Data Science Degree in Birmingham, AL — Salary & ROI 2026
Data Science degree analysis for Birmingham, AL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$72K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$110K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2 yrs
in Birmingham
Cost of Living
88
index (100 = avg)
Data Science in Birmingham, AL Overview
Birmingham, Alabama (pop. 200,733) has 10 colleges offering Data Science programs. The local cost of living index of 88 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,041/month. Data Science has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Python and Machine Learning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Birmingham is approximately $72,160, growing to $110,000 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$10,440/yr
Private Tuition
$36,380/yr
Room & Board
$10,096/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,275/yr
Unemployment
5.9%
Graduation Rate
68%
Data Science Salary in Birmingham (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Birmingham's cost of living index of 88 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Data Science salary: $82,000 starting, $125,000 mid-career, $155,000 senior level.Birmingham adjustment factor: 0.88x based on the local cost of living index.
Data Science ROI Calculator for Birmingham
Estimate your return on investment for a Data Science degree using local Birmingham tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,440 | Private avg: $36,380
Birmingham avg aid: $14,275/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$82,144
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$41,360
vs HS diploma in Birmingham
ROI Payback Period
2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Birmingham
$885,856
Lifetime earnings premium ($968,000) minus total education cost ($82,144)
Student Loan Payoff for Data Science in Birmingham
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Birmingham for Data Science
University of Alabama at Birmingham
public
$10,440/yr
$41,760 total
Samford University
private
$36,380/yr
$145,520 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Jefferson State Community College
$4,800/yr
Top Employers for Data Science in Birmingham
Birmingham offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Data Science graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Birmingham Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Data Science Job Titles
Data Science in Nearby Alabama Cities
Huntsville, AL
$80K starting · COL 98
21 colleges
Montgomery, AL
$75K starting · COL 92
21 colleges
Mobile, AL
$80K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tuscaloosa, AL
$64K starting · COL 78
8 colleges
Hoover, AL
$79K starting · COL 95.8
4 colleges
Auburn, AL
$84K starting · COL 103
2 colleges
Dothan, AL
$68K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Decatur, AL
$68K starting · COL 82.8
3 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Birmingham
Prompt Engineering
$44K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$84K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$75K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$77K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$75K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$44K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$70K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$44K starting · 3 yr ROI
Data Science Degree in Birmingham — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Data Science ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Birmingham.