Lawyers in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn a median $170,230 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $119,372 take-home, or $9,948 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median lawyer salary in Birmingham, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$29,589
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,554
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,468
- Alabama income tax$8,247
- Take-home pay$119,372
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.00% state
Living in Birmingham? City residents also pay Birmingham’s Occupational Tax — about $1,702 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $117,669 ($9,806 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 →
Lawyer pay by experience in Birmingham, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,650 | $31.56 | $51,912 | $4,326 |
| 25th percentile | $100,270 | $48.21 | $74,621 | $6,218 |
| Median (50th) | $170,230 | $81.84 | $119,372 | $9,948 |
| 75th percentile | $213,600 | $102.69 | $148,528 | $12,377 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $272,900+ | $131.20 | $184,819 | $15,402 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $170,230 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 lawyer's $119,372 take-home pay has the buying power of $130,256 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lawyer jobs are about as common in Birmingham, AL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for lawyers, adjusted for cost of living
Birmingham, AL ranks #2 of 47 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $239,200+ | $188,293 | $170,520 |
| 2 | Birmingham, AL | $170,230 | $119,372 | $130,256 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $208,880 | $144,183 | $128,091 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $168,510 | $126,443 | $122,653 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $195,190 | $131,718 | $120,971 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $212,500 | $139,838 | $120,953 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $157,980 | $119,245 | $120,903 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $170,660 | $122,673 | $119,618 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 47 metros →
About the job: lawyers
Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Birmingham, AL?
The median lawyer salary in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $170,230 a year, or about $81.84 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $100,270 and $213,600.
What is a lawyer’s take-home pay in Birmingham, AL?
On the median $170,230 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $119,372 a year ($9,948 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,247 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Birmingham, AL a good place to work as a lawyer?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $159,670. Local prices are 8.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $130,256 would in a typical U.S. city. Birmingham, AL ranks #2 of 47 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lawyer 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) — 11% of a median lawyer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Birmingham, AL
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $53,160