Registered Nurse salary in Birmingham, AL
Registered Nurses in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn a median of $78,680 a year ($37.83 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,850 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,960 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $97,550. Pay here is 2% higher than the Alabama statewide median of $77,080. There are 34 registered nurses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $78,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for registered nurses in Birmingham, AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,230 | $29.92 |
| 25th percentile | $63,610 | $30.58 |
| Median | $78,680 | $37.83 |
| 75th percentile | $85,160 | $40.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,960 | $49.50 |
| Average (mean) | $78,940 | $37.95 |
Half of registered nurses earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,556.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,278.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,026.15 |
| Weekly | $1,513.08 |
| Hourly | $37.83 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Registered Nurse salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus, GA-AL | $82,500 | 2,790 |
| Montgomery, AL | $79,570 | 3,990 |
| Mobile, AL | $79,490 | 5,260 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $79,450 | 1,770 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $78,040 | 1,430 |
| Gadsden, AL | $77,810 | 1,210 |
| Huntsville, AL | $77,090 | 6,800 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $75,250 | 2,590 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $72,730 | 990 |
| Decatur, AL | $68,320 | 960 |
| Dothan, AL | $67,430 | 1,940 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $66,360 | 1,320 |
Highest-paying states for registered nurses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $140,270 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 |
| Oregon | $129,010 |
| Washington | $124,200 |
| Alaska | $109,480 |
| New York | $109,440 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 |
| Nevada | $103,670 |
| Connecticut | $102,740 |
See Registered Nurse pay in every state or the Alabama statewide figures.
Related jobs in Birmingham, AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist | $138,800 | $66.73 |
| Physicians, All Other | $237,040 | $113.96 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $107,700 | $51.78 |
| Dental Hygienist | $61,730 | $29.68 |
| Physical Therapist | $97,750 | $47.00 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $67,480 | $32.44 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $175,850 | $84.54 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $75,750 | $36.42 |
| Occupational Therapist | $95,250 | $45.80 |
| Veterinarian | $106,890 | $51.39 |
| Physician Assistant | $105,440 | $50.69 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $65,220 | $31.35 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $334,100 | $160.63 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $119,990 | $57.69 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Birmingham, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1141. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Birmingham, AL?
The median salary for registered nurses in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $78,680 a year, or $37.83 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid registered nurses make in Birmingham, AL?
The top 10% of registered nurses in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn at least $102,960 a year. The top 25% earn $85,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for registered nurses in Birmingham, AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,230 a year, and a quarter of registered nurses earn $63,610 or less.
How many registered nurses work in Birmingham, AL?
About 17,850 registered nurses are employed in the Birmingham, AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.