High paying jobs in Decatur, AL that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Decatur, 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 Decatur, AL run 12.8% below the national average (2024), so a Decatur, AL salary is worth about 1.15× 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 Decatur, AL

OccupationMedian, Decatur, AL · Employed

1Power Plant Operators$115,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,950 – $119,11030
2Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$114,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,650 – $131,19070
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$94,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,410 – $105,540120
4First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$84,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,820 – $131,990950
5First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$83,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,720 – $102,67050
6First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$82,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,960 – $132,400460
7Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$82,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,660 – $94,120760
8Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$77,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,580 – $107,42030
9Industrial Machinery Mechanics$76,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,770 – $104,380950
10First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$74,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,640 – $100,500500
11Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$71,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,250 – $137,570620
12Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$70,310
Associate's degree
$52,170 – $100,87040
13Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$67,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,920 – $90,58060
14Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$66,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,170 – $77,230190
15Chemical Technicians$64,840
Associate's degree
$44,060 – $101,810140
16Boilermakers$64,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,230 – $105,37030
17Electricians$63,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,450 – $133,180480
18Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$63,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,490 – $107,07030
19Postal Service Clerks$63,210
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03030
20Physical Therapist Assistants$62,810
Associate's degree
$52,730 – $88,21060
21Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$62,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,230 – $89,67090
22First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,390 – $104,130420
23Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$62,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,490 – $91,790120
24First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$62,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,120 – $103,04050
25Food Service Managers$61,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,730 – $87,980120
26Millwrights$61,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,110 – $68,75060
27Dental Hygienists$61,340
Associate's degree
$47,390 – $72,39080
28First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,950 – $95,060510
29Tool and Die Makers$60,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,390 – $79,29030
30Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$60,220
Associate's degree
$43,750 – $97,650190
31Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$59,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,580 – $110,660210
32Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$59,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,500 – $112,86030
33Computer User Support Specialists$59,680
Some college, no degree
$41,140 – $91,060100
34Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$59,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,920 – $80,1701,420
35Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,010
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,620170
36Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$58,620
Associate's degree
$52,700 – $88,83080
37Construction and Building Inspectors$58,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,600 – $73,74040
38Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$58,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,870 – $75,950190
39Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$58,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,020 – $83,04090
40Machinists$58,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,230 – $88,010290
41Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$58,010
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,350 – $72,270210
42Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$57,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,480 – $83,160140
43Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$57,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,910 – $74,290360
44Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$56,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,080 – $83,810530
45Structural Iron and Steel Workers$56,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,440 – $64,37070
46Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$56,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,760 – $84,100120
47Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$55,360
Associate's degree
$38,130 – $72,49050
48Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$54,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,390 – $64,14060
49Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$52,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,930 – $76,61040
50Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$52,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,340 – $80,420150

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

#	Occupation	MedianDecatur, AL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$115,920	$57,950 – $119,110	30
2	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$114,470	$37,650 – $131,190	70
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,690	$41,410 – $105,540	120
4	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,270	$51,820 – $131,990	950
5	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,140	$58,720 – $102,670	50
6	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,200	$47,960 – $132,400	460
7	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,170	$79,660 – $94,120	760
8	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,000	$54,580 – $107,420	30
9	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,990	$46,770 – $104,380	950
10	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,330	$49,640 – $100,500	500
11	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,110	$40,250 – $137,570	620
12	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$70,310	$52,170 – $100,870	40
13	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,870	$47,920 – $90,580	60
14	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,200	$49,170 – $77,230	190
15	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,840	$44,060 – $101,810	140
16	BoilermakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,060	$48,230 – $105,370	30
17	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,930	$39,450 – $133,180	480
18	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,780	$40,490 – $107,070	30
19	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,210	$42,600 – $75,030	30
20	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,810	$52,730 – $88,210	60
21	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,670	$44,230 – $89,670	90
22	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,270	$37,390 – $104,130	420
23	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,230	$43,490 – $91,790	120
24	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,040	$46,120 – $103,040	50
25	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,830	$44,730 – $87,980	120
26	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,670	$50,110 – $68,750	60
27	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$61,340	$47,390 – $72,390	80
28	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,720	$38,950 – $95,060	510
29	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,410	$33,390 – $79,290	30
30	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$60,220	$43,750 – $97,650	190
31	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,920	$40,580 – $110,660	210
32	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,920	$36,500 – $112,860	30
33	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$59,680	$41,140 – $91,060	100
34	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,390	$41,920 – $80,170	1,420
35	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,010	$42,390 – $81,620	170
36	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,620	$52,700 – $88,830	80
37	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,440	$46,600 – $73,740	40
38	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,270	$43,870 – $75,950	190
39	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,270	$38,020 – $83,040	90
40	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,240	$45,230 – $88,010	290
41	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,010	$46,350 – $72,270	210
42	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,240	$45,480 – $83,160	140
43	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,120	$38,910 – $74,290	360
44	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,990	$36,080 – $83,810	530
45	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,220	$48,440 – $64,370	70
46	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,160	$37,760 – $84,100	120
47	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$55,360	$38,130 – $72,490	50
48	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,040	$37,390 – $64,140	60
49	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,310	$36,930 – $76,610	40
50	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,250	$35,340 – $80,420	150

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Decatur, 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 Decatur, AL to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Decatur, AL that need no degree

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