Colleges & Trade Schools in Birmingham, Alabama

 

Birmingham is the most populous city in the state of Alabama and lies in the county seat of Jefferson County. As of the year 2010, the United States Census estimated the population of the city of Birmingham to be roughly 212,237 people. The Birmingham Hoover Metropolitan area maintains a population of roughly 1,128,047 individuals according to that same 2010 census. This means that exactly one quarter of Alabama's overall population resides solely in this metropolitan area.

 

The city of Birmingham was founded in 1871 during the years following the Civil War and the subsequent reconstruction. The city of Birmingham came about through the merger of some pre-existing towns and farms, one of which was notably Elyton. Birmingham is subsequently grown into many smaller neighborhoods and industrial railroads class transportation centers. Key industries during the city's initial phase of founding and subsequent growth included the mining, steel and iron industries as well as the railroad industry. The city of Birmingham was named for its UK counterpart as a tribute to English ancestry from the original settlers of the city. Birmingham has a history of importing African-American labor resources to employ the cities blast furnaces and steel mills. Though this history may not be a vibrant representation, it has offered the city competitive advantages over many industrial cities throughout the Northeast and Midwest and contributed to what the city of Birmingham is today.

 

Career Training in Birmingham

 

Birmingham is an excellent hub of higher education. The location was chosen for the University of Alabama School of medicine and the University of Alabama School of Dentistry. Since 1947, Birmingham maintains one of the three main campuses for the University of Alabama system. Burning is also home to three very notable private institutions of higher education including Samford University, Birmingham-Southern College, and Miles College. Between the colleges, universities and vocational/training schools, there are many opportunities to pursue certification and degrees in medicine, optometry, pharmacy, engineering, dentistry, physical therapy, law and nursing. All of these industries are highly paid key industries in the city of Birmingham as well as throughout the state of Alabama. In addition to its sterling academic reputation, Birmingham has a long history of sports/athletic achievement. Birmingham also is home to the headquarters of the Southwestern Athletic Conference in Southwestern Conference. This organization is one of the major leaders of collegiate athletic conferences in America.

 

The city of Birmingham and the overall metropolitan area has been rated as one of America's best places to earn a living and work by salary.com. This rating is based on the areas competitive salary rates as well as the comparatively low cost of living throughout the city. Salary.com also reckon Birmingham to be one of the top places in the nation for building personal net worth in the year 2006. The number two ranking was based on the living expenses, unemployment rates and local salary rates of the city.

 

Also under 2006, bizjournals.com named Birmingham extremely high on a combine personal income rating. According to this statistics, the combined personal income (or some income of all residents in the area per year) was estimated to be roughly $48.1 billion.

 

Popular Career Niches

 

Since the city's founding, Birmingham has remained an industrial center for the greater Southern United States. Birmingham space of growth has increased greatly between 1881 in 1920, earning it the nicknames ‘the Magic city’ and ‘the Pittsburgh of the South.’ Iron, steel and railroading maintained Birmingham's infrastructure as key industries from its founding onward.

 

Within the field of railroading, Birmingham maintained the place of a second key of alongside Atlanta since the late 1800s. As the economy diversified after the 20th century rolled around, other key industries in the city of Birmingham include telecommunications, transportation, medical care, electric power transmission, banking, education, insurance and finance. While mining is no longer a key industry in the city of Birmingham, Birmingham maintained its reputation as one of the most influential business centers in the southeastern United States.

 

Top Industries in Birmingham, Alabama

 

Birmingham is home to many Fortune 500 companies whose headquarters are based throughout the city/Metropolitan area. Though there has been a slight decrease in the number of headquarters based in the city due to a number of mergers, buyouts and moves, several notable Fortune 500 companies remain headquartered in the city of Birmingham including Regions Bank. Other notable companies experiencing growth in the city of Birmingham as well as increasing employment opportunities for a newly college-educated population include HealthSouth, Infinity Property and Casualty Corp., Southern Company, and more.

 

Home to five Fortune 1000 companies, many opportunities for employment are offered to skilled workers after graduation from various technical/career training programs. Among Birmingham's Fortune 1000 companies holding headquarters in the metropolitan area is Regions Financial, which remains a driving force in the local economy.

 

Formerly owned by AT&T, the telephone company BellSouth also has a headquarters in Birmingham. This headquarters remains a major nexus for local infrastructure and operates through several downtown locations and operational centers including a downtown skyscraper/datacenter.

 

The insurance industry is growing in the state of Alabama and in Birmingham particularly. Insurance companies like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, Infinity Property and Casualty, Liberty National, Protective Life and ProAssurance maintain headquarters in the greater Birmingham area an employee of a large number of the city's residents.

 

Trade Schools & Colleges in Birmingham, AL

 

• University of Alabama at Birmingham: This public university is based in Birmingham and offers academic extension centers since 1936. Today, the University of Alabama in Birmingham has roughly 18,568 students enrolled. The University represents to the from over 110 countries.  The University of Alabama at Birmingham offers 12 academic divisions helping students pursue bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees as well as professional degrees. In fields of study offered to the University include behavioral sciences, social sciences, business, engineering, medicine, health related fields, liberal arts, business, nursing, public health, dentistry and optometry. The University of Alabama in Birmingham health system is ranked as one of the largest academic medical centers in America. Affiliated with the University, the University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital also sponsors residency programs and medical specialty programs including internal medicine, surgery, neurology, radiology and anesthesiology.

