High paying jobs in Decatur, AL that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Decatur, 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 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
4Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$82,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,660 – $94,120760
5Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$77,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,580 – $107,42030
6Industrial Machinery Mechanics$76,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,770 – $104,380950
7Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$71,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,250 – $137,570620
8Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$70,310
Associate's degree
$52,170 – $100,87040
9Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$66,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,170 – $77,230190
10Chemical Technicians$64,840
Associate's degree
$44,060 – $101,810140
11Boilermakers$64,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,230 – $105,37030
12Electricians$63,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,450 – $133,180480
13Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$63,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,490 – $107,07030
14Postal Service Clerks$63,210
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03030
15Physical Therapist Assistants$62,810
Associate's degree
$52,730 – $88,21060
16Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$62,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,230 – $89,67090
17Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$62,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,490 – $91,790120
18Millwrights$61,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,110 – $68,75060
19Dental Hygienists$61,340
Associate's degree
$47,390 – $72,39080
20Tool and Die Makers$60,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,390 – $79,29030
21Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$60,220
Associate's degree
$43,750 – $97,650190
22Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$59,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,580 – $110,660210
23Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$59,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,500 – $112,86030
24Computer User Support Specialists$59,680
Some college, no degree
$41,140 – $91,060100
25Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$59,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,920 – $80,1701,420
26Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,010
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,620170
27Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$58,620
Associate's degree
$52,700 – $88,83080
28Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$58,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,870 – $75,950190
29Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$58,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,020 – $83,04090
30Machinists$58,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,230 – $88,010290
31Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$58,010
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,350 – $72,270210
32Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$57,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,480 – $83,160140
33Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$57,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,910 – $74,290360
34Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$56,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,080 – $83,810530
35Structural Iron and Steel Workers$56,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,440 – $64,37070
36Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$56,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,760 – $84,100120
37Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$55,360
Associate's degree
$38,130 – $72,49050
38Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$54,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,390 – $64,14060
39Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$52,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,930 – $76,61040
40Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$52,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,340 – $80,420150
41Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$51,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,570 – $58,690150
42Carpenters$50,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,320 – $69,410190
43Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$50,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,650 – $59,770100
44Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$49,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,190 – $109,670260
45Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$49,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,270 – $73,390290
46Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$48,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,830 – $75,650330
47Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,320 – $48,62070
48Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$48,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,500 – $93,730470
49Automotive Body and Related Repairers$47,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,150 – $74,37050
50Sheet Metal Workers$46,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,700 – $58,88050

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	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,170	$79,660 – $94,120	760
5	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,000	$54,580 – $107,420	30
6	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,990	$46,770 – $104,380	950
7	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,110	$40,250 – $137,570	620
8	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$70,310	$52,170 – $100,870	40
9	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,200	$49,170 – $77,230	190
10	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,840	$44,060 – $101,810	140
11	BoilermakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,060	$48,230 – $105,370	30
12	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,930	$39,450 – $133,180	480
13	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,780	$40,490 – $107,070	30
14	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,210	$42,600 – $75,030	30
15	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,810	$52,730 – $88,210	60
16	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,670	$44,230 – $89,670	90
17	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,230	$43,490 – $91,790	120
18	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,670	$50,110 – $68,750	60
19	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$61,340	$47,390 – $72,390	80
20	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,410	$33,390 – $79,290	30
21	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$60,220	$43,750 – $97,650	190
22	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,920	$40,580 – $110,660	210
23	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,920	$36,500 – $112,860	30
24	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$59,680	$41,140 – $91,060	100
25	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,390	$41,920 – $80,170	1,420
26	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,010	$42,390 – $81,620	170
27	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,620	$52,700 – $88,830	80
28	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,270	$43,870 – $75,950	190
29	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,270	$38,020 – $83,040	90
30	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,240	$45,230 – $88,010	290
31	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,010	$46,350 – $72,270	210
32	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,240	$45,480 – $83,160	140
33	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,120	$38,910 – $74,290	360
34	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,990	$36,080 – $83,810	530
35	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,220	$48,440 – $64,370	70
36	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,160	$37,760 – $84,100	120
37	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$55,360	$38,130 – $72,490	50
38	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,040	$37,390 – $64,140	60
39	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,310	$36,930 – $76,610	40
40	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,250	$35,340 – $80,420	150
41	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,810	$31,570 – $58,690	150
42	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,950	$37,320 – $69,410	190
43	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,040	$38,650 – $59,770	100
44	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,780	$34,190 – $109,670	260
45	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,470	$38,270 – $73,390	290
46	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,750	$36,830 – $75,650	330
47	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,620	$39,320 – $48,620	70
48	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,520	$32,500 – $93,730	470
49	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,360	$36,150 – $74,370	50
50	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,940	$35,700 – $58,880	50

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 experience

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