Alabama (AL)
Login To Save This
H1BIndex State Grade
i
A+
FY 2026
2023
A+
2024
A
2025
A+
Total State Visa Volume i
268
Filings in FY 2026
Median State Salary i
$93,496
Standard yearly salary
True Purchasing Power i
$88,821
Adjusted for Cost of Living
USCIS Approval Rate i
99.6%
Official Adjudication
State Economic & Immigration Overview
An automated macro-level review of Alabama's tech ecosystem.Alabama Market Grade
Companies in Alabama filed 268 work visa applications. Based on the local job market and salaries, this state earns an H1B Index Grade of "A+".
Growth Market
This state operates as a growth center. The underlying data indicates that 74.0% of the labor filings focus on new employment rather than internal transfers.
Adjusted Pay Value
Working in Alabama requires adjusting baseline financial expectations. After standard 5.0% state tax withholdings and local cost adjustments, the median $93,496 salary buys roughly $88,821.
High Approval Chances
Employers in Alabama enjoy a strong 99.6% visa approval rate. On top of that, businesses here applied for 77 Green Cards to keep their international staff long-term.
Balanced Corporate Ecosystem
The corporate ecosystem here supports both junior and senior talent. A standard 21.3% of all visa applications secure top-tier, fully competent professional workers.
Top Hiring City
In Alabama, Birmingham has the highest number of sponsored jobs. Looking at the whole state, the Educational Services industry hires the most international workers.
Layoff Radar & Risk Indicators
Clean Layoff Record
Perfect Safety Record: Businesses throughout Alabama have officially reported zero job cuts during this current period.
Top Metro Hubs in Alabama
Hiring volume across major cities mapped against the state baseline compensation rate of $93,496.Talent Sourcing Pipeline
Are companies hiring fresh talent or poaching from competitors?Fresh Hires (74.0%)Corporate Poaching (26.0%)
State Wage Premium
$15,436
Above Legal Minimum
On average, employers in Alabama offer salaries that are $15,436 higher than the baseline prevailing wage required by the Department of Labor.
10-Year Salary Trends
Comparing state-level base compensation growth for temporary H-1B visas versus permanent Green Cards (PERM). Wage Growth: +39.2%. State median pay has risen over the last ten years.
Lower Wage: -$19,242. Surprisingly, permanent jobs in 2026 actually pay 21.7% less than temporary contracts in this state.
Top Hiring Employers
Companies sponsoring the most visas in this state.
Company & Median Pay
Total Approvals
O*NET Wage Level Distribution
Experience requirements matched against pay tiers across the state.| Experience Level | Total Filings | Cohort Size | Minimum Base | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (Level I) | 98 | 36.6% | $43,846 | $67,956 |
| Qualified (Level II) | 104 | 38.8% | $41,600 | $105,000 |
| Experienced (Level III) | 36 | 13.4% | $53,684 | $117,750 |
| Fully Competent (Level IV) | 21 | 7.8% | $88,060 | $130,000 |
| Not Disclosed (Blank) | 9 | 3.4% | $65,000 | $172,640 |
Geographic Deployment & Worksites
The top locations where state employers place their workers.| City/Metro Area | Workforce % | City Median Pay | Wage (Level IV) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 32.5% (87 Filings) | $110,000 | 9.2% |
| Auburn, AL | 12.7% (34 Filings) | $78,397 | 5.9% |
| Montgomery, AL | 9.3% (25 Filings) | $87,381 | 4.0% |
| Mobile, AL | 6.7% (18 Filings) | $85,000 | 5.6% |
| Huntsville, AL | 6.0% (16 Filings) | $84,646 | 6.2% |
| Hoover, AL | 6.0% (16 Filings) | $109,491 | 12.5% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 6.0% (16 Filings) | $76,700 | 12.5% |
| Fort Payne, AL | 2.2% (6 Filings) | $113,565 | 33.3% |
| Madison, AL | 1.5% (4 Filings) | $124,800 | 0.0% |
| Guntersville, AL | 1.1% (3 Filings) | $62,400 | 0.0% |
| Calvert, AL | 0.7% (2 Filings) | $113,238 | 0.0% |
| Dothan, AL | 0.7% (2 Filings) | $89,870 | 0.0% |
| Hunstville, AL | 0.7% (2 Filings) | $57,200 | 0.0% |
| Jacksonville, AL | 0.7% (2 Filings) | $68,727 | 0.0% |
| Pelham, AL | 0.7% (2 Filings) | $114,585 | 0.0% |
| Foley, AL | 0.7% (2 Filings) | $106,538 | 0.0% |
