Birmingham, Alabama is nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and is the county seat of Jefferson County. As the largest city in Alabama, Birmingham and Jefferson County are home to over 55,000 businesses - making it one of the most significant business centers located in the southeastern United States. Some of the major industries for employment are manufacturing, banking, trade, government, research, medicine, biotechnology and publishing. The city is also a major distribution center.
According to a 2014 report from the Birmingham Business Alliance and their analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Birmingham gets high marks regarding per capita income growth. From 2001-2012, Birmingham's per capita income growth has ranked in the top half of southeastern cities in its peer metropolitan group. The Bureau of Economic Analysis also reports that Birmingham's 2013 per capita personal income (PCPI) of $42,570 ranked 119 of 381 national metropolitan statistical areas. They also conclude that Birmingham ranks 51st nationally in total personal income. Although the city ranks well against its southeastern peers in per capita income growth, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that Birmingham's 2013 growth ranks slightly below the national average.
With approximately 23,000 employees, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is both the city's largest employer and one of the largest employers in the state. Bio-technology and medical research at the university are significant economic factors for the city. Some of Birmingham's other largest employers include the U.S. Government, Alabama Power, St. Vincent's Health, AT&T, and the Marshall Durbin Food Corporation.
The banking industry plays a large role in Birmingham's local economy. The city is home to the corporate offices of Regions Financial Corporation, the nation's 25th largest financial institution by holdings. In addition, the steel production and processing industries are also major economic contributors. Several of the largest steel makers in the country have operations in Birmingham. The city is also home to major insurance companies. In addition, the food services industry provides nearly 38,000 jobs for area workers.
Automobile manufacturing is still one of the Birmingham's largest industries, with both a Mercedes-Benz and a Honda plant in nearby Vance and Lincoln, respectively. In addition, Birmingham is a major technology center for the region. In 2013, NetworkWorld named Birmingham the "Silicon Valley of the Southeast" while ValuePenguin cited the city as one of their "Top 20 Cities for Computer Programmers in the South."
Some major employers and companies of note in the Birmingham area include:
- The University of Alabama Birmingham. Other colleges that provide employment are Samford University, Birmingham-Southern College, University of Montevallo, Birmingham School of Law, Miles College and several others.
- Steel companies and metal fabrication companies including U.S. Steel, American Cast Iron Pipe Co., Alabama Metal Industries, and CMC Steel Alabama among others.
- Banking firms including the headquarters of major regional banks such as Regions Financial Corporation, BBVA Compass, and Wells Fargo.
- The telecommunications company AT&T has several large offices in the area while Altec provides products and services to the electric utility and telecommunications contractor markets.
- Regional headquarters of major insurance companies including Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Alabama, State Farm, and Protective Life.
- Construction and engineering companies such as BE&K and B.L. Herbert International.
- Engineering and technical services divisions of several power and natural resource mining companies such as Drummund Company, Energen Corporation, Alabama Power Company, Southern Company Services, and Kinder Morgan (SNG).
- Major medical centers include, St. Vincent's Health System, Baptist Health, Children's Health System/Children's of Alabama, Brookwood Medical Center, Trinity Medical Center, Birmingham Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, and Medical West.
- Bell South
- Jefferson County Public Schools
- Saks Incorporated
- Marshall Durbin Food Corporation
- Vulcan Materials Company
- Health South Corporation
- Brasfield & Gorrie
- EBSCO Industries
- Harbert Management Corporation
- Belk
- SunGard
- URS Corporation
- Southern Progress Corporation
- McDonald's/CLP Corp
Some additional information of interest about Birmingham: According to Forbes, the cost of living in Birmingham is 0.4% below the national average. As of February 2015, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that 30% of Birmingham residents who are 25 and older have a Bachelor's degree. The Birmingham-Shullesworth International Airport serviced about 2.6 million passengers in 2014.
