Working full time at $15 an hour ($31,200 a year) in Alabama, a single filer takes home about $25,954 a year, $2,163 a month or $12.48 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $1,295 Alabama income tax.
#48 of 51for take-home at this pay
Where the money goes
Breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $31,200 | $2,600 |
| Federal income tax | $1,564 | $130 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $1,934 | $161 |
| Medicare | $452 | $38 |
| Alabama income tax | $1,295 | $108 |
| Take-home | $25,954 | $2,163 |
| Federal marginal rate | 12% | |
| Alabama marginal rate | 5.00% |
Same pay in other states
Highest take-home at this pay: Alaska. Middle: Vermont. Lowest: Oregon.
Your tax bracket at this pay
Your federal taxable income is about $15,100 (after the $16,100 standard deduction), which puts the top slice of your pay in the 12% bracket ($12,400 to $50,400). You have about $35,300 of room before the next dollar is taxed at 22%. Only that top slice is taxed at 12%: your average federal rate is 5.0%, and all taxes together (federal, FICA, state) take 16.8% of gross pay. A $1,000 raise would add about $754 to your take-home.
| Federal bracket | Your income in it | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 10% on $0–$12,400 | $12,400 | $1,240 |
| 12% on $12,400–$50,400 | $2,700 | $324 |
| Rate | Federal | Combined with state and FICA |
|---|---|---|
| Marginal (next dollar) | 12% | 24.6% |
| Effective (average) | 5.0% | 16.8% |
Compared with the Alabama median
$31,200 is 49% of the Alabama median household income of $63,999 (Census ACS 2020–2024 median; households can have more than one earner, so a single salary is not directly comparable).
Affordability snapshot
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Rent budget (30% of gross) | $780/mo |
| Home price at 30% of gross (10% down) | $114,000 |
| Alabama median home value | $209,900 (Census 2020–2024) |
Rule of thumb only: housing at 30% of gross monthly pay. Home price assumes a 30-year fixed at the Freddie Mac average of 7.40% (week of 2026-10-15), 10% down, the Alabama median effective property tax rate and about 0.35% a year for insurance. Lenders also weigh debts, credit and PMI.
401(k) and HSA effect
| Contribution | Saved | Take-home cut | Tax saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6% to a 401(k) ($1,872/yr) | $1,872 | $1,554 | $318 |
| Max HSA, self-only ($4,400, via payroll) | $4,400 | $3,349 | $1,051 |
Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals cut federal and Alabama income tax but not Social Security or Medicare; payroll HSA contributions also skip FICA. 2026 limits: 401(k) $24,500 (under 50), HSA $4,400 self-only (IRS). Some states tax HSA contributions; this estimate assumes they follow federal rules.
What applies at this income
- You are under the 2026 Roth IRA income limit for single filers ($153,000 of modified AGI), so you can contribute the full amount.
- Maxing out a 401(k) ($24,500) would take more than half your gross pay at this level, so most people here contribute a percentage instead.
Alabama jobs that typically pay about $31,200
$31,200 is above the median pay of 21 of the 99 common occupations we track in Alabama (BLS OEWS, May 2025). These have a Alabama median between $30,160 and $32,240:
| Occupation | Alabama median | vs this pay |
|---|---|---|
| Janitors and Cleaners | $30,620 | −$580 |
| General Office Clerks | $31,200 | +$0 |
| Hand Packers and Packagers | $31,770 | +$570 |
| Restaurant Cooks | $32,180 | +$980 |
Where $31,200 lands inside other Alabama jobs
For 3 of these occupations, $31,200 is what experienced or top earners make (75th–90th percentile); for 7, it is entry-level pay (10th–25th percentile).
| Occupation | Percentile | Alabama pay at that percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching Assistants | 90th | $30,590 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 25th | $30,700 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 10th | $30,750 |
| Dental Assistants | 10th | $30,840 |
| Cashiers | 75th | $30,970 |
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | 10th | $31,030 |
| Dishwashers | 75th | $31,300 |
| Light Truck Drivers | 25th | $31,390 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 10th | $31,620 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | 10th | $31,730 |
Previous and next pay level
Related
- $13 an hour in Alabama$1,899/mo
- $14 an hour in Alabama$2,032/mo
- $16 an hour in Alabama$2,293/mo
- $17 an hour in Alabama$2,424/mo
- Alabama income tax brackets2026
- Minimum wage in Alabama2026
- Alabama property taxby county
Single filer, W-2 wages only; 2026 IRS brackets and $16,100 standard deduction, FICA (Social Security to $184,500, Medicare +0.9% over $200,000) and state rules per the Tax Foundation (Jan 1, 2026). Local taxes and payroll deductions are excluded. Sources: IRS, SSA, Tax Foundation. Not tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $15 an hour after taxes in Alabama?
Working full time at $15 an hour ($31,200 a year) in Alabama, a single filer takes home about $25,954 a year, $2,163 a month or $12.48 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $1,295 Alabama income tax.
How much is $15 an hour per month after taxes in Alabama?
About $2,163 a month, or $998 per biweekly paycheck.
How much state tax do I pay on $15 an hour in Alabama?
About $1,295 a year (marginal rate 5.00%).