Chief Technology Officer.
Birmingham.
$239,000
median salary, 18% below the national average
$177,000 to $313,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Chief Technology Officer pay in Birmingham ranges from $177,000 to $313,000 in 2026. The median is $239,000, 18% below the national average. Birmingham is Alabama's largest metro, anchored by a major medical center, banking, and a growing innovation district. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $215,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$155,000
to $191,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$203,000
to $251,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$263,000
to $311,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$299,000
to $370,000
Salary trend
+7% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $159,000 to the total package.
Base
$239,000
Equity
$86,000
Bonus
$54,000
Signing
$19,000
Estimated total: $398,000
How Birmingham compares
Birmingham, AL
$239,000
Cost of living: 16% below average
National Average
$290,000
Birmingham is $51,000 below
Chief Technology Officer salary by city
Salary by role in Birmingham
What you should know
Before you negotiate a Chief Technology Officer offer in Birmingham, understand the terrain. Birmingham is Alabama's largest metro, anchored by a major medical center, banking, and a growing innovation district. UAB is one of the state's largest employers and a driver of biomedical research jobs. The extremely low cost of living makes Birmingham a strong value for professionals in healthcare and finance. Technical domain expertise, company stage, and engineering team size are the primary drivers. CTOs managing teams of 100 or more engineers earn substantially more than those at smaller organizations. Specialization in AI, cloud infrastructure, or cybersecurity commands above-market premiums in the current talent landscape.
Directors of engineering earn $170,000 to $230,000. VPs of engineering advance to $220,000 to $300,000. CTOs at Series B to C startups make $250,000 to $330,000. CTOs at public tech companies or large enterprises reach $350,000 to $450,000 in base with total comp exceeding $1.5 million. In Birmingham, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 16% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity compensation is typically the largest component, with CTOs at pre-IPO companies receiving grants worth $300,000 to $2 million annually. Cash bonuses of 25 to 40% of base and retention packages of $100,000 to $300,000 over two to three years are common. And on the tax side: alabama's top state income tax rate is 5%. Birmingham has no city income tax. The low rate combined with very affordable housing creates excellent take home pay ratios. When someone quotes you $239,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage UAB and the medical corridor when negotiating. Healthcare and biotech roles command nationally competitive salaries even in this low cost market. The range for Chief Technology Officers in Birmingham runs from $177,000 to $313,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Chief Revenue Officer in Birmingham earns $238,000 (0% more)
- The highest-paying role in Birmingham is Chief AI Officer at $263,000
Common questions.
Chief Technology Officer salary in other cities
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