CEO.
Birmingham.
$236,000
median salary, 14% below the national average
$171,000 to $326,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Birmingham is 16% cheaper than the national average. For CEOs, that shakes out to a median of $236,000, with the full range spanning $171,000 to $326,000. Company stage, revenue scale, and industry sector are the primary salary determinants. Know the range before you walk in. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for CEO in Birmingham, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $167,080 for Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) in the Birmingham, AL metropolitan area, based on 190 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$64,930
25th percentile
$137,220
Median
$167,080
75th percentile
$237,650
90th percentile
$317,330
Workers surveyed
190
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $236,000 is 41% higher than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Chief Executives covers a different population than the CEO title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) rather than CEO specifically. The Birmingham range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 11-1011Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $213,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$153,000
to $189,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$201,000
to $248,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$260,000
to $307,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$295,000
to $366,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $59,000 to the total package.
Base
$236,000
Equity
$33,000
Bonus
$21,000
Signing
$5,000
Estimated total: $295,000
How Birmingham compares.
Birmingham, AL
$236,000
Cost of living: 16% below average
National Average
$275,000
Birmingham is $39,000 below
CEO salary by city.
Salary by role in Birmingham.
What you should know.
The CEO landscape in Birmingham is not what most salary sites will tell you. Birmingham is Alabama's largest metro, anchored by a major medical center, banking, and a growing innovation district. UAB is one of the state's largest employers and a driver of biomedical research jobs. The extremely low cost of living makes Birmingham a strong value for professionals in healthcare and finance. Company stage, revenue scale, and industry sector are the primary salary determinants. Public company CEOs and those at venture-backed late-stage startups command the highest base salaries. Geographic market and board composition also influence base pay, with coastal tech hubs offering the strongest packages.
VP-level leaders earn $180,000 to $250,000 before moving into C-suite. First-time CEOs at early-stage startups may take $120,000 to $200,000 with heavy equity. CEOs at mid-market companies earn $275,000 to $500,000. Large enterprise CEOs exceed $500,000 in base alone. In Birmingham, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 16% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Base salary often represents just 15 to 30% of total CEO compensation. Equity grants, performance bonuses tied to revenue or EBITDA targets, and long-term incentive plans can bring total compensation to $1 million to $10 million or more at scale companies. And on the tax side: alabama's top state income tax rate is 5%. Birmingham has no city income tax. The low rate combined with very affordable housing creates excellent take home pay ratios. When someone quotes you $236,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage UAB and the medical corridor when negotiating. Healthcare and biotech roles command nationally competitive salaries even in this low cost market. The range for CEOs in Birmingham runs from $171,000 to $326,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A General Counsel in Birmingham earns $245,000 (4% more)
- The highest-paying role in Birmingham is CTO at $249,000
Common questions.
CEO salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Birmingham.
Related salary pages
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"CEO Salary in Birmingham, AL." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/ceo/birmingham
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