 

At the university’s total enrollment is roughly 17,189 individuals as of the year 2016. The estimated acceptance rate is roughly 87% as of 2015. Undergraduate tuitions and fees for in-state students is roughly $9596 as of the year 2015. Located at 1720 2nd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35294.

 

• Samford University: this private, Christian coeducational university is located in a suburb of Birmingham known as Homewood, Alabama. Since its founding in 1841, the University is ranked as one of the oldest institutions for higher learning in the United States, earning and 87th place. Today, the total enrollment is roughly 5471 students from 29 countries and 47 US states. Samford University has been highly ranked for its academic programs and affordability by the Princeton Review and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. Today, Samford University offers 30 undergraduate and graduate programs. Undergraduates have 166 majors and minors to choose from. The University is divided into various schools including pharmacy, nursing, business, school of arts, College of arts and science, school of education, divinity school, school of health professions and school of public health. The University’s overall acceptance rate is roughly 59.5% as of the year 2014. Undergraduate tuitions and fees is estimated to be roughly $27,324. Located at 800 Lakeshore Dr, Birmingham, AL 35229.

 

• Birmingham–Southern College: this private liberal arts college has locations in Birmingham and Bush Hills, Alabama. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, it was found in 1856. Today, Birmingham Southern College has a 13 to 1 student/faculty ratio. And astonishing 96% of full-time faculty possesses a doctorate degree, which is the highest degree attainable in their field. Birmingham Southern College maintains a consistent making as one of the best liberal arts colleges in America. Currently, the college offers five bachelors degrees in over 50 programs and areas of study. Many majors and minors are interdisciplinary and highly individualized programs/dual degree programs are available to the college. The colleges estimated acceptance rate is roughly 53.4% of the year 2014. The total enrollment was roughly 1,305 students in the year 2011. Undergraduate tuitions and fees is roughly $31,708 as of 2014.Located at 900 Arkadelphia Rd, Birmingham, AL 35254.

 

Job Growth in Birmingham, Alabama

 

According to recent statistics, the unemployment rate in Birmingham, Alabama is above the national average holding a place at 7.90%. There was a slight decline in job growth by roughly 0.41% in the last year. However, future job growth bodes well for the area in the next 10 years and is predicted to be roughly 31.28%. Birmingham has a high sales tax and income tax putting it in the top 10% of the nation’s taxes. However, many opportunities exist in Birmingham Alabama that would not exist elsewhere and the cost of living is relatively affordable. According to Sperling's best places, the income per capita including adults and children is roughly $19,640. The median household income in Birmingham is roughly $31,217.

 

Compared to the national averages to Birmingham
Unemployment Rate: 7.90%
Recent Job Growth:0.41%
Future Job Growth: 31.28%
Sales Taxes: 10.00%
Income Taxes: 6.00%
Income per Cap: $19,640
Household Income: $31,217
Family Median Income: $37,014

 

Top Hiring Companies & Wages in Birmingham, Alabama

 

Higher education is considered greatly important matter what US state you are in. However, Birmingham Alabama offers unique opportunities for long-term career positions and well-paying jobs without a four-year degree. Various trade schools and vocational schools will offer the certification necessary to participate in some of the states high demand industries. According to the U.S. Census Bureau in the year 2013, the income per capita in Alabama was roughly $23,680. Most of Alabama's fast-growing careers produce average salaries of more than $30,000 per year.

 

Many local job seekers have opportunities to enroll in training and certification programs through local vocational schools. Alternately, they can use the governments’ job link resources through the website: www.joblink.alabama.gov.

 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the top 20 high demand careers in Birmingham Alabama requiring less than a four-year degree include: Physical Therapist, Assistants, Supervisors of Construction Trades & Extraction Workers, Dental Hygienists, Computer User Support Specialists, Registered Nurses, Engine and Other Machine Assemblers, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, Industrial Machinery Mechanics, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, Medical Secretaries

Carpenters, Team Assemblers, Personal Care Aides, Home Health Aides, Computer Controlled Machine Tool Ops, Metal & Plastic, Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians, Electricians, Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics, Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators and Tenders Occupational Therapy Assistants.

 

Some of Birmingham’s top employers include: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Regions Financial Corporation, AT&T, St. Vincent's Health System, Children's of Alabama, Blue Cross - Blue Shield of Alabama, Alabama Power Company, Baptist Health System, Inc., BBVA Compass, American Cast Iron Pipe Company, Buffalo Rock Company, Southern Company Services, Brookwood Medical Center, U.S. Steel, Trinity Medical Center, The Social Security Administration, Drummond Company, Inc., Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Wells Fargo, Protective Life Corporation, McDonald's/CLP Corp , State Farm Insurance and Samford University.

 

Sources

Berry, Lucy. “Check out the top high-demand occupations in Alabama that don't require a 4-year degree.” 18 Feb , 2015.
http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2015/02/check_out_the_top_high-demand.html

Sperling’s Best Places. “Economy Overview.” 2016. http://www.bestplaces.net/economy/city/alabama/birmingham