High paying entry level jobs in Auburn-Opelika, AL

These occupations in Auburn-Opelika, AL 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 Auburn-Opelika, AL run 12.1% below the national average (2024), so a Auburn-Opelika, AL salary is worth about 1.14× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Auburn-Opelika, AL

OccupationMedian, Auburn-Opelika, AL · Employed

1Pharmacists$133,180
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,680 – $159,430210
2Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$128,090
Doctoral or professional degree
$76,660 – $155,29040
3Software Developers$120,310
Bachelor's degree
$62,160 – $170,610290
4Electrical Engineers$109,100
Bachelor's degree
$65,250 – $156,18030
5Nurse Practitioners$108,500
Master's degree
$81,670 – $137,110180
6Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$103,580
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,930 – $164,210260
7Veterinarians$101,060
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,410 – $166,43060
8Lawyers$100,560
Doctoral or professional degree
$53,710 – $273,500120
9Mechanical Engineers$100,230
Bachelor's degree
$63,820 – $165,090100
10Civil Engineers$99,590
Bachelor's degree
$62,780 – $156,600130
11Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary$98,250
Doctoral or professional degree
$49,160 – $166,71080
12Business Teachers, Postsecondary$98,130
Doctoral or professional degree
$46,980 – $209,470150
13Occupational Therapists$97,600
Master's degree
$77,970 – $124,80040
14Computer Systems Analysts$94,900
Bachelor's degree
$60,780 – $155,04070
15Physical Therapists$86,120
Doctoral or professional degree
$58,710 – $124,650110
16Financial and Investment Analysts$85,100
Bachelor's degree
$59,330 – $159,14070
17Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary$83,460
Doctoral or professional degree
$52,580 – $101,77050
18Network and Computer Systems Administrators$82,970
Bachelor's degree
$57,010 – $114,980150
19Physics Teachers, Postsecondary$82,750
Doctoral or professional degree
$58,510 – $101,86050
20History Teachers, Postsecondary$82,570
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,980 – $98,36040
21Logisticians$81,490
Bachelor's degree
$59,560 – $118,36090
22Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$81,440
Doctoral or professional degree
$49,800 – $130,620230
23Business Operations Specialists, All Other$80,790
Bachelor's degree
$46,320 – $118,870110
24Industrial Engineers$80,250
Bachelor's degree
$62,120 – $122,960200
25Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$80,030
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,370 – $125,800210
26Chemists$79,530
Bachelor's degree
$51,650 – $127,12040
27Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary$79,090
Doctoral or professional degree
$49,780 – $162,46030
28Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$78,190
Bachelor's degree
$58,260 – $107,30070
29Registered Nurses$78,040
Bachelor's degree
$60,530 – $101,9801,430
30Health Education Specialists$77,950
Bachelor's degree
$41,290 – $97,59040
31Project Management Specialists$77,690
Bachelor's degree
$62,560 – $130,68060
32Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$77,080
Doctoral or professional degree
$50,980 – $127,64080
33Accountants and Auditors$72,570
Bachelor's degree
$50,090 – $121,130680
34Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$71,290
Master's degree
$51,320 – $104,52070
35Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$67,870
Associate's degree
$61,420 – $93,35040
36Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$67,000
Associate's degree
$44,850 – $93,420110
37Teachers and Instructors, All Other$66,300
Bachelor's degree
$29,720 – $94,00030
38English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$64,410
Doctoral or professional degree
$46,450 – $98,960100
39Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$64,240
Master's degree
$41,380 – $87,490110
40Public Relations Specialists$63,920
Bachelor's degree
$44,750 – $95,06090
41Human Resources Specialists$63,030
Bachelor's degree
$39,300 – $107,800350
42Fundraisers$62,510
Bachelor's degree
$45,180 – $104,310100
43Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$62,270
Master's degree
$44,610 – $77,050310
44Soil and Plant Scientists$61,840
Bachelor's degree
$50,660 – $106,60040
45Athletic Trainers$61,410
Master's degree
$38,430 – $85,95040
46Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61,250
Bachelor's degree
$48,760 – $77,810840
47Dental Hygienists$60,490
Associate's degree
$47,120 – $62,63090
48Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$59,970
Bachelor's degree
$45,840 – $70,860550
49Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$59,650
Bachelor's degree
$37,320 – $106,870280
50Coaches and Scouts$59,550
Bachelor's degree
$21,730 – $225,290300

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

#	Occupation	MedianAuburn-Opelika, AL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$133,180	$63,680 – $159,430	210
2	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$128,090	$76,660 – $155,290	40
3	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$120,310	$62,160 – $170,610	290
4	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$109,100	$65,250 – $156,180	30
5	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$108,500	$81,670 – $137,110	180
6	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$103,580	$48,930 – $164,210	260
7	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$101,060	$63,410 – $166,430	60
8	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$100,560	$53,710 – $273,500	120
9	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$100,230	$63,820 – $165,090	100
10	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,590	$62,780 – $156,600	130
11	Psychology Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$98,250	$49,160 – $166,710	80
12	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$98,130	$46,980 – $209,470	150
13	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$97,600	$77,970 – $124,800	40
14	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$94,900	$60,780 – $155,040	70
15	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$86,120	$58,710 – $124,650	110
16	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$85,100	$59,330 – $159,140	70
17	Chemistry Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$83,460	$52,580 – $101,770	50
18	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$82,970	$57,010 – $114,980	150
19	Physics Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$82,750	$58,510 – $101,860	50
20	History Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$82,570	$60,980 – $98,360	40
21	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$81,490	$59,560 – $118,360	90
22	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$81,440	$49,800 – $130,620	230
23	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$80,790	$46,320 – $118,870	110
24	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$80,250	$62,120 – $122,960	200
25	Agricultural Sciences Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$80,030	$47,370 – $125,800	210
26	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$79,530	$51,650 – $127,120	40
27	Political Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$79,090	$49,780 – $162,460	30
28	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$78,190	$58,260 – $107,300	70
29	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$78,040	$60,530 – $101,980	1,430
30	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$77,950	$41,290 – $97,590	40
31	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$77,690	$62,560 – $130,680	60
32	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$77,080	$50,980 – $127,640	80
33	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$72,570	$50,090 – $121,130	680
34	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$71,290	$51,320 – $104,520	70
35	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$67,870	$61,420 – $93,350	40
36	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,000	$44,850 – $93,420	110
37	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$66,300	$29,720 – $94,000	30
38	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$64,410	$46,450 – $98,960	100
39	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$64,240	$41,380 – $87,490	110
40	Public Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$63,920	$44,750 – $95,060	90
41	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$63,030	$39,300 – $107,800	350
42	FundraisersBachelor's degree	$62,510	$45,180 – $104,310	100
43	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$62,270	$44,610 – $77,050	310
44	Soil and Plant ScientistsBachelor's degree	$61,840	$50,660 – $106,600	40
45	Athletic TrainersMaster's degree	$61,410	$38,430 – $85,950	40
46	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$61,250	$48,760 – $77,810	840
47	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$60,490	$47,120 – $62,630	90
48	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$59,970	$45,840 – $70,860	550
49	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$59,650	$37,320 – $106,870	280
50	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$59,550	$21,730 – $225,290	300

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Auburn-Opelika, AL. 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.

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

High paying entry level jobs in Auburn-Opelika, AL

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