High paying production jobs in Alabama with no experience

The best paid production occupations in Alabama that require neither a degree nor prior experience in a related job. This is the narrowest cut on the site, so it is also the shortest list: where a field has only two or three such occupations, there is no page at all rather than a page pretending otherwise.

Cost of living: prices in Alabama run 11.2% below the national average (2024), so a Alabama salary is worth about 1.13× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Alabama.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find production jobs in Alabama

OccupationMedian, Alabama · Employed

1Power Plant Operators$107,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,250 – $123,520790
2Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$80,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,430 – $94,1203,280
3Tool and Die Makers$64,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,520 – $80,430690
4Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers$60,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,310 – $70,340930
5Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$58,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,800 – $85,660950
6Machinists$55,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,770 – $79,3805,170
7Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$54,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,130 – $79,7801,250
8Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$53,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,170 – $78,3701,710
9Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$52,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,320 – $76,3603,120
10Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$52,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,670 – $79,6603,800
11Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$52,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,180 – $66,8202,130
12Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$51,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,100 – $79,9502,770
13Foundry Mold and Coremakers$51,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,180 – $55,340850
14Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$50,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,240 – $74,7101,090
15Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$48,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,710 – $66,82012,450
16Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,540 – $66,6801,200
17Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,960 – $64,4302,220
18Dental Laboratory Technicians$45,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,350 – $61,2501,050
19Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$44,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $60,9205,250
20Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$43,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,660 – $54,7606,000
21Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$43,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,020 – $70,8801,680
22Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$42,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,050 – $69,78053,280
23Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$40,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,100 – $50,8501,060
24Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$40,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,230 – $60,4101,250
25Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$40,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,130 – $63,06013,120
26Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$39,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,010 – $58,8105,900
27Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$38,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,170 – $48,9401,510
28Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$38,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,680 – $48,5601,760
29Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$38,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,260 – $51,1904,960
30Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$38,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,340 – $56,1801,500
31Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$37,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,210 – $54,7703,240
32Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$37,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,950 – $51,6201,880
33Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$37,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,810 – $49,590770
34Food Batchmakers$36,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,110 – $49,7401,280
35Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$36,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,140 – $49,3902,580
36Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$36,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,940 – $51,340820
37Printing Press Operators$36,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,260 – $55,8302,160
38Butchers and Meat Cutters$36,500
No formal educational credential
$26,430 – $47,9602,350
39Helpers--Production Workers$35,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,060 – $45,8407,230
40Bakers$34,030
No formal educational credential
$20,940 – $44,6001,880
41Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$31,080
No formal educational credential
$22,130 – $39,3309,140
42Sewing Machine Operators$30,830
No formal educational credential
$23,830 – $41,3302,300
43Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$28,370
No formal educational credential
$22,450 – $35,5602,150

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

#	Occupation	MedianAlabama	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,080	$76,250 – $123,520	790
2	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,330	$38,430 – $94,120	3,280
3	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,800	$45,520 – $80,430	690
4	Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,100	$38,310 – $70,340	930
5	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,990	$49,800 – $85,660	950
6	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,560	$37,770 – $79,380	5,170
7	Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,260	$36,130 – $79,780	1,250
8	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,380	$39,170 – $78,370	1,710
9	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,380	$38,320 – $76,360	3,120
10	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,290	$36,670 – $79,660	3,800
11	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,220	$38,180 – $66,820	2,130
12	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,870	$35,100 – $79,950	2,770
13	Foundry Mold and CoremakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,040	$37,180 – $55,340	850
14	Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,600	$38,240 – $74,710	1,090
15	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,490	$36,710 – $66,820	12,450
16	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,690	$31,540 – $66,680	1,200
17	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,050	$34,960 – $64,430	2,220
18	Dental Laboratory TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,760	$32,350 – $61,250	1,050
19	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,250	$31,200 – $60,920	5,250
20	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,830	$34,660 – $54,760	6,000
21	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,800	$31,020 – $70,880	1,680
22	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,700	$29,050 – $69,780	53,280
23	Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,210	$34,100 – $50,850	1,060
24	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,050	$30,230 – $60,410	1,250
25	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,010	$28,130 – $63,060	13,120
26	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,010	$29,010 – $58,810	5,900
27	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,650	$29,170 – $48,940	1,510
28	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,550	$29,680 – $48,560	1,760
29	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,180	$29,260 – $51,190	4,960
30	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,170	$29,340 – $56,180	1,500
31	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,820	$28,210 – $54,770	3,240
32	Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,520	$29,950 – $51,620	1,880
33	Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,340	$28,810 – $49,590	770
34	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,980	$29,110 – $49,740	1,280
35	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,750	$29,140 – $49,390	2,580
36	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,730	$30,940 – $51,340	820
37	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,670	$24,260 – $55,830	2,160
38	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$36,500	$26,430 – $47,960	2,350
39	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,910	$27,060 – $45,840	7,230
40	BakersNo formal educational credential	$34,030	$20,940 – $44,600	1,880
41	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$31,080	$22,130 – $39,330	9,140
42	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$30,830	$23,830 – $41,330	2,300
43	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$28,370	$22,450 – $35,560	2,150

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Alabama. 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.

More for Alabama

Metro areas in Alabama

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Alabama

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Alabama to rank honestly.

High paying production jobs in Alabama with no experience

More for Alabama

Metro areas in Alabama

By field in Alabama

Without a degree

High paying production jobs in each state with no experience