High paying jobs in Auburn-Opelika, AL that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Auburn-Opelika, AL 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 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

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$105,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,650 – $183,89030
2Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$85,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,530 – $121,83030
3Audio and Video Technicians$79,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$20,480 – $99,29040
4First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$77,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,160 – $121,53070
5Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$75,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,700 – $101,27050
6Detectives and Criminal Investigators$72,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,450 – $76,74040
7First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$70,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,370 – $99,47040
8First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$68,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,550 – $103,040530
9Chefs and Head Cooks$68,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,480 – $81,16040
10Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$67,870
Associate's degree
$61,420 – $93,35040
11Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$67,000
Associate's degree
$44,850 – $93,420110
12First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$66,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,020 – $104,420350
13Construction and Building Inspectors$65,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,260 – $92,20050
14Food Service Managers$64,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,440 – $100,690180
15Lodging Managers$63,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,690 – $132,34030
16First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$63,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,880 – $101,670450
17Insurance Sales Agents$63,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,830 – $213,140140
18Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$62,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,600 – $89,180110
19First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$62,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,530 – $103,79060
20Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,170 – $115,390340
21Computer User Support Specialists$61,940
Some college, no degree
$39,760 – $98,130290
22Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$60,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,750 – $104,04040
23Dental Hygienists$60,490
Associate's degree
$47,120 – $62,63090
24Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$60,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,710 – $78,700410
25First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$59,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,840 – $77,25090
26Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$59,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,070 – $89,16070
27Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$59,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,370 – $78,52060
28Industrial Machinery Mechanics$59,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,050 – $77,780570
29First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$59,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,870 – $82,250660
30Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$58,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,690 – $82,73050
31Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$58,860
Associate's degree
$37,910 – $84,65040
32Postal Service Clerks$58,470
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03040
33First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$57,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,850 – $89,840370
34Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$56,940
Associate's degree
$32,230 – $93,33040
35Surveying and Mapping Technicians$56,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,080 – $84,55040
36Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$56,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,140 – $93,950160
37Postal Service Mail Carriers$55,930
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040190
38Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$55,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,940 – $78,52060
39Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$54,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,130 – $77,87090
40Information and Record Clerks, All Other$54,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,880 – $65,30050
41Electricians$53,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,090 – $67,230230
42Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$51,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,380 – $62,04030
43Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$51,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,720 – $98,260340
44Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$51,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,460 – $71,480200
45Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$51,570
Associate's degree
$32,310 – $68,31040
46Architectural and Civil Drafters$50,950
Associate's degree
$31,600 – $77,17040
47Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$50,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,620 – $62,280190
48Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$49,620
No formal educational credential
$38,730 – $62,970110
49Medical Records Specialists$49,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,290 – $77,34070
50Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$49,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,830 – $78,0201,090

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	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,180	$63,650 – $183,890	30
2	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,990	$60,530 – $121,830	30
3	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,810	$20,480 – $99,290	40
4	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,960	$54,160 – $121,530	70
5	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,490	$43,700 – $101,270	50
6	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,420	$48,450 – $76,740	40
7	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,270	$46,370 – $99,470	40
8	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,890	$43,550 – $103,040	530
9	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,830	$39,480 – $81,160	40
10	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$67,870	$61,420 – $93,350	40
11	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,000	$44,850 – $93,420	110
12	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,610	$45,020 – $104,420	350
13	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,110	$51,260 – $92,200	50
14	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,170	$47,440 – $100,690	180
15	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,750	$44,690 – $132,340	30
16	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,020	$44,880 – $101,670	450
17	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,010	$36,830 – $213,140	140
18	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,870	$47,600 – $89,180	110
19	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,810	$61,530 – $103,790	60
20	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,120	$35,170 – $115,390	340
21	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$61,940	$39,760 – $98,130	290
22	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,570	$43,750 – $104,040	40
23	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$60,490	$47,120 – $62,630	90
24	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,230	$35,710 – $78,700	410
25	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,870	$36,840 – $77,250	90
26	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,620	$46,070 – $89,160	70
27	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,570	$38,370 – $78,520	60
28	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,380	$45,050 – $77,780	570
29	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,310	$38,870 – $82,250	660
30	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,940	$40,690 – $82,730	50
31	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,860	$37,910 – $84,650	40
32	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$42,600 – $75,030	40
33	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,870	$36,850 – $89,840	370
34	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$56,940	$32,230 – $93,330	40
35	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,320	$31,080 – $84,550	40
36	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,070	$38,140 – $93,950	160
37	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$55,930	$42,390 – $81,040	190
38	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,000	$36,940 – $78,520	60
39	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,590	$35,130 – $77,870	90
40	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,580	$38,880 – $65,300	50
41	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,860	$35,090 – $67,230	230
42	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,830	$36,380 – $62,040	30
43	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,720	$36,720 – $98,260	340
44	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,570	$36,460 – $71,480	200
45	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$51,570	$32,310 – $68,310	40
46	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$50,950	$31,600 – $77,170	40
47	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,630	$37,620 – $62,280	190
48	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$49,620	$38,730 – $62,970	110
49	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,310	$32,290 – $77,340	70
50	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,210	$38,830 – $78,020	1,090

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 jobs in Auburn-Opelika, AL that need no degree

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