Area Code 938

Alabama

Area code 938 serves Alabama, primarily Huntsville, in the Central Time (CT) time zone. It is an overlay area code sharing territory with area code 256.

Overlay Area Code

This area code is part of an overlay region, meaning the same geographic area is served by multiple area codes. Overlay codes were introduced to meet growing demand for phone numbers without requiring existing customers to change their numbers.

This area code shares its geographic region with: area code 256 (Huntsville).

In service since: 10-Jul-2010

Learn more about overlay and split area codes →

Demographics & Economics

Total Population: 2,413,984
Population Density: 88 people/sq mi
near U.S. average (U.S.: 93 people/sq mi)
Median Household Income: $60,040
below U.S. median (U.S.: $75,144)
Poverty Rate: 14.4%
above U.S. average (U.S.: 11.5%)
Unemployment Rate: 4.3%
above U.S. average (U.S.: 3.6%)
Education Attainment: Bachelor's Degree+
24.4%
below U.S. average (U.S.: 33.7%)
High School or Lower
36.2%

Statistics are population-weighted aggregations from Census ACS 5-year estimates. Population figures are approximate — see Sources & Methodology for details on how area code populations are derived.

See how this area code compares to all US area codes in the Statistics dashboard.

Time Zone

Central Time (CT)

NANPA Relief Status

According to the latest NANPA analysis (July 2026), this area code is not currently listed as exhausting within the next 36 months. No relief planning is in progress for this NPA.

Source: NANPA NPA Relief Planning Reports · See all relief planning statuses

Current Time

Central Time (CT)

Prefix Utilization

Geographic Coverage

State

Major Cities

Huntsville
Madison
Decatur
Florence
Gadsden
Athens
Albertville
Oxford
Anniston
Cullman
Muscle Shoals
Scottsboro
Hartselle
Talladega
Fort Payne
Jacksonville
Sylacauga
Boaz
Russellville
Saks
Meridianville
Southside
Sheffield
Tuscumbia

and 166 more cities

Area Code 938 geographic coverage map (light mode)

History

Area code 938 serves as an overlay for the same territory as area code 256. It was introduced in 2010 to provide additional phone number capacity for the region. It shares its territory with area code area code 256.

Demographics

The estimated population served by area code 938 is approximately 2,413,984. The population density is 88 people per square mile, which is near the national average of 93. The median household income is $60,040, which is lower than the national median of $75,144. Approximately 24.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national rate of 33.7%. This rate is lower than the national average. The poverty rate stands at 14.4%, which is higher than the national rate of 11.5%.

County Coverage

Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 938).

County	Population	Share
Madison, AL	433,431	18.0%
Morgan, AL	180,156	7.5%
Limestone, AL	175,425	7.3%
Marshall, AL	148,190	6.1%
Cullman, AL	143,656	6.0%
DeKalb, AL	141,293	5.9%
Calhoun, AL	131,900	5.5%
Etowah, AL	122,822	5.1%
Lauderdale, AL	102,678	4.3%
Talladega, AL	96,839	4.0%
Cherokee, AL	94,617	3.9%
Colbert, AL	81,642	3.4%
Lawrence, AL	78,497	3.3%
Jackson, AL	74,008	3.1%
Clay, AL	72,162	3.0%
Blount, AL	57,374	2.4%
Coosa, AL	54,267	2.2%
Cleburne, AL	48,869	2.0%
Franklin, AL	47,951	2.0%
Tallapoosa, AL	45,546	1.9%
Randolph, AL	27,905	1.2%
Elmore, AL	20,909	0.9%
Winston, AL	20,317	0.8%
Chambers, AL	4,921	0.2%
Walker, AL	3,237	0.1%
Lee, AL	2,550	0.1%
Marion, AL	1,522	0.1%
St. Clair, AL	1,300	0.1%