Firm counts, employment, and wages for 40 small-business-typical industries reported in Alabama by the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. Click any industry for a national comparison.
Sorted by establishment count. Location quotient (LQ) compares Alabama's industry concentration to the national average — LQ > 1 means denser than national; LQ < 1 means thinner.
| Industry | Firms | Employment | Avg Pay | LQ | YoY % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick-service restaurants | 4,847 | 84,154 | $20,381 | 1.36 | +3.4% |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 3,568 | 19,027 | $28,040 | 2.64 | +2.4% |
| Full-service restaurants | 3,123 | 64,591 | $25,489 | 0.89 | +2.7% |
| Offices of lawyers | 2,765 | 12,666 | $107,927 | 1.10 | +2.3% |
| Engineering services | 2,081 | 28,420 | $119,308 | 1.56 | +8.9% |
| Plumbing, heating & AC contractors | 2,034 | 18,347 | $68,155 | 1.25 | +4.0% |
| Landscaping services | 1,630 | 10,132 | $46,584 | 0.99 | +3.7% |
| Other general-merchandise retailers | 1,621 | 0 | $0 | 1.89 | +3.0% |
| Electrical contractors | 1,544 | 16,480 | $66,890 | 1.17 | +3.8% |
| Dental practices | 1,543 | 12,883 | $60,848 | 0.85 | +1.0% |
| CPA offices | 1,067 | 6,591 | $90,815 | 1.27 | +5.7% |
| Child day care | 1,023 | 11,644 | $27,983 | 0.97 | +3.1% |
| Janitorial services | 1,018 | 12,444 | $26,830 | 0.92 | +0.5% |
| General auto repair | 994 | 4,032 | $54,375 | 0.87 | +2.4% |
| Physical therapists | 856 | 7,995 | $49,032 | 1.24 | +5.0% |
| Other accounting services | 806 | 2,802 | $61,103 | 0.85 | +5.6% |
| Beauty salons | 764 | 3,478 | $34,942 | 0.74 | -0.3% |
| Supermarkets & grocery | 742 | 33,020 | $27,916 | 0.95 | +1.1% |
| Veterinary services | 630 | 7,198 | $44,915 | 1.32 | +3.4% |
| Auto body & paint | 614 | 3,878 | $62,828 | 1.30 | +1.2% |
| Fitness & recreational sports centers | 594 | 7,510 | $15,456 | 0.99 | +2.1% |
| Portfolio management & investment advice | 547 | 1,802 | $140,449 | 0.47 | +7.5% |
| Other health practitioners | 512 | 3,155 | $72,125 | 0.98 | +11.3% |
| Chiropractors | 468 | 1,875 | $40,244 | 0.89 | -0.6% |
| Roofing contractors | 427 | 2,221 | $71,199 | 1.01 | +4.9% |
| Optometrists | 394 | 2,498 | $53,486 | 1.38 | +4.2% |
| All other miscellaneous retailers | 377 | 1,519 | $37,968 | 0.85 | +2.2% |
| Drinking places (bars) | 364 | 2,819 | $25,276 | 0.64 | +5.8% |
| Pet care (except veterinary) | 348 | 2,239 | $27,892 | 0.96 | +6.7% |
| Florists | 202 | 866 | $23,694 | 1.24 | -2.9% |
| Drycleaning & laundry | 202 | 1,405 | $27,738 | 1.02 | -0.5% |
| Motor-vehicle parts wholesale | 201 | 1,917 | $67,727 | 1.02 | +2.6% |
| Convenience retailers | 126 | 357 | $27,083 | 0.27 | +4.1% |
| Auto glass replacement | 124 | 595 | $52,164 | 1.30 | +6.9% |
| Book retailers & news dealers | 102 | 795 | $21,568 | 0.97 | -3.8% |
| Other similar organizations | 92 | 452 | $82,385 | 0.45 | +3.4% |
| Barber shops | 84 | 330 | $38,309 | 0.77 | +7.7% |
| Religious organizations | 81 | 568 | $40,856 | 0.23 | +15.7% |
| All other auto repair & maintenance | 66 | 441 | $53,549 | 0.65 | +1.5% |
| Parking lots & garages | 44 | 755 | $35,466 | 0.42 | +0.0% |