| Selma, AL | 0.7% (2 Filings) | $121,377 | 50.0% |
| Sylacauga, AL | 0.7% (2 Filings) | $123,364 | 0.0% |
| Fairhope, AL | 0.7% (2 Filings) | $262,500 | 0.0% |
| Bessemer, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $105,976 | 0.0% |
| Decatur, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $67,912 | 0.0% |
| Demopolis, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $53,685 | 0.0% |
| Cottondale, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $74,568 | 0.0% |
| Deatsville, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $59,558 | 0.0% |
| Chelsea, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $100,000 | 0.0% |
| Center Point, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $92,500 | 100.0% |
| Gadsden, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $78,291 | 0.0% |
| Greenville, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $62,400 | 0.0% |
| Montgomer, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $67,766 | 0.0% |
| Irondale, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $117,900 | 0.0% |
| Helena, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $120,000 | 0.0% |
| Homewood, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $42,162 | 0.0% |
| Oxford, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $250,000 | 0.0% |
| Pennington, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $94,500 | 0.0% |
| Opelika, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $59,000 | 0.0% |
| Muscle Shoals, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $180,773 | 0.0% |
| Semmes, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $275,000 | 0.0% |
| San Jose, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $185,510 | 0.0% |
| Tallassee, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $187,179 | 0.0% |
| Spanish Fort, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $120,225 | 0.0% |
| Tanner, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $103,500 | 0.0% |
| Tarrant, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $57,149 | 0.0% |
| Tuskegee, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $90,614 | 0.0% |
| Vance, AL | 0.4% (1 Filings) | $70,464 | 0.0% |
Most Poached Roles
Roles with the highest volume of H-1B transfers, indicating aggressive headhunting.
Role & Transfer Pay
Total Transferred
Dominant Industries
Distribution of cases by broad industry sector.39.2%
23.5%
14.2%
11.9%
4.5%
Historical Retention Rate
Year-over-year percentage of successful visa renewals and extensions.Top Third-Party End Clients i
Where consultants are deployed.
End Client & Placement Data
Total Approvals
Highest Compensation Roles i
Top positions ranked by median base pay.
Role & Market Data
Median Base
Law Firms & Third-Party Work i
Leading legal counsel for visas.
Law Firm & Market Data
Total Approvals
Visa Volume & Success
-87.5% YoY Decline
LCA approvals, denials, and overall certification rates.
USCIS Petition Processing
New vs. Renewed approvals and denials in the state.Green Card Sponsorships
PERM residency applications and median GC wages.Noticing a difference in dates? Salary metrics reflect real-time DOL filings, while approval metrics rely on finalized USCIS historical data. View timelines
Complete Employers Matrix
A detailed ledger of all corporate clients operating in Alabama.Complete Jobs Matrix
The job titles most frequently sponsored in this state.| Job Title in State | LCA Count | Median Pay | Salary Variance | Legal Wage Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Professor | 32 | $115,000 | $294,006 Range | +$45,584 Over Min |
| Postdoctoral Fellow | 12 | $58,656 | $16,934 Range | +$2,902 Over Min |
| Software Developer | 10 | $87,381 | $25,000 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Postdoctoral Scholar Employee | 5 | $56,659 | $7,956 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Data Scientist | 4 | $109,491 | $17,971 Range | +$31,096 Over Min |
| Associate Professor | 4 | $580,133 | $475,133 Range | +$496,860 Over Min |
| Accountant | 3 | $61,452 | $11,490 Range | +$11,490 Over Min |
| Assistant Nurse Manager | 3 | $86,944 | $8,653 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Hospitalist Physician | 3 | $291,200 | Fixed Pay | +$52,000 Over Min |
