Helpers--Production Workers Salary
In Alabama, helpers--production workers earn $35,910 at the median, or about $17.26 an hour. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $40,641 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,085/month, about 44.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $36K get you in Alabama?
About helpers--production workers
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What this looks like in Alabama
Helpers--production workers pay in Alabama tracks closely to the national median, $36K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,085/month, which is 44.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level helpers--production workers (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Production Workers salary by metro in Alabama
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery | $39K | +8% | 370 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $38K | +6% | 170 |
| Birmingham | $37K | +2% | 1,240 |
| Huntsville | $37K | +2% | 360 |
| Decatur | $36K | +1% | 240 |
| Tuscaloosa | $35K | -2% | 640 |
| Gadsden | $35K | -3% | 270 |
| Mobile | $35K | -3% | 420 |
| Dothan | $34K | -4% | 280 |
| Auburn-Opelika | $32K | -10% | 190 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals | $31K | -14% | 90 |
| Anniston-Oxford | $29K | -18% | 460 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track helpers--production workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--production worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 44.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for helpers--production workers in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--production workers typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,624/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 67% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is helpers--production worker a high-paying job in Alabama?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $36K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for helpers--production workers?
Alabama pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers--production workers make in Alabama?
The median is $35,910 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,060, and experienced helpers--production workers can clear $45,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,438/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 44.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a helpers--production workers salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median helpers--production workers salary is worth about $40,641 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do helpers--production workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.