High paying jobs in Tuscaloosa, AL that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Tuscaloosa, 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 Tuscaloosa, AL run 12.3% below the national average (2024), so a Tuscaloosa, 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 Tuscaloosa, AL

OccupationMedian, Tuscaloosa, AL · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$95,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,660 – $102,16090
2Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$89,610
Associate's degree
$49,550 – $103,09040
3Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$82,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,670 – $82,25040
4Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$74,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,470 – $97,07060
5Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$70,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,310 – $86,990100
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$69,040
Associate's degree
$57,870 – $85,95080
7Respiratory Therapists$64,140
Associate's degree
$51,670 – $77,060110
8Physical Therapist Assistants$64,040
Associate's degree
$51,010 – $76,500100
9Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,960 – $78,260230
10Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,990 – $84,9101,590
11Insurance Sales Agents$62,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,110 – $211,100170
12Real Estate Sales Agents$61,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,410 – $107,41070
13Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$61,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,570 – $73,650160
14Millwrights$61,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,910 – $74,570120
15Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,370 – $114,930680
16Postal Service Clerks$61,050
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03060
17Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$60,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,470 – $90,910110
18Dental Hygienists$60,500
Associate's degree
$51,440 – $62,100130
19Electricians$60,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,540 – $83,040560
20Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$59,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,440 – $85,600710
21Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$59,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,410 – $74,150370
22Structural Iron and Steel Workers$59,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,030 – $68,610100
23Chemical Technicians$59,060
Associate's degree
$44,980 – $76,20040
24Postal Service Mail Carriers$58,690
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040270
25Firefighters$58,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,530 – $87,400450
26Automotive Body and Related Repairers$58,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,360 – $86,94090
27Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining$57,730
No formal educational credential
$50,720 – $61,110120
28Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$57,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,360 – $63,080210
29Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$56,720
Associate's degree
$43,060 – $80,300170
30Information and Record Clerks, All Other$55,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,910 – $72,65040
31Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$55,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,880 – $65,040680
32Surveying and Mapping Technicians$53,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,870 – $73,20050
33Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$53,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,470 – $70,9707,320
34Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$52,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,620 – $75,920290
35Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$51,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,060 – $73,030190
36Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$51,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,470 – $76,460230
37Machinists$50,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,230 – $78,280110
38Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$50,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,560 – $77,60070
39Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$50,240
Associate's degree
$36,880 – $84,270110
40Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$50,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,430 – $61,460100
41Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$50,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,220 – $75,3501,440
42Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$49,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,800 – $59,240110
43Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$49,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,000 – $109,890360
44Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$49,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,680 – $79,74060
45Massage Therapists$49,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$22,050 – $99,45040
46Surgical Technologists$49,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,620 – $61,68080
47Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$49,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,610 – $76,30060
48Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$48,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,570 – $58,610130
49Carpenters$48,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,190 – $59,900260
50Computer User Support Specialists$48,490
Some college, no degree
$30,020 – $75,790260

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

#	Occupation	MedianTuscaloosa, AL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,290	$46,660 – $102,160	90
2	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$89,610	$49,550 – $103,090	40
3	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,250	$34,670 – $82,250	40
4	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,670	$52,470 – $97,070	60
5	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,610	$40,310 – $86,990	100
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$69,040	$57,870 – $85,950	80
7	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$64,140	$51,670 – $77,060	110
8	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,040	$51,010 – $76,500	100
9	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,030	$45,960 – $78,260	230
10	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,990	$44,990 – $84,910	1,590
11	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,230	$40,110 – $211,100	170
12	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,770	$35,410 – $107,410	70
13	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,680	$29,570 – $73,650	160
14	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,380	$41,910 – $74,570	120
15	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,090	$36,370 – $114,930	680
16	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,050	$42,600 – $75,030	60
17	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,510	$43,470 – $90,910	110
18	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$60,500	$51,440 – $62,100	130
19	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,110	$37,540 – $83,040	560
20	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,670	$38,440 – $85,600	710
21	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,530	$38,410 – $74,150	370
22	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,230	$46,030 – $68,610	100
23	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,060	$44,980 – $76,200	40
24	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$58,690	$42,390 – $81,040	270
25	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,400	$36,530 – $87,400	450
26	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,240	$36,360 – $86,940	90
27	Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground MiningNo formal educational credential	$57,730	$50,720 – $61,110	120
28	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,460	$37,360 – $63,080	210
29	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$56,720	$43,060 – $80,300	170
30	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,490	$44,910 – $72,650	40
31	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,360	$39,880 – $65,040	680
32	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,850	$26,870 – $73,200	50
33	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,050	$39,470 – $70,970	7,320
34	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,180	$37,620 – $75,920	290
35	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,870	$41,060 – $73,030	190
36	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,730	$38,470 – $76,460	230
37	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,850	$36,230 – $78,280	110
38	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,300	$42,560 – $77,600	70
39	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$50,240	$36,880 – $84,270	110
40	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,240	$37,430 – $61,460	100
41	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,190	$38,220 – $75,350	1,440
42	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,920	$40,800 – $59,240	110
43	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,640	$36,000 – $109,890	360
44	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,600	$39,680 – $79,740	60
45	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,560	$22,050 – $99,450	40
46	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,190	$37,620 – $61,680	80
47	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,040	$35,610 – $76,300	60
48	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,940	$29,570 – $58,610	130
49	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,870	$36,190 – $59,900	260
50	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$48,490	$30,020 – $75,790	260

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

High paying jobs in Tuscaloosa, AL that need no experience

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