ZIP 36542 — Economy & Jobs

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates. Page data updated 2026-08-02.

Middle ClassLow Snow AreaRemote Work Hub

Income, employment, industries, and economic trends

Income & Economy in Gulf Shores city, AL (36542)

Median Income

$74,861

*Adjusted for inflation (2023 dollars)

IRS Net Migration

+552

Wealth inflow

Population

17,335

Unemployment

2.4%

1.3pp below US avg

IRS migration statistics show a net inflow of about 552 for ZIP 36542 (Gulf Shores city, AL) on US5’s published series — a signal of people/tax filers moving in relative to those leaving. Inflows often track job growth, housing demand, or lifestyle migration; treat the figure as a directional indicator rather than a precise headcount.

Economic Indicators

Unemployment

2.4%-35% vs US avg

Self-Employed

2.7%-55% vs US avg

SNAP Benefits

4.8%-59% vs US avg

688

Establishments

7,128

Employees

~10 per establishment — small businesses dominate

Retail trade

Top Industry

Economic Distributions

Census ACS 5-Year (P0): occupation, industry, household income brackets.

Occupation

Industry

Agriculture, forestry, mining0.3%
Construction7.4%
Manufacturing5.3%
Wholesale trade0.6%
Retail trade14.4%
Transportation, utilities4.9%
Information3.4%
Finance, insurance, real estate10.1%
Professional, scientific, management10.8%
Education, health care, social14.5%
Arts, entertainment, food services19.9%
Other services4.6%
Public administration3.7%

Household Income

Historical Trends in 36542 (2020–Present)

Since 2020, population grew 16.1%, median income rose 21.8% (inflation-adjusted), home values increased 20.4%.

Median Income

$74,861

-0% vs US avg

Unemployment Rate