Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Auburn-Opelika, AL

Each occupation's median wage in Auburn-Opelika, AL compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Auburn-Opelika, AL pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Auburn-Opelika, AL run 12.1% below the national average (2024), so a Auburn-Opelika, 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 Auburn-Opelika, AL

OccupationMedian, Auburn-Opelika, AL · vs. national

1Audio and Video Technicians$79,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$20,480 – $99,290+37.4%
2Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$128,090
Doctoral or professional degree
$76,660 – $155,290+32.1%
3Coaches and Scouts$59,550
Bachelor's degree
$21,730 – $225,290+25.8%
4Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary$98,250
Doctoral or professional degree
$49,160 – $166,710+22.3%
5Health Education Specialists$77,950
Bachelor's degree
$41,290 – $97,590+21.7%
6Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$75,910
Bachelor's degree
$46,010 – $82,850+18.9%
7Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$41,270
No formal educational credential
$24,210 – $48,010+12.5%
8Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$51,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,380 – $62,040+11.8%
9Physicians, All Other$293,630
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,730 – $428,790+10.4%
10Information and Record Clerks, All Other$54,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,880 – $65,300+10.3%
11Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$85,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,530 – $121,830+10.2%
12Chefs and Head Cooks$68,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,480 – $81,160+10.2%
13Emergency Medical Technicians$48,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,660 – $57,320+8.4%
14Education Teachers, Postsecondary$79,380
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,480 – $130,890+5.3%
15Surveying and Mapping Technicians$56,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,080 – $84,550+3.8%
16Self-Enrichment Teachers$48,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,850 – $59,170+2.8%
17Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$36,620
No formal educational credential
$24,660 – $40,570+2.7%
18First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$59,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,840 – $77,250+2.5%
19Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$51,570
Associate's degree
$32,310 – $68,310+1.9%
20Insurance Sales Agents$63,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,830 – $213,140+1.2%
21Library Technicians$44,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,980 – $56,190+0.9%
22Teachers and Instructors, All Other$66,300
Bachelor's degree
$29,720 – $94,000+0.2%
23Computer User Support Specialists$61,940
Some college, no degree
$39,760 – $98,130+0.1%
24First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$48,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,850 – $66,630-0.1%
25Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$49,620
No formal educational credential
$38,730 – $62,970-0.1%
26Logisticians$81,490
Bachelor's degree
$59,560 – $118,360-1.0%
27Business Teachers, Postsecondary$98,130
Doctoral or professional degree
$46,980 – $209,470-1.0%
28Civil Engineers$99,590
Bachelor's degree
$62,780 – $156,600-1.2%
29History Teachers, Postsecondary$82,570
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,980 – $98,360-1.5%
30Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$60,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,750 – $104,040-1.6%
31Education Administrators, All Other$93,520
Bachelor's degree
$39,780 – $124,530-1.8%
32Athletic Trainers$61,410
Master's degree
$38,430 – $85,950-1.8%
33Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$105,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,650 – $183,890-1.9%
34General and Operations Managers