High paying entry level jobs in Alabama

These occupations in Alabama ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

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 · Employed

1Nurse Anesthetists$190,300
Master's degree
$101,450 – $270,2201,810
2Engineers, All Other$152,550
Bachelor's degree
$87,780 – $195,1903,460
3Computer Hardware Engineers$136,990
Bachelor's degree
$80,680 – $195,190680
4Pharmacists$134,630
Doctoral or professional degree
$90,010 – $161,9405,400
5Lawyers$131,970
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,310 – $249,0906,730
6Aerospace Engineers$127,540
Bachelor's degree
$78,660 – $195,1905,820
7Electrical Engineers$125,630
Bachelor's degree
$77,840 – $180,2204,600
8Software Developers$122,540
Bachelor's degree
$71,590 – $175,33017,450
9Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$120,720
Bachelor's degree
$77,100 – $195,1901,940
10Computer Occupations, All Other$106,330
Bachelor's degree
$59,260 – $151,3002,630
11Nurse Practitioners$105,750
Master's degree
$86,300 – $134,6505,640
12Veterinarians$105,630
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,430 – $172,2901,020
13Physician Assistants$104,960
Master's degree
$83,020 – $145,100930
14Data Scientists$103,120
Bachelor's degree
$59,130 – $161,5901,740
15Environmental Engineers$102,650
Bachelor's degree
$66,720 – $158,910780
16Computer Systems Analysts$101,770
Bachelor's degree
$64,880 – $163,1106,560
17Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$101,500
Bachelor's degree
$62,670 – $162,6001,760
18Project Management Specialists$100,820
Bachelor's degree
$63,550 – $164,9103,190
19Business Operations Specialists, All Other$100,240
Bachelor's degree
$61,110 – $164,2806,990
20Industrial Engineers$99,880
Bachelor's degree
$68,410 – $152,9707,650
21Budget Analysts$99,490
Bachelor's degree
$61,050 – $142,670870
22Civil Engineers$99,010
Bachelor's degree
$63,930 – $168,3705,370
23Logisticians$98,450
Bachelor's degree
$61,320 – $142,6705,190
24Chemists$97,830
Bachelor's degree
$61,050 – $150,410700
25Physical Therapists$97,290
Doctoral or professional degree
$74,770 – $133,7103,040
26Avionics Technicians$95,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,330 – $100,220910
27Occupational Therapists$94,050
Master's degree
$76,670 – $123,8701,500
28Database Administrators$93,900
Bachelor's degree
$60,500 – $134,8101,840
29Computer Programmers$93,800
Bachelor's degree
$58,100 – $132,330890
30Financial and Investment Analysts$91,290
Bachelor's degree
$52,200 – $157,3203,410
31Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$82,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,350 – $98,4404,310
32Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$82,260
Bachelor's degree
$51,480 – $125,7802,510
33Business Teachers, Postsecondary$82,170
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,310 – $171,4201,260
34Network and Computer Systems Administrators$81,400
Bachelor's degree
$51,690 – $135,0805,040
35Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$77,540
Doctoral or professional degree
$49,800 – $161,4601,160
36Registered Nurses$77,080
Bachelor's degree
$58,150 – $98,91054,340
37Accountants and Auditors$74,880
Bachelor's degree
$50,240 – $123,17024,300
38Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$74,650
Associate's degree
$43,710 – $119,970690
39Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,500
Associate's degree
$45,500 – $108,7201,620
40Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$72,490
Bachelor's degree
$41,260 – $114,900870
41Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$68,180
Associate's degree
$51,700 – $83,2201,510
42Teachers and Instructors, All Other$66,510
Bachelor's degree
$36,590 – $98,3301,500
43Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$66,510
Associate's degree
$44,950 – $98,9401,010
44Respiratory Therapists$66,150
Associate's degree
$50,250 – $81,0302,350
45Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$65,900
Doctoral or professional degree
$50,230 – $97,860850
46Human Resources Specialists$64,940
Bachelor's degree
$41,890 – $112,88011,080
47Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$64,650
Master's degree
$37,890 – $78,3102,750
48Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$64,520
Bachelor's degree
$50,510 – $77,150870
49Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$63,540
Master's degree
$51,000 – $96,320900
50English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$62,910
Doctoral or professional degree
$46,450 – $92,1401,040

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	Employed
1	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$190,300	$101,450 – $270,220	1,810
2	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$152,550	$87,780 – $195,190	3,460
3	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$136,990	$80,680 – $195,190	680
4	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$134,630	$90,010 – $161,940	5,400
5	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$131,970	$62,310 – $249,090	6,730
6	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$127,540	$78,660 – $195,190	5,820
7	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$125,630	$77,840 – $180,220	4,600
8	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$122,540	$71,590 – $175,330	17,450
9	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$120,720	$77,100 – $195,190	1,940
10	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$106,330	$59,260 – $151,300	2,630
11	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$105,750	$86,300 – $134,650	5,640
12	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$105,630	$65,430 – $172,290	1,020
13	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$104,960	$83,020 – $145,100	930
14	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$103,120	$59,130 – $161,590	1,740
15	Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree	$102,650	$66,720 – $158,910	780
16	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$101,770	$64,880 – $163,110	6,560
17	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$101,500	$62,670 – $162,600	1,760
18	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$100,820	$63,550 – $164,910	3,190
19	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$100,240	$61,110 – $164,280	6,990
20	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,880	$68,410 – $152,970	7,650
21	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$99,490	$61,050 – $142,670	870
22	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,010	$63,930 – $168,370	5,370
23	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$98,450	$61,320 – $142,670	5,190
24	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$97,830	$61,050 – $150,410	700
25	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$97,290	$74,770 – $133,710	3,040
26	Avionics TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$95,920	$62,330 – $100,220	910
27	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$94,050	$76,670 – $123,870	1,500
28	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$93,900	$60,500 – $134,810	1,840
29	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$93,800	$58,100 – $132,330	890
30	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$91,290	$52,200 – $157,320	3,410
31	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,260	$48,350 – $98,440	4,310
32	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$82,260	$51,480 – $125,780	2,510
33	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$82,170	$48,310 – $171,420	1,260
34	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$81,400	$51,690 – $135,080	5,040
35	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$77,540	$49,800 – $161,460	1,160
36	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$77,080	$58,150 – $98,910	54,340
37	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$74,880	$50,240 – $123,170	24,300
38	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$74,650	$43,710 – $119,970	690
39	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,500	$45,500 – $108,720	1,620
40	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$72,490	$41,260 – $114,900	870
41	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$68,180	$51,700 – $83,220	1,510
42	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$66,510	$36,590 – $98,330	1,500
43	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,510	$44,950 – $98,940	1,010
44	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$66,150	$50,250 – $81,030	2,350
45	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$65,900	$50,230 – $97,860	850
46	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$64,940	$41,890 – $112,880	11,080
47	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$64,650	$37,890 – $78,310	2,750
48	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$64,520	$50,510 – $77,150	870
49	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$63,540	$51,000 – $96,320	900
50	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$62,910	$46,450 – $92,140	1,040

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Alabama. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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.

High paying entry level jobs in Alabama

More for Alabama

Metro areas in Alabama

By field in Alabama

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state