Food Science Degree in Birmingham, AL — Salary & ROI 2026
Food Science degree analysis for Birmingham, AL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$69K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.2 yrs
in Birmingham
Cost of Living
88
index (100 = avg)
Food Science in Birmingham, AL Overview
Birmingham, Alabama (pop. 200,733) has 10 colleges offering Food Science programs. The local cost of living index of 88 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,041/month. Food Science enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Food Safety and Food Processing. The adjusted starting salary in Birmingham is approximately $44,000, growing to $68,640 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%
Food Science Salary in Birmingham (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Birmingham's cost of living index of 88 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Food Science salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Birmingham adjustment factor: 0.88x based on the local cost of living index.
Food Science ROI Calculator for Birmingham
Estimate your return on investment for a Food 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
$13,200
vs HS diploma in Birmingham
ROI Payback Period
6.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Birmingham
$340,256
Lifetime earnings premium ($422,400) minus total education cost ($82,144)
Student Loan Payoff for Food Science in Birmingham
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Birmingham for Food 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 Food Science in Birmingham
Birmingham offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Food 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 Food Science Job Titles
Food Science in Nearby Alabama Cities
Huntsville, AL
$49K starting · COL 98
21 colleges
Montgomery, AL
$46K starting · COL 92
21 colleges
Mobile, AL
$49K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tuscaloosa, AL
$39K starting · COL 78
8 colleges
Hoover, AL
$48K starting · COL 95.8
4 colleges
Auburn, AL
$52K starting · COL 103
2 colleges
Dothan, AL
$41K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Decatur, AL
$41K 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
Data Science
$72K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$75K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$44K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$70K starting · 3 yr ROI
Food 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 Food Science ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Birmingham.