Operations Manager.
Birmingham.
$80,000
median salary, 13% below the national average
$61,000 to $105,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Operations Manager pay in Birmingham ranges from $61,000 to $105,000 in 2026. The median is $80,000, 13% below the national average. Birmingham is Alabama's largest metro, anchored by a major medical center, banking, and a growing innovation district. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared. 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 Operations Manager 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 $123,560 for General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021) in the Birmingham, AL metropolitan area, based on 7,950 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$61,350
25th percentile
$82,550
Median
$123,560
75th percentile
$175,920
90th percentile
$278,780
Workers surveyed
7,950
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $80,000 is 35% lower than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and General and Operations Managers covers a different population than the Operations Manager 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 General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021) rather than Operations Manager 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 11-1021Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $72,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$52,000
to $64,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$68,000
to $84,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$88,000
to $104,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$100,000
to $124,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $24,000 to the total package.
Base
$80,000
Equity
$14,000
Bonus
$8,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $104,000
How Birmingham compares.
Birmingham, AL
$80,000
Cost of living: 16% below average
National Average
$92,000
Birmingham is $12,000 below
Operations Manager salary by city.
Salary by role in Birmingham.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for Operations Manager roles in Birmingham, here is what you are walking into. 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. Industry, scope of operations (regional vs. national), and P&L responsibility are the largest factors. Operations managers in technology, logistics, and healthcare earn more than those in retail or hospitality. Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or large scale process automation directly correlates with higher compensation.
Operations coordinators start at $45,000 to $60,000, advancing to operations manager at $80,000 to $110,000 in three to five years. Senior operations managers earn $110,000 to $145,000. Directors of Operations reach $145,000 to $200,000, and VP/COO roles at mid to large companies can exceed $250,000. 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. Bonuses of 10 to 20% tied to efficiency metrics, cost savings, or throughput targets are standard. Profit sharing arrangements are common in manufacturing and logistics. Equity is available at tech companies. Benefits often include vehicle allowances and relocation packages for multi site responsibilities. 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 $80,000, 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 Operations Managers in Birmingham runs from $61,000 to $105,000. 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?
- An Occupational Therapist in Birmingham earns $79,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Birmingham is CTO at $249,000
Common questions.
Operations Manager salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Birmingham.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Operations Manager Salary in Birmingham, AL." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/operations-manager/birmingham
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