| Industrial Window Production Technician | 3 | $57,200 | Fixed Pay | +$10,920 Over Min |
| Mechanical Engineer | 3 | $105,000 | $1,500 Range | +$2,430 Over Min |
| Instructor | 3 | $300,000 | $228,000 Range | +$227,233 Over Min |
| Software Engineer | 3 | $120,000 | $52,234 Range | +$38,069 Over Min |
| Project Manager | 3 | $86,445 | Fixed Pay | +$12,355 Over Min |
| Researcher V | 3 | $61,400 | $5,050 Range | +$7,549 Over Min |
| Research Associate Ii | 3 | $66,000 | $6,000 Range | +$2,373 Over Min |
| Assistant Professor, Advertising And Public Relations | 2 | $75,000 | Fixed Pay | +$21,295 Over Min |
| Assistant Professor Of Economics | 2 | $91,052 | Fixed Pay | +$20,372 Over Min |
| Nephrologist | 2 | $275,000 | Fixed Pay | +$35,800 Over Min |
| Lecturer | 2 | $53,635 | $3,635 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Postdoctoral Researcher | 2 | $62,666 | $3,666 Range | +$1,129 Over Min |
| Researcher Senior | 2 | $68,091 | $91 Range | +$5,899 Over Min |
| Research Scientist | 2 | $73,500 | $3,000 Range | +$17,298 Over Min |
| Quality Assurance Engineer | 2 | $80,621 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Fellow | 2 | $69,142 | $4,142 Range | +$35,313 Over Min |
| Outpatient Neurologist | 2 | $390,000 | Fixed Pay | +$191,776 Over Min |
| Data Engineer Senior | 2 | $123,600 | $8,100 Range | +$9,127 Over Min |
| Lead Sap Developer & Nwbc Pm | 2 | $182,292 | Fixed Pay | +$55,578 Over Min |
| Assistant Professor Of Pediatrics | 2 | $262,500 | $12,500 Range | +$144,689 Over Min |
| Accountants And Auditors - Kbgfjg102166-18 | 2 | $173,400 | Fixed Pay | +$90,720 Over Min |
| Aircraft Mechanic | 2 | $54,080 | $8,320 Range | +$3,255 Over Min |
| Hospitalist | 2 | $265,000 | Fixed Pay | +$186,022 Over Min |
| Sr. Software Developer | 2 | $110,770 | $3,754 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Technical Project Manager | 2 | $88,400 | Fixed Pay | +$1,019 Over Min |
| Advanced Analytics Engineer | 2 | $94,926 | Fixed Pay | +$36,051 Over Min |
| Account Manager I | 1 | $59,000 | Fixed Pay | +$22,974 Over Min |
| Aeronautical Scientific Technician | 1 | $44,907 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Advanced/Parts Quality Engineer | 1 | $83,500 | Fixed Pay | +$1,070 Over Min |
| Assistant Professor Of Chemical Engineering | 1 | $105,000 | Fixed Pay | +$12,020 Over Min |
| Ad Jc40 - Information Technology Project Managers | 1 | $111,738 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
Historical Compensation Ledger
Year-over-year salary data comparing historical averages.| Fiscal Year | YoY Growth | Maximum | Median | Top-Heavy Skew i | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | In Progress | $320,000 | $88,780 | +8.8% Skew | $20.00/hr |
| 2025 | +1.0% | $400,000 | $82,400 | +15.8% Skew | $16.00/hr |
| 2024 | -0.5% | $400,000 | $81,579 | +16.5% Skew | $10.00/hr |
| 2023 | +2.5% | $400,000 | $82,000 | +18.4% Skew | $12.00/hr |
| 2022 | +3.8% | $400,000 | $79,962 | +13.3% Skew | $17.00/hr |
| 2021 | +1.7% | $400,000 | $77,000 | +22.5% Skew | $15.00/hr |
| 2020 | +3.6% | $400,000 | $75,733 | +13.7% Skew | $17.00/hr |
| 2019 | +6.4% | $400,000 | $73,112 | +12.7% Skew | $13.00/hr |
| 2018 | +5.7% | $400,000 | $68,702 | +7.0% Skew | $8.00/hr |
| 2017 | +1.9% | $350,000 | $65,000 | +9.1% Skew | $13.00/hr |
| 2016 | N/A | $375,000 | $63,773 | +11.7% Skew | $11.00/hr |
Recent Visa Filings (FY 2026)
Raw, unedited federal disclosures processed in this state.State Intelligence (FAQ)
Common questions and insights regarding Alabama.Which city in Alabama pays the highest H-1B salaries?
For candidates looking to maximize compensation, Birmingham leads the state with a median salary of $110,000.
What is the tax rate on a professional salary in Alabama?
The state income tax is estimated at 5.0%. Earning the median salary of $93,496 means paying around $4,675 in local taxes.
Is it easy to get Green Card sponsorship in Alabama?
There is an active pathway to permanent residency here. Employers recently submitted 77 PERM applications, establishing a 28.7% Green Card rate.