High paying jobs in Alabama that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Alabama and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

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

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$118,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,710 – $198,9701,250
2Transportation Inspectors$108,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,150 – $112,530670
3Power Plant Operators$107,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,250 – $123,520790
4Commercial Pilots$101,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,030 – $163,100780
5Avionics Technicians$95,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,330 – $100,220910
6Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$92,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,150 – $105,4002,730
7Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$82,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,350 – $98,4404,310
8Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$80,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,430 – $94,1203,280
9Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$79,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,190 – $106,3704,040
10First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$77,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,360 – $130,7902,410
11First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$75,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,520 – $121,4301,900
12First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$74,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,560 – $119,89013,390
13Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$74,650
Associate's degree
$43,710 – $119,970690
14Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,500
Associate's degree
$45,500 – $108,7201,620
15First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$73,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,050 – $114,2201,440
16First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$73,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,340 – $111,54020,670
17Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$69,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,800 – $100,6202,880
18Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$68,180
Associate's degree
$51,700 – $83,2201,510
19Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$66,510
Associate's degree
$44,950 – $98,9401,010
20Detectives and Criminal Investigators$66,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,060 – $150,7801,340
21Respiratory Therapists$66,150
Associate's degree
$50,250 – $81,0302,350
22Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$65,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,360 – $97,540930
23Insurance Sales Agents$65,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,540 – $184,8007,430
24Tool and Die Makers$64,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,520 – $80,430690
25Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,090 – $127,37020,470
26First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$64,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,860 – $105,03013,580
27Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,350 – $79,1004,640
28Food Service Managers$63,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,770 – $97,4504,330
29Chefs and Head Cooks$62,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,940 – $85,9901,000
30Occupational Therapy Assistants$62,250
Associate's degree
$50,120 – $79,600750
31Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,940 – $91,84017,850
32Computer Network Support Specialists$61,890
Associate's degree
$40,290 – $99,270940
33Postal Service Clerks$61,640
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,0301,240
34Physical Therapist Assistants$61,430
Associate's degree
$49,340 – $79,0602,700
35Millwrights$61,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,300 – $76,0701,400
36Construction and Building Inspectors$61,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,010 – $85,7701,420
37Dental Hygienists$61,160
Associate's degree
$48,960 – $72,4103,170
38Real Estate Sales Agents$60,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,750 – $236,2101,580
39Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$60,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,320 – $90,5301,530
40Crane and Tower Operators$60,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,650 – $99,3801,280
41Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$60,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,660 – $77,5501,350
42Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$60,700
Associate's degree
$41,060 – $80,3003,500
43First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,470 – $93,56020,140
44Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers$60,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,310 – $70,340930
45First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$59,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,310 – $94,25012,330
46Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$59,770
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,750 – $91,7903,200
47Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$58,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,800 – $85,660950
48Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$58,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,450 – $114,99012,840
49Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$58,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,720 – $76,6906,950
50Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$58,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,910 – $98,7403,510

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	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$118,320	$63,710 – $198,970	1,250
2	Transportation InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,140	$69,150 – $112,530	670
3	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,080	$76,250 – $123,520	790
4	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$101,420	$57,030 – $163,100	780
5	Avionics TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$95,920	$62,330 – $100,220	910
6	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,030	$44,150 – $105,400	2,730
7	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,260	$48,350 – $98,440	4,310
8	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,330	$38,430 – $94,120	3,280
9	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,710	$49,190 – $106,370	4,040
10	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,070	$46,360 – $130,790	2,410
11	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,970	$48,520 – $121,430	1,900
12	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,830	$45,560 – $119,890	13,390
13	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$74,650	$43,710 – $119,970	690
14	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,500	$45,500 – $108,720	1,620
15	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,320	$43,050 – $114,220	1,440
16	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,060	$45,340 – $111,540	20,670
17	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,450	$46,800 – $100,620	2,880
18	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$68,180	$51,700 – $83,220	1,510
19	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,510	$44,950 – $98,940	1,010
20	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,290	$43,060 – $150,780	1,340
21	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$66,150	$50,250 – $81,030	2,350
22	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,600	$46,360 – $97,540	930
23	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,510	$36,540 – $184,800	7,430
24	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,800	$45,520 – $80,430	690
25	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,140	$38,090 – $127,370	20,470
26	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,120	$44,860 – $105,030	13,580
27	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,850	$46,350 – $79,100	4,640
28	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,010	$45,770 – $97,450	4,330
29	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,400	$39,940 – $85,990	1,000
30	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,250	$50,120 – $79,600	750
31	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,920	$42,940 – $91,840	17,850
32	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$61,890	$40,290 – $99,270	940
33	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,640	$42,600 – $75,030	1,240
34	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,430	$49,340 – $79,060	2,700
35	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,410	$45,300 – $76,070	1,400
36	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,300	$46,010 – $85,770	1,420
37	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$61,160	$48,960 – $72,410	3,170
38	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,890	$24,750 – $236,210	1,580
39	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,890	$46,320 – $90,530	1,530
40	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,790	$37,650 – $99,380	1,280
41	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,710	$39,660 – $77,550	1,350
42	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,700	$41,060 – $80,300	3,500
43	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,360	$39,470 – $93,560	20,140
44	Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,100	$38,310 – $70,340	930
45	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,780	$36,310 – $94,250	12,330
46	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,770	$43,750 – $91,790	3,200
47	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,990	$49,800 – $85,660	950
48	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,840	$37,450 – $114,990	12,840
49	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,670	$37,720 – $76,690	6,950
50	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,240	$39,910 – $98,740	3,510

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 jobs in Alabama that need no degree

More for Alabama

Metro areas in Alabama

By field in Alabama

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree