Technology Birmingham, AL Pop. 197,575

Data Engineer Salary in Birmingham, Alabama

The median data engineer salary in Birmingham, AL is $106,250 per year, which is 15% below the national median and 3.7% above the Alabama state average.

City Median
$106,250
vs State Avg
+$3,750
vs National
$-18,750
Cost of Living
90%

Data Engineer Pay in Birmingham: What to Expect (2026)

Birmingham offers a median data engineer salary of $106,250, which is $3,750 above the Alabama state average of $102,500. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Birmingham pays below the national benchmark for this role.

Birmingham's cost of living is 90% of the national average, meaning salary figures here closely reflect actual purchasing power. This makes direct comparisons to other cities straightforward.

The salary range for data engineers in Birmingham spans from $66,300 at the 10th percentile to $161,500 at the 90th percentile — a $95,200 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $68,000, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $153,000. With a population of 197,575, Birmingham is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Engineer Salary in Birmingham by Experience

In Birmingham, an entry-level data engineer earns around $68,000, while experienced professionals earn up to $153,000 per year. The local cost of living index is 90% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$68,000
$-12,000 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$107,950
$-19,050 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$153,000
$-27,000 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Birmingham, AL

Percentile Birmingham
10th Percentile $66,300
25th Percentile $85,000
Median (50th) $106,250
75th Percentile $134,300
90th Percentile $161,500

Data Engineer Salary in Other Alabama Cities

Huntsville, AL
$108,750
Pop. 216,963
Tuscaloosa, AL
$103,750
Pop. 101,129
Montgomery, AL
$101,250
Pop. 200,603
Mobile, AL
$100,000
Pop. 187,041

How to Become a Data Engineer in Birmingham

Education

Most data engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. Birmingham and the surrounding Alabama area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

PythonSQLSparkAirflowAWS/GCPData Modeling

Job Outlook

Nationally, data engineer employment is projected to grow 28% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Birmingham may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Birmingham

Browse open data engineer positions in Birmingham, AL:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Birmingham

How much does a Data Engineer make in Birmingham, AL? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Birmingham, Alabama is $106,250 per year, which is 15% below the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $66,300 (10th percentile) to $161,500 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Birmingham? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $106,250, a data engineer in Birmingham earns approximately $51 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Birmingham compare to the Alabama state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Birmingham's median data engineer salary of $106,250 is 3.7% above the Alabama state average of $102,500. The local cost of living index is 90% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Birmingham, AL? ▼
Birmingham has a cost of living index of 90% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $106,250 in Birmingham has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Birmingham? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Birmingham require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Python, SQL, Spark, Airflow. The job market is projected to grow 28% nationally over the next decade.