Some of the major business and education related organizations associated with Birmingham include:
- Birmingham Business Alliance
- Economic Development Partnership of Alabama
- Alabama Education Association Regional Office
Most Popular Jobs in Birmingham-Hoover, Alabama Area (The Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013)
Where the Majority of Workers Have College Degrees:
Occupation | Number of Local Jobs | Local Annual Mean Wage | National Growth 2012-2022 |
Registered Nurses | 14,970 | $57,260 | 10% |
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products | 9,650 | $68,000 | 10% |
Accountants and auditors | 4,690 | $65,390 | 13% |
Teachers and instructors, all other | 270 | $35,450 | 11% |
Elementary school teachers, except special education | 6,400 | $50,550 | 12% |
Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education | 2,290 | $49,740 | 6% |
Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education | 2,590 | $49,740 | 12% |
Lawyers | 2,060 | $114,420 | 10% |
Computer systems analysts | 2,280 | $72,830 | 25% |
Computer programmers | 1,640 | $83,330 | 8% |
Management analysts | 1,110 | $91,360 | 19% |
Sales managers | 1,000 | $118,670 | 8% |
Pharmacists | 1,670 | $111,480 | 14% |
Network and computer systems administrators | 1,800 | $71,980 | 12% |
Electrical engineers | 1,780 | $81,720 | 5% |
Chief executives | 350 | $209,470 | 5% |
Managers, all other | 800 | $96,570 | 7% |
Child, family, and school social workers | 960 | $40,140 | 19% |
Human resources specialists | 1,270 | $55,720 | 8% |
Coaches and scouts | 1,120 | $26,940 | 15% |
Medical and clinical laboratory technologists | 1,060 | $55,350 | 14% |
Medical and clinical laboratory technicians | 1,070 | $36,600 | 30% |
Advertising and promotions managers | 50 | $80,350 | 7% |
Medical and health services managers | 740 | $100,250 | 23% |
Personal financial advisors | 530 | $97,930 | 27% |
Civil engineers | 670 | $76,130 | 20% |
Architects, except landscape and naval | 500 | $67,800 | 17% |
Architectural and Engineering managers | 640 | $120,260 | 7% |
Graphic designers | 480 | $44,870 | 7% |
Social and human service assistants | 340 | $26,010 | 22% |
Education administrators, postsecondary | 480 | $102,790 | 15% |
Physical therapists | 730 | $82,410 | 22% |
Librarians | 360 | $55,950 | 7% |
Mechanical engineers | 920 | $74,800 | 5% |
Occupational therapists | 500 | $72,440 | 29% |
Surveyors | 180 | $54,100 | 10% |
Financial analysts | 580 | $101,840 | 16% |
Marketing managers | 200 | $118,690 | 13% |
Database administrators | 710 | $73,370 | 15% |
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health | 160 | $67,640 | 15% |
Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school | 340 | $50,460 | 6% |
Industrial engineers | 450 | $78,790 | 5% |
Speech-language pathologists | 340 | $64,540 | 19% |
Rehabilitation counselors | 160 | $42,140 | 20% |
Financial examiners | 100 | $87,070 | 6% |
Special education teachers, middle school | 140 | $53,580 | 6% |
Special education teachers, secondary school | 170 | $59,210 | 6% |
Insurance underwriters | 220 | $57,160 | -6% |
Dentists | 180 | $21,680 | 16% |
Occupational health and safety specialists | 270 | $65,620 | 7% |
Detectives and criminal investigators | 220 | $72,390 | 5% |
Producers and directors | 180 | $59,650 | |
Correctional officers and jailers | 1,120 | $36,580 | 5% |
Human resources managers, all other | 320 | $103,190 | 13% |
Veterinarians | 280 | $73,290 | 12% |
Dietitians and nutritionists | 410 | $42,030 | 21% |
Commercial pilots | 120 | $90,070 | 9% |
Editors | 150 | $44,220 | -2% |
Purchasing managers | 190 | $115,280 | 4% |
Interior designers | 150 | $46,190 | 13% |
Social and community service managers | 170 | $66,750 | 21% |
Public relations and fundraising managers | 160 | $93,960 | 13% |
Electronics engineers, except computer | 370 | $100,100 | 3% |
Market research analysts and marketing specialists | 890 | $62,490 | 32% |
Chemists | 180 | $63,690 | 6% |
Social workers, all other | 80 | $61,740 | 19% |
Floral designers | 200 | $25,180 | -8% |
Art directors | 110 | $80,300 | 3% |
Engineers, all other | 300 | $94,470 | 9% |
Where the Majority of Workers Do Not Have College Degrees (BLS, 2013):
Occupation | Number of Local Jobs | Local Annual Mean Wage | National Growth 2012-2022 |
Cashiers | 16,150 | $18,140 | 3% |
Retail salespersons | 15,710 | $24,820 | 10% |
Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive | 12,120 | $35,060 | 12% |
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food | 9,720 | $17,080 | 9% |
Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer | 8,240 | $46,650 | 11% |
Customer service representatives | 9,980 | $32,390 | 13% |
Waiters and waitresses | 7,230 | $19,330 | 6% |
First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers | 5,690 | $55,470 | 7% |
First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers | 6,540 | $41,070 | 7% |
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks | 6,910 | $36,610 | 11% |
Nursing assistants | 5,290 | $23,350 | 21% |
Security guards | 5,710 | $23,510 | 12% |
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | 3,570 | $36,410 | 25% |
Maintenance and repair workers, general | 2,900 | $35,040 | 9% |
