Alabama (AL)
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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
$93,475
Standard yearly salary
True Purchasing Power i
$88,801
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.Overall Alabama Rating
Federal records show 268 total work visa filings for Alabama. When we look at local wages and job availability, the region gets an official H1B Index Rating of "A+".
New Job Creation
Instead of just transferring existing workers around, Alabama actively adds fresh jobs. A solid 74.0% of approved visas went to completely new hires.
Adjusted Pay Value
Working in Alabama requires adjusting baseline financial expectations. After standard 5.0% state tax withholdings and local cost adjustments, the median $93,475 salary buys roughly $88,801.
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.
Standard Skill Distribution
The workforce in Alabama features a balanced mix of experience. Currently, 21.3% of the approved visas are allocated to highly advanced, senior-level roles.
Biggest Job Market
Most of the businesses sponsoring visas in Alabama are based in Birmingham. This regional hiring is strongly driven by the Educational Services industry.
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 $93,475.Talent Sourcing Pipeline
Are companies hiring fresh talent or poaching from competitors?Fresh Hires (74.0%)Corporate Poaching (26.0%)
State Wage Premium
$15,414
Above Legal Minimum
On average, employers in Alabama offer salaries that are $15,414 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). Long-Term Gain: +39.2%. The average salary here is notably higher now than in 2016.
Lower Base Pay: -$19,242. Companies in this region pay 21.7% less for permanent workers compared to temporary staff in 2026.
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 | $103,500 |
| 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) | $109,746 | 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 | $21,154 Range | +$2,902 Over Min |
| Software Developer | 10 | $87,381 | $25,000 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Postdoctoral Scholar Employee | 5 | $56,659 | $13,600 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Data Scientist | 4 | $109,491 | $17,971 Range | +$31,096 Over Min |
| Associate Professor | 4 | $105,000 | Fixed Pay | +$21,728 Over Min |
| Accountant | 3 | $61,452 | $29,838 Range | +$11,490 Over Min |
| Assistant Nurse Manager | 3 | $86,944 | $8,653 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Hospitalist Physician | 3 | $291,200 | $10,400 Range | +$52,000 Over Min |
| Industrial Window Production Technician | 3 | $57,200 | Fixed Pay | +$10,920 Over Min |
| Mechanical Engineer | 3 | $105,000 | $2,975 Range | +$2,430 Over Min |
| Instructor | 3 | $300,000 | $228,000 Range | +$227,233 Over Min |
| Software Engineer | 3 | $120,000 | $69,534 Range | +$38,069 Over Min |
| Project Manager | 3 | $86,445 | Fixed Pay | +$12,355 Over Min |
| Researcher V | 3 | $61,400 | $13,650 Range | +$7,549 Over Min |
| Research Associate Ii | 3 | $66,000 | $10,737 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 | $7,270 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Postdoctoral Researcher | 2 | $62,666 | $7,331 Range | +$1,129 Over Min |
| Researcher Senior | 2 | $68,091 | $182 Range | +$5,899 Over Min |
| Research Scientist | 2 | $73,500 | $6,000 Range | +$17,298 Over Min |
| Quality Assurance Engineer | 2 | $80,621 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Fellow | 2 | $69,142 | $8,285 Range | +$35,313 Over Min |
| Outpatient Neurologist | 2 | $390,000 | Fixed Pay | +$191,776 Over Min |
| Data Engineer Senior | 2 | $123,600 | $16,200 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 | $25,000 Range | +$144,689 Over Min |
| Accountants And Auditors - Kbgfjg102166-18 | 2 | $173,400 | Fixed Pay | +$90,720 Over Min |
| Aircraft Mechanic | 2 | $54,080 | $16,640 Range | +$3,255 Over Min |
| Hospitalist | 2 | $265,000 | Fixed Pay | +$186,022 Over Min |
| Sr. Software Developer | 2 | $110,770 | $7,509 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.What is the highest-paying area for H-1B visas in Alabama?
Birmingham represents the top-paying metro area in the state, where H-1B salaries reach a local median of $109,746.
How likely are companies in Alabama to sponsor a Green Card?
Companies in Alabama invest in long-term talent, filing 77 Green Card applications for a 28.7% conversion rate.
What is the tax rate on a professional salary in Alabama?
Local state income tax averages approximately 5.0%. An H-1B worker taking home $93,475 here will pay an estimated $4,674 to the state.