Jobs that actually got a raise in Alabama

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 high paying jobs in Alabama

OccupationMedian, Alabama · Real change since 2019

1Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$54,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,130 – $79,780+33.3%+67.9% nominal
2Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$53,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,170 – $78,370+29.3%+62.8% nominal
3Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers$60,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,310 – $70,340+29.1%+62.6% nominal
4Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,540 – $66,680+27.7%+60.8% nominal
5Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$35,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,970 – $43,360+25.7%+58.3% nominal
6Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$46,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,800 – $60,120+24.1%+56.3% nominal
7Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$33,870
No formal educational credential
$27,520 – $41,090+22.6%+54.4% nominal
8Parking Attendants$30,350
No formal educational credential
$18,480 – $35,250+22.2%+53.8% nominal
9Cooks, Fast Food$27,870
No formal educational credential
$22,640 – $34,170+21.1%+52.5% nominal
10Couriers and Messengers$34,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,020 – $45,230+20.9%+52.3% nominal
11Power Plant Operators$107,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,250 – $123,520+20.9%+52.3% nominal
12Helpers--Production Workers$35,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,060 – $45,840+19.7%+50.7% nominal
13Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$28,130
No formal educational credential
$20,560 – $33,770+18.9%+49.7% nominal
14Psychiatric Technicians$36,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$23,330 – $45,870+18.5%+49.2% nominal
15Logging Equipment Operators$47,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,180 – $65,560+18.3%+48.9% nominal
16Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$46,240
No formal educational credential
$29,500 – $61,000+18.1%+48.7% nominal
17Bartenders$27,980
No formal educational credential
$17,260 – $55,500+16.8%+47.0% nominal
18Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$57,030
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,880 – $69,120+15.9%+46.0% nominal
19Information Security Analysts$122,730
Bachelor's degree
$66,090 – $170,690+15.7%+45.7% nominal
20Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$42,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,370 – $59,720+15.6%+45.6% nominal
21Food Preparation Workers$27,930
No formal educational credential
$20,820 – $37,580+15.6%+45.5% nominal
22Dishwashers$28,930
No formal educational credential
$21,810 – $35,840+15.6%+45.6% nominal
23Home Health and Personal Care Aides$27,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,470 – $35,900+15.4%+45.4% nominal
24Waiters and Waitresses$26,840
No formal educational credential
$16,550 – $36,090+15.1%+44.9% nominal
25Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$118,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,710 – $198,970+15.1%+44.9% nominal
26Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$36,670
No formal educational credential
$26,850 – $47,910+15.0%+44.8% nominal
27Nursing Assistants$34,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,330 – $38,680+14.3%+44.0% nominal
28Telemarketers$34,840
No formal educational credential
$29,740 – $35,460+13.6%+43.1% nominal
29Animal Caretakers$28,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,740 – $45,860+13.0%+42.3% nominal
30Food Batchmakers$36,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,110 – $49,740+12.6%+41.8% nominal
31Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$28,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,270 – $35,150+12.4%+41.6% nominal
32Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$25,340
Bachelor's degree
$18,170 – $30,020+11.7%+40.7% nominal
33Transportation Inspectors$108,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,150 – $112,530+11.7%+40.7% nominal
34Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$60,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,320 – $90,530+11.7%+40.6% nominal
35Foundry Mold and Coremakers$51,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,180 – $55,340+11.5%+40.4% nominal
36Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$29,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$21,300 – $56,700+10.8%+39.5% nominal
37Counter and Rental Clerks$35,170
No formal educational credential
$23,590 – $48,750+10.8%+39.6% nominal
38Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$29,000
No formal educational credential
$23,080 – $35,770+10.1%+38.7% nominal
39Cashiers$28,250
No formal educational credential
$21,300 – $34,950+10.0%+38.5% nominal
40Surveyors$66,840
Bachelor's degree
$38,520 – $112,580+9.9%+38.4% nominal
41Stockers and Order Fillers$34,290
No formal educational credential
$27,750 – $47,420+9.7%+38.2% nominal
42Sewing Machine Operators$30,830
No formal educational credential
$23,830 – $41,330+9.6%+38.0% nominal
43Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$80,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,430 – $94,120+9.2%+37.5% nominal
44Cooks, Restaurant$32,180
No formal educational credential
$24,170 – $39,220+9.2%+37.5% nominal
45Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,480
No formal educational credential
$22,340 – $34,680+9.0%+37.3% nominal
46Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$40,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,100 – $50,850+8.9%+37.2% nominal
47Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$37,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,080 – $47,650+8.8%+37.0% nominal
48Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$26,130
No formal educational credential
$21,230 – $34,400+8.8%+37.0% nominal
49Security Guards$33,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,110 – $45,640+8.4%+36.5% nominal
50Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$27,120
No formal educational credential
$20,040 – $37,960+8.4%+36.5% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,260	$36,130 – $79,780	+33.3%+67.9% nominal
2	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,380	$39,170 – $78,370	+29.3%+62.8% nominal
3	Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,100	$38,310 – $70,340	+29.1%+62.6% nominal
4	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,690	$31,540 – $66,680	+27.7%+60.8% nominal
5	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,800	$27,970 – $43,360	+25.7%+58.3% nominal
6	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,010	$31,800 – $60,120	+24.1%+56.3% nominal
7	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$33,870	$27,520 – $41,090	+22.6%+54.4% nominal
8	Parking AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$30,350	$18,480 – $35,250	+22.2%+53.8% nominal
9	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$27,870	$22,640 – $34,170	+21.1%+52.5% nominal
10	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,820	$27,020 – $45,230	+20.9%+52.3% nominal
11	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,080	$76,250 – $123,520	+20.9%+52.3% nominal
12	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,910	$27,060 – $45,840	+19.7%+50.7% nominal
13	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$28,130	$20,560 – $33,770	+18.9%+49.7% nominal
14	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$36,680	$23,330 – $45,870	+18.5%+49.2% nominal
15	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,810	$29,180 – $65,560	+18.3%+48.9% nominal
16	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$46,240	$29,500 – $61,000	+18.1%+48.7% nominal
17	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$27,980	$17,260 – $55,500	+16.8%+47.0% nominal
18	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,030	$39,880 – $69,120	+15.9%+46.0% nominal
19	Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree	$122,730	$66,090 – $170,690	+15.7%+45.7% nominal
20	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,840	$29,370 – $59,720	+15.6%+45.6% nominal
21	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$27,930	$20,820 – $37,580	+15.6%+45.5% nominal
22	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$28,930	$21,810 – $35,840	+15.6%+45.6% nominal
23	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$27,840	$22,470 – $35,900	+15.4%+45.4% nominal
24	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$26,840	$16,550 – $36,090	+15.1%+44.9% nominal
25	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$118,320	$63,710 – $198,970	+15.1%+44.9% nominal
26	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$36,670	$26,850 – $47,910	+15.0%+44.8% nominal
27	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$34,140	$28,330 – $38,680	+14.3%+44.0% nominal
28	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$34,840	$29,740 – $35,460	+13.6%+43.1% nominal
29	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$28,330	$21,740 – $45,860	+13.0%+42.3% nominal
30	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,980	$29,110 – $49,740	+12.6%+41.8% nominal
31	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$28,050	$22,270 – $35,150	+12.4%+41.6% nominal
32	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$25,340	$18,170 – $30,020	+11.7%+40.7% nominal
33	Transportation InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,140	$69,150 – $112,530	+11.7%+40.7% nominal
34	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,890	$46,320 – $90,530	+11.7%+40.6% nominal
35	Foundry Mold and CoremakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,040	$37,180 – $55,340	+11.5%+40.4% nominal
36	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$29,150	$21,300 – $56,700	+10.8%+39.5% nominal
37	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$35,170	$23,590 – $48,750	+10.8%+39.6% nominal
38	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$29,000	$23,080 – $35,770	+10.1%+38.7% nominal
39	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$28,250	$21,300 – $34,950	+10.0%+38.5% nominal
40	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$66,840	$38,520 – $112,580	+9.9%+38.4% nominal
41	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$34,290	$27,750 – $47,420	+9.7%+38.2% nominal
42	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$30,830	$23,830 – $41,330	+9.6%+38.0% nominal
43	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,330	$38,430 – $94,120	+9.2%+37.5% nominal
44	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$32,180	$24,170 – $39,220	+9.2%+37.5% nominal
45	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$27,480	$22,340 – $34,680	+9.0%+37.3% nominal
46	Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,210	$34,100 – $50,850	+8.9%+37.2% nominal
47	Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,440	$27,080 – $47,650	+8.8%+37.0% nominal
48	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$26,130	$21,230 – $34,400	+8.8%+37.0% nominal
49	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,720	$23,110 – $45,640	+8.4%+36.5% nominal
50	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$27,120	$20,040 – $37,960	+8.4%+36.5% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Alabama

More for Alabama

Metro areas in Alabama

By field in Alabama

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state