What this means Our calculation
3 of 32 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is elevator installers at $103,700. Prices run 8% below the U.S. average, so a paycheck here is worth more than the same dollars elsewhere. For the wider job market, unemployment is lower than most metros (2.7%) and the population is growing slowly (+1.4% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Birmingham Government data
All 32 trades
Vs. U.S. compares with the typical metro for that trade. Jobs are employment estimates, not open positions. Click a column to sort.
| Trade | Median pay | Vs. U.S. | Real pay | Jobs | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elevator Installer | $103,700 | -4% | $113,155 | 90 | #39 |
| Electrical Lineworker | $102,470 | +6% | $111,813 | 490 | #97 |
| Construction Supervisor | $71,280 | -8% | $77,779 | 3,720 | #305 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $65,610 | -1% | $71,592 | 340 | #120 |
| Building Inspector | $64,400 | -4% | $70,272 | 390 | #203 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $63,080 | +1% | $68,832 | 840 | #137 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $61,860 | -3% | $67,500 | 3,260 | #269 |
| Plumber | $60,090 | -2% | $65,569 | 1,840 | #225 |
| Ironworker | $59,180 | -8% | $64,576 | 550 | #103 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $56,860 | +10% | $62,044 | 400 | #105 |
| Electrician | $56,630 | -9% | $61,793 | 2,780 | #312 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $55,040 | -9% | $60,058 | 1,590 | #321 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $54,330 | -9% | $59,284 | 2,070 | #237 |
| Machinist | $50,780 | -11% | $55,410 | 1,110 | #273 |
| Carpenter | $50,400 | -10% | $54,995 | 1,660 | #248 |
| Brickmason | $50,030 | -21% | $54,592 | 120 | #129 |
| Welder | $49,930 | -5% | $54,483 | 2,160 | #249 |
| Drywall Installer | $48,760 | -9% | $53,206 | 270 | #116 |
| HVAC Technician | $48,740 | -18% | $53,184 | 2,370 | #347 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $48,090 | -22% | $52,475 | 530 | #227 |
| Paving Equipment Operator | $48,030 | -4% | $52,409 | 120 | #95 |
| Auto Mechanic | $47,830 | -2% | $52,191 | 2,220 | #246 |
| Rigger | $46,800 | -23% | $51,067 | 80 | #63 |
| Roofer | $46,600 | -7% | $50,849 | 260 | #209 |
| Concrete Finisher | $46,390 | -19% | $50,620 | 440 | #279 |
| Maintenance Technician | $46,360 | -4% | $50,587 | 3,720 | #265 |
| Tile Setter | $45,390 | -10% | $49,529 | 70 | #101 |
| Painter | $44,560 | -6% | $48,623 | 380 | #277 |
| Pest Control Technician | $39,300 | -12% | $42,883 | 660 | #166 |
| Hazmat Removal Worker | $38,610 | -20% | $42,130 | 110 | #126 |
| Construction Laborer | $38,370 | -18% | $41,869 | 4,780 | #331 |
| Landscaper | $36,600 | -3% | $39,937 | 2,880 | #255 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Birmingham
The Birmingham area has about 533,756 homes. 46% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is about as old as most; 13% were built in 2010 or later. 71% of households own their home, and the median home value is $263,900.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Birmingham Government data
In an average year, Birmingham has 65 days at 90°F or hotter (more than most metros; typical metro 33), including 2 at 100°F or more, 47 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 81 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more, and 1 inch of snow. Summer afternoons average 90°F and winter nights 37°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Birmingham Airport, AL station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
2.7% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Birmingham area's population grew 1.4% from 2020 to 2025 (1,181,801 → 1,197,766), ranking #239 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +18,755) account for more than all of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Birmingham are up 6% from 2021 to 2025 (3,984 → 4,219). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Birmingham area is 27 minutes each way, longer than the typical metro (24 min). 16% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 79% drive alone, 1% take transit and 11% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Licensing in Alabama Official source
The main state licensing office in Alabama is the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors. Electrical, HVAC and plumbing have their own state boards. It can point you to the right license for skilled trades.
Official Alabama licensing site ↗
Requirements for skilled trades vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 6.3% of wage and salary workers in Alabama were union members, below the U.S. rate of about 10% (#31 of 51 states and D.C.), and 7.2% were covered by a union contract. These figures cover all jobs in the state, not only the trades.
BLS Union Members, 2025 (Current Population Survey), table 5.
Nearby metros
Compare any trade in two cities with city vs. city, or see every metro in Alabama.