Software Developer Salary in Birmingham, AL
Software Developers in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn a median $125,410 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $90,978 take-home, or $7,582 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Birmingham, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,832
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,775
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,818
- Alabama income tax$6,006
- Take-home pay$90,978
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.00% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Birmingham, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,110 | $35.63 | $57,526 | $4,794 |
| 25th percentile | $87,720 | $42.17 | $66,420 | $5,535 |
| Median (50th) | $125,410 | $60.29 | $90,978 | $7,582 |
| 75th percentile | $143,720 | $69.10 | $102,578 | $8,548 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,330 | $84.29 | $122,603 | $10,217 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $125,410 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 software developer's $90,978 take-home pay has the buying power of $99,274 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Software Developer jobs are less concentrated in Birmingham, AL than nationally (location quotient 0.68), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Birmingham, AL ranks #44 of 184 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $213,110 | $140,222 | $126,987 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $162,090 | $122,055 | $115,520 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $167,280 | $125,602 | $113,019 |
| 4 | Boulder, CO | $164,560 | $117,211 | $111,415 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $127,310 | $98,282 | $109,310 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $166,090 | $116,704 | $107,794 |
| 7 | Ames, IA | $129,440 | $95,471 | $107,476 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $162,650 | $114,828 | $107,453 |
| 44 | Birmingham, AL | $125,410 | $90,978 | $99,274 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 184 metros →
Software Developer salaries elsewhere in Alabama
- Mobile, AL — $122,540
- Huntsville, AL — $128,080
- Montgomery, AL — $110,620
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Birmingham, AL?
The median software developer salary in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $125,410 a year, or about $60.29 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $87,720 and $143,720.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Birmingham, AL?
On the median $125,410 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $90,978 a year ($7,582 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,006 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Birmingham, AL a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 8.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $99,274 would in a typical U.S. city. Birmingham, AL ranks #44 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer 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) — 15% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Birmingham, AL
- Computer Network Architect — $131,140
- Information Security Analyst — $115,520
- Database Administrator — $101,850
- Computer Systems Analyst — $99,470
- Data Scientist — $94,240
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $84,350
- Computer User Support Specialist — $55,350