Receptionists and information clerks | 3,280 | $25,240 | 14% |
Construction laborers | 2,620 | $28,790 | 24% |
Cooks, restaurant | 4,270 | $21,440 | 10% |
First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers | 4,020 | $29,590 | 7% |
First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers | 2,800 | $60,340 | 7% |
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers | 2,540 | $56,390 | 7% |
Electricians | 2,900 | $43,500 | 20% |
Maids and housekeeping cleaners | 2,400 | $19,070 | 13% |
Team assemblers | 3,410 | $31,690 | 4% |
Cooks, fast food | 2,550 | $17,490 | 10% |
Tellers | 2,180 | $26,290 | 1% |
Police and sheriff's patrol officers | 3,110 | $46,420 | 5% |
Executive secretaries and administrative assistants | 1,070 | $53,080 | 12% |
Child care workers | 2,240 | $18,870 | 14% |
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks | 2,540 | $28,870 | 1% |
Food preparation workers | 2,710 | $20,670 | 10% |
Home health aides | 1,030 | $18,260 | 48% |
Bus drivers, school | 1,740 | $17,850 | 9% |
Automotive service technicians and mechanics | 2,260 | $39,310 | 9% |
Carpenters | 1,880 | $34,450 | 24% |
First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers | 2,030 | $57,500 | 7% |
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators | 1,880 | $39,180 | 19% |
Helpers -- production workers | 1,960 | $25,040 | 1% |
Insurance sales agents | 2,760 | $55,010 | 10% |
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers | 1,760 | $36,930 | 6% |
Teacher assistants | 2,260 | $20,490 | 9% |
Pharmacy technicians | 1,960 | $25,800 | 20% |
Industrial machinery mechanics | 1,820 | $45,570 | 19% |
Machinists | 1,400 | $40,460 | 9% |
Cooks, institution and cafeteria | 1,720 | $19,770 | 10% |
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | 1,790 | $42,810 | 21% |
First-line supervisors/managers of non-retail sales workers | 1,290 | $78,800 | 7% |
Medical assistants | 1,890 | $28,440 | 29% |
Computer network support specialists | 450 | $64,280 | 7% |
Bill and account collectors | 2,730 | $32,950 | 15% |
Loan officers | 1,250 | $71,000 | 8% |
Personal and home care aides | 2,810 | $18,220 | 49% |
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators | 2,010 | $56,010 | 4% |
Firefighters | 1,760 | $43,000 | 7% |
Postal service mail carriers | 1,270 | $49,940 | -28% |
Sales representatives, services, all other | 2,220 | $51,150 | 10% |
Construction managers | 840 | $99,140 | 16% |
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | 1,210 | $43,770 | 9% |
Correctional officers and jailers | 1,120 | $36,580 | 5% |
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers | 1,320 | $39,600 | 21% |
First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators | 880 | $51,690 | 7% |
Paralegals and legal assistants | 1,190 | $48,860 | 17% |
Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers | 760 | $17,700 | 9% |
Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 1,220 | $31,040 | -6% |
First-line supervisors/managers of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand | 670 | $43,860 | 7% |
Office and administrative support workers, all other | 370 | $36,980 | 7% |
Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop | 400 | $19,510 | 9% |
Cost estimators | 860 | $57,800 | 26% |
Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products | 930 | $59,560 | 4% |
Payroll and timekeeping clerks | 940 | $40,310 | 7% |
Sources:
- State & County Quick Facts - Jefferson County, Alabama, U.S. Census Bureau, http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/01/01073.html, March 11,2015.
- Quick Facts Beta, U.S. Census Bureau, www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/, March 11, 2015.
- 2014 Regional Economic Growth Report, Birmingham Business Alliance, http://www.bbagrowthreport.com
- Bearfacts: Birmingham-Hoover, AL, U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis, http://www.bea.gov/regional/index.htm, March 11, 2015.
- Metropolitan Birmingham Largest Employers, Birmingham Business Alliance, http://birminghambusinessalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Posted-2013-Metropolitan-Birmingham-Largest-25-Employers.pdf
- Holding Companies With Assets Greater than $10 Billion, Federal Financial Institution Examination Council - National Information Center, http://www.ffiec.gov/nicpubweb/nicweb/top50form.aspx, March 11, 2015.
- Musthaler, Linda; What's Happening in the Silicon Valley of the Southeast Will Surprise You; NetworkWorld, http://www.networkworld.com/article/2170713/data-center/what-s-happening-in-the-silicon-valley-of-the-southeast-will-surprise-you.html, Oct. 9, 2013.
- Best Cities for Computer Programmers in the South, Value Penguin, http://www.valuepenguin.com/2013/08/best-southern-cities-computer-programmers, March 11, 2015.
- Birmingham-Hoover, AL metropolitan statistical area, Forbes, http://www.forbes.com/places/al/birmingham/
- Statistical Reports, Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, http://www.flybirmingham.com/aboutbhm-reports.shtml
- Birmingham-Hoover, Alabama, Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2013 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_13820.htm