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

Every occupation here pays well in Auburn-Opelika, AL, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. 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

1Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$85,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,530 – $121,83030
2Audio and Video Technicians$79,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$20,480 – $99,29040
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$75,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,700 – $101,27050
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$67,870
Associate's degree
$61,420 – $93,35040
5Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$67,000
Associate's degree
$44,850 – $93,420110
6Insurance Sales Agents$63,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,830 – $213,140140
7Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,170 – $115,390340
8Computer User Support Specialists$61,940
Some college, no degree
$39,760 – $98,130290
9Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$60,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,750 – $104,04040
10Dental Hygienists$60,490
Associate's degree
$47,120 – $62,63090
11Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$60,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,710 – $78,700410
12Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$59,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,070 – $89,16070
13Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$59,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,370 – $78,52060
14Industrial Machinery Mechanics$59,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,050 – $77,780570
15Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$58,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,690 – $82,73050
16Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$58,860
Associate's degree
$37,910 – $84,65040
17Postal Service Clerks$58,470
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03040
18Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$56,940
Associate's degree
$32,230 – $93,33040
19Surveying and Mapping Technicians$56,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,080 – $84,55040
20Postal Service Mail Carriers$55,930
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040190
21Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$55,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,940 – $78,52060
22Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$54,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,130 – $77,87090
23Information and Record Clerks, All Other$54,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,880 – $65,30050
24Electricians$53,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,090 – $67,230230
25Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$51,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,380 – $62,04030
26Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$51,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,720 – $98,260340
27Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$51,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,460 – $71,480200
28Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$51,570
Associate's degree
$32,310 – $68,31040
29Architectural and Civil Drafters$50,950
Associate's degree
$31,600 – $77,17040
30Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$50,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,620 – $62,280190
31Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$49,620
No formal educational credential
$38,730 – $62,970110
32Medical Records Specialists$49,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,290 – $77,34070
33Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$49,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,830 – $78,0201,090
34Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$48,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,820 – $92,60070
35Emergency Medical Technicians$48,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,660 – $57,320110
36Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$48,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,120 – $64,310260
37Automotive Body and Related Repairers$47,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,260 – $60,13050
38Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$47,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,950 – $65,850120
39Machinists$47,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,860 – $61,67080
40Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$47,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,500 – $61,05060
41Carpenters$47,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,730 – $63,690200
42Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$47,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,160 – $61,26040
43Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$47,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,860 – $78,500300
44Public Safety Telecommunicators$47,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,710 – $58,89070
45Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$47,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,130 – $61,240360
46Dental Laboratory Technicians$46,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,850 – $57,54050
47Loan Interviewers and Clerks$46,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,330 – $57,160100
48Massage Therapists$46,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$21,720 – $81,81030
49Logging Equipment Operators$45,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,650 – $59,17030
50Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$45,350
No formal educational credential
$33,410 – $62,28030

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	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,990	$60,530 – $121,830	30
2	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,810	$20,480 – $99,290	40
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,490	$43,700 – $101,270	50
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$67,870	$61,420 – $93,350	40
5	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,000	$44,850 – $93,420	110
6	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,010	$36,830 – $213,140	140
7	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,120	$35,170 – $115,390	340
8	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$61,940	$39,760 – $98,130	290
9	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,570	$43,750 – $104,040	40
10	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$60,490	$47,120 – $62,630	90
11	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,230	$35,710 – $78,700	410
12	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,620	$46,070 – $89,160	70
13	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,570	$38,370 – $78,520	60
14	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,380	$45,050 – $77,780	570
15	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,940	$40,690 – $82,730	50
16	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,860	$37,910 – $84,650	40
17	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$42,600 – $75,030	40
18	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$56,940	$32,230 – $93,330	40
19	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,320	$31,080 – $84,550	40
20	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$55,930	$42,390 – $81,040	190
21	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,000	$36,940 – $78,520	60
22	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,590	$35,130 – $77,870	90
23	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,580	$38,880 – $65,300	50
24	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,860	$35,090 – $67,230	230
25	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,830	$36,380 – $62,040	30
26	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,720	$36,720 – $98,260	340
27	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,570	$36,460 – $71,480	200
28	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$51,570	$32,310 – $68,310	40
29	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$50,950	$31,600 – $77,170	40
30	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,630	$37,620 – $62,280	190
31	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$49,620	$38,730 – $62,970	110
32	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,310	$32,290 – $77,340	70
33	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,210	$38,830 – $78,020	1,090
34	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,690	$36,820 – $92,600	70
35	Emergency Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,210	$32,660 – $57,320	110
36	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,170	$36,120 – $64,310	260
37	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,990	$33,260 – $60,130	50
38	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,900	$36,950 – $65,850	120
39	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,840	$34,860 – $61,670	80
40	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,830	$36,500 – $61,050	60
41	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,610	$33,730 – $63,690	200
42	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,600	$30,160 – $61,260	40
43	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,250	$29,860 – $78,500	300
44	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,120	$32,710 – $58,890	70
45	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,000	$36,130 – $61,240	360
46	Dental Laboratory TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,770	$28,850 – $57,540	50
47	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,560	$31,330 – $57,160	100
48	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,060	$21,720 – $81,810	30
49	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,430	$28,650 – $59,170	30
50	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$45,350	$33,410 – $62,280	30

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 experience

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