Estimate your self-employment tax in Mobile for 2026: the 15.3% SE tax, the deductible half, federal income tax, state income tax, and quarterly payments.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Mobile self-employed workers pay federal SE tax and federal income tax, plus Alabama state income tax (2% to 5%). Alabama is one of the few states that allows a deduction for federal income taxes paid on your state return, which effectively lowers the state tax burden.
| Net Profit | SE Tax | Half-SE Deduction | Total Est. Tax | Per Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $4,239 | $2,119 | $6,150 | $1,538 |
| $50,000 | $7,065 | $3,532 | $12,136 | $3,034 |
| $75,000 | $10,597 | $5,299 | $20,241 | $5,060 |
| $100,000 | $14,130 | $7,065 | $30,046 | $7,512 |
| $150,000 | $21,194 | $10,597 | $50,078 | $12,520 |
Single filer, standard deduction. Total tax = SE tax + federal income tax + Alabama state tax. Estimates only.
Mobile is Alabama's only saltwater port and a major Gulf Coast shipping and shipbuilding center, home to an Airbus commercial-aircraft assembly plant, aerospace and steel manufacturing, and a tourism economy rooted in the original American Mardi Gras.
| Local Metric | Mobile (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 185,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | Mobile County |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 83 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $18.00/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $37.50/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $7.25/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $1,050/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $1,300/month |
| Median home price | $190,000 |
| Median household income | $50,000/year |
| Combined sales tax rate | 10% |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.5% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
The federal SE tax rate is 15.3% (12.4% Social Security plus 2.9% Medicare), the same in Mobile as everywhere. It applies to 92.35% of net profit; Social Security stops at $176,100 of net earnings.
Alabama taxes self-employment income as ordinary income (2% to 5%), so Mobile freelancers owe state tax on top of federal.
On $60,000 of net profit in Mobile, estimated total tax (SE plus federal plus state) is about $15,129, or roughly $3,782 per quarter.
Mobile does not levy a local self-employment or income tax. Business owners should still budget for any required local license.
Business expenses that lower net profit (equipment, software, home office, mileage) reduce both SE tax and income tax. The deductible half of SE tax, self-employed health insurance, and retirement contributions reduce income tax.