Fastest growing jobs in Alabama, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in Alabama. Percent growth favours small occupations, so the openings column is often the more useful number — a fast-growing job with few openings is harder to enter than a flat one with many.

State projections are produced by Alabama's own workforce agency and collected by Projections Central — the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes projections only at the national level. Methodology varies by state, so these are not directly comparable with the national figures. Wages remain BLS OEWS.

Cost of living: prices in Alabama run 11.2% below the national average (2024), so a Alabama salary is worth about 1.13× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Alabama.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Alabama

OccupationMedian, Alabama · Growth 2024–34

1Nurse Practitioners$105,750
Master's degree
$86,300 – $134,650+44.3%
2Data Scientists$103,120
Bachelor's degree
$59,130 – $161,590+34.5%
3Physician Assistants$104,960
Master's degree
$83,020 – $145,100+28.1%
4Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$36,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,120 – $47,690+27.7%
5Information Security Analysts$122,730
Bachelor's degree
$66,090 – $170,690+26.7%
6Physical Therapist Assistants$61,430
Associate's degree
$49,340 – $79,060+26.6%
7Cooks, Restaurant$32,180
No formal educational credential
$24,170 – $39,220+26.0%
8Athletic Trainers$46,940
Master's degree
$38,110 – $63,840+25.1%
9Medical and Health Services Managers$97,790
Bachelor's degree
$64,640 – $159,450+25.0%
10Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,940 – $91,840+22.1%
11Massage Therapists$48,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$22,250 – $91,260+21.7%
12Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$79,690
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,100 – $122,930+21.6%
13Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$92,310
Doctoral or professional degree
$58,540 – $202,190+21.5%
14Computer and Information Research Scientists$117,870
Master's degree
$63,290 – $174,030+21.3%
15Avionics Technicians$95,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,330 – $100,220+20.0%
16Psychiatric Technicians$36,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$23,330 – $45,870+18.7%
17Industrial Engineers$99,880
Bachelor's degree
$68,410 – $152,970+18.4%
18Speech-Language Pathologists$73,660
Master's degree
$58,010 – $109,300+18.4%
19Logisticians$98,450
Bachelor's degree
$61,320 – $142,670+17.3%
20Medical Assistants$36,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,630 – $45,040+17.3%
21Fast Food and Counter Workers$23,700
No formal educational credential
$21,080 – $32,740+17.1%
22Occupational Therapists$94,050
Master's degree
$76,670 – $123,870+16.9%
23Operations Research Analysts$115,630
Bachelor's degree
$64,830 – $173,910+16.7%
24First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,600 – $59,500+16.5%
25Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$39,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$19,330 – $57,320+16.5%
26Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$82,260
Bachelor's degree
$51,480 – $125,780+16.3%
27Financial Managers$140,500
Bachelor's degree
$86,340 – $256,750+16.2%
28Dental Hygienists$61,160
Associate's degree
$48,960 – $72,410+16.1%
29Animal Caretakers$28,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,740 – $45,860+15.9%
30Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$68,180
Associate's degree
$51,700 – $83,220+15.7%
31Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$47,310
Master's degree
$34,420 – $76,510+15.4%
32Nurse Anesthetists$190,300
Master's degree
$101,450 – $270,220+15.2%
33Chefs and Head Cooks$62,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,940 – $85,990+14.8%
34Bartenders$27,980
No formal educational credential
$17,260 – $55,500+14.4%
35Software Developers$122,540
Bachelor's degree
$71,590 – $175,330+14.1%
36Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$68,490
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,140 – $135,150+14.0%
37Food Service Managers$63,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,770 – $97,450+13.9%
38Respiratory Therapists$66,150
Associate's degree
$50,250 – $81,030+13.8%
39Computer and Information Systems Managers$138,670
Bachelor's degree
$83,260 – $213,460+13.7%
40Physical Therapists$97,290
Doctoral or professional degree
$74,770 – $133,710+13.6%
41Stockers and Order Fillers$34,290
No formal educational credential
$27,750 – $47,420+13.6%
42Computer Occupations, All Other$106,330
Bachelor's degree
$59,260 – $151,300+13.4%
43Manicurists and Pedicurists$30,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$21,160 – $57,370+13.2%
44Chiropractors$80,990
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,850 – $155,260+13.2%
45Driver/Sales Workers$39,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,310 – $61,100+13.2%
46Dental Assistants$39,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,840 – $51,400+13.2%
47Medical Equipment Preparers$35,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,180 – $45,670+13.0%
48Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$28,310
Associate's degree
$21,150 – $47,350+12.9%
49Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$50,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,930 – $76,780+12.8%
50Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$43,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,170 – $59,840+12.7%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianAlabama	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$105,750	$86,300 – $134,650	+44.3%
2	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$103,120	$59,130 – $161,590	+34.5%
3	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$104,960	$83,020 – $145,100	+28.1%
4	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$36,680	$29,120 – $47,690	+27.7%
5	Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree	$122,730	$66,090 – $170,690	+26.7%
6	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,430	$49,340 – $79,060	+26.6%
7	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$32,180	$24,170 – $39,220	+26.0%
8	Athletic TrainersMaster's degree	$46,940	$38,110 – $63,840	+25.1%
9	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$97,790	$64,640 – $159,450	+25.0%
10	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,920	$42,940 – $91,840	+22.1%
11	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,930	$22,250 – $91,260	+21.7%
12	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$79,690	$48,100 – $122,930	+21.6%
13	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$92,310	$58,540 – $202,190	+21.5%
14	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$117,870	$63,290 – $174,030	+21.3%
15	Avionics TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$95,920	$62,330 – $100,220	+20.0%
16	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$36,680	$23,330 – $45,870	+18.7%
17	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,880	$68,410 – $152,970	+18.4%
18	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$73,660	$58,010 – $109,300	+18.4%
19	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$98,450	$61,320 – $142,670	+17.3%
20	Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$36,100	$29,630 – $45,040	+17.3%
21	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$23,700	$21,080 – $32,740	+17.1%
22	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$94,050	$76,670 – $123,870	+16.9%
23	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$115,630	$64,830 – $173,910	+16.7%
24	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,110	$28,600 – $59,500	+16.5%
25	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,180	$19,330 – $57,320	+16.5%
26	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$82,260	$51,480 – $125,780	+16.3%
27	Financial ManagersBachelor's degree	$140,500	$86,340 – $256,750	+16.2%
28	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$61,160	$48,960 – $72,410	+16.1%
29	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$28,330	$21,740 – $45,860	+15.9%
30	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$68,180	$51,700 – $83,220	+15.7%
31	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$47,310	$34,420 – $76,510	+15.4%
32	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$190,300	$101,450 – $270,220	+15.2%
33	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,400	$39,940 – $85,990	+14.8%
34	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$27,980	$17,260 – $55,500	+14.4%
35	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$122,540	$71,590 – $175,330	+14.1%
36	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$68,490	$51,140 – $135,150	+14.0%
37	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,010	$45,770 – $97,450	+13.9%
38	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$66,150	$50,250 – $81,030	+13.8%
39	Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree	$138,670	$83,260 – $213,460	+13.7%
40	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$97,290	$74,770 – $133,710	+13.6%
41	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$34,290	$27,750 – $47,420	+13.6%
42	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$106,330	$59,260 – $151,300	+13.4%
43	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$30,300	$21,160 – $57,370	+13.2%
44	ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree	$80,990	$51,850 – $155,260	+13.2%
45	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,190	$24,310 – $61,100	+13.2%
46	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$39,080	$30,840 – $51,400	+13.2%
47	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,800	$30,180 – $45,670	+13.0%
48	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$28,310	$21,150 – $47,350	+12.9%
49	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,000	$35,930 – $76,780	+12.8%
50	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$43,600	$37,170 – $59,840	+12.7%

More for Alabama

Metro areas in Alabama

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Alabama

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Alabama to rank honestly.

Fastest growing jobs in Alabama, 2024–34

More for Alabama

Metro areas in Alabama

By field in Alabama

Without a degree

Fastest growing jobs in each state, 2024–34