High paying jobs in Birmingham, AL that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Birmingham, 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 Birmingham, AL run 8.4% below the national average (2024), so a Birmingham, AL salary is worth about 1.09× 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 Birmingham, AL

OccupationMedian, Birmingham, AL · Employed

1Power Plant Operators$106,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,710 – $120,660280
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$102,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,360 – $108,100490
3Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$84,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,980 – $113,3801,510
4Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$71,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,290 – $128,1106,210
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$69,890
Associate's degree
$59,950 – $82,530450
6Respiratory Therapists$67,480
Associate's degree
$50,850 – $81,000790
7Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$67,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,320 – $80,7801,330
8Insurance Sales Agents$66,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,630 – $139,3002,670
9Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$65,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,000 – $101,830340
10Tool and Die Makers$64,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,810 – $79,130200
11Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$63,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,380 – $77,550610
12Occupational Therapy Assistants$63,170
Associate's degree
$50,100 – $81,910190
13Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$63,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,560 – $94,460840
14Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$62,770
Associate's degree
$41,490 – $82,5301,050
15Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030280
16Physical Therapist Assistants$62,380
Associate's degree
$35,980 – $79,060800
17Computer Network Support Specialists$62,000
Associate's degree
$40,050 – $101,360220
18Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,260 – $82,1103,260
19Dental Hygienists$61,730
Associate's degree
$56,990 – $74,0701,150
20Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,680 – $69,1203,300
21Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$61,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,140 – $85,370380
22Millwrights$60,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,660 – $75,640310
23Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$60,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,690 – $78,500500
24Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$60,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,530 – $77,2202,730
25Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$60,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,620 – $76,2901,840
26Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$60,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,460 – $117,7703,770
27Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0401,370
28Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$59,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,360 – $89,670170
29Structural Iron and Steel Workers$59,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,500 – $63,700550
30Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$59,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,160 – $77,130630
31Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$57,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,350 – $99,540200
32Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$57,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,950 – $70,0101,160
33Correctional Officers and Jailers$57,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,910 – $75,380870
34Advertising Sales Agents$57,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,640 – $121,880310
35Architectural and Civil Drafters$57,510
Associate's degree
$43,240 – $79,490280
36Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$57,430
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,030630
37Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$57,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,900 – $77,500290
38Real Estate Sales Agents$56,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,710 – $108,420500
39Automotive Body and Related Repairers$56,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,390 – $75,330400
40Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$56,720
Associate's degree
$38,630 – $79,240290
41Electricians$56,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,880 – $78,5502,780
42Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$56,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,710 – $61,130420
43Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$56,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,120 – $75,450550
44Cargo and Freight Agents$55,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,400 – $83,710520
45Chemical Technicians$55,680
Associate's degree
$44,680 – $97,930170
46Computer User Support Specialists$55,350
Some college, no degree
$39,280 – $77,5701,900
47Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$55,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,400 – $78,3901,590
48Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$54,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,370 – $77,4609,170
49Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$54,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,760 – $74,3202,070
50Information and Record Clerks, All Other$53,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,840 – $65,600190

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

#	Occupation	MedianBirmingham, AL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,990	$78,710 – $120,660	280
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,470	$52,360 – $108,100	490
3	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,640	$51,980 – $113,380	1,510
4	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,450	$39,290 – $128,110	6,210
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$69,890	$59,950 – $82,530	450
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$67,480	$50,850 – $81,000	790
7	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,200	$48,320 – $80,780	1,330
8	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,640	$36,630 – $139,300	2,670
9	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,610	$49,000 – $101,830	340
10	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,800	$41,810 – $79,130	200
11	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,350	$48,380 – $77,550	610
12	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,170	$50,100 – $81,910	190
13	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,080	$45,560 – $94,460	840
14	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,770	$41,490 – $82,530	1,050
15	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $75,030	280
16	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,380	$35,980 – $79,060	800
17	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$62,000	$40,050 – $101,360	220
18	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,860	$45,260 – $82,110	3,260
19	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$61,730	$56,990 – $74,070	1,150
20	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,040	$45,680 – $69,120	3,300
21	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,040	$39,140 – $85,370	380
22	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,830	$42,660 – $75,640	310
23	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,600	$42,690 – $78,500	500
24	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,590	$42,530 – $77,220	2,730
25	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,090	$38,620 – $76,290	1,840
26	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,040	$38,460 – $117,770	3,770
27	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	1,370
28	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,870	$45,360 – $89,670	170
29	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,180	$44,500 – $63,700	550
30	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,080	$41,160 – $77,130	630
31	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,870	$46,350 – $99,540	200
32	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,740	$40,950 – $70,010	1,160
33	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,570	$33,910 – $75,380	870
34	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,560	$27,640 – $121,880	310
35	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$57,510	$43,240 – $79,490	280
36	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$57,430	$45,530 – $75,030	630
37	Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,220	$42,900 – $77,500	290
38	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,920	$33,710 – $108,420	500
39	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,860	$37,390 – $75,330	400
40	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$56,720	$38,630 – $79,240	290
41	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,630	$38,880 – $78,550	2,780
42	Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,250	$38,710 – $61,130	420
43	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,130	$37,120 – $75,450	550
44	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,700	$43,400 – $83,710	520
45	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$55,680	$44,680 – $97,930	170
46	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$55,350	$39,280 – $77,570	1,900
47	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,040	$39,400 – $78,390	1,590
48	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,460	$38,370 – $77,460	9,170
49	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,330	$39,760 – $74,320	2,070
50	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,810	$37,840 – $65,600	190

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

High paying jobs in Birmingham, AL that need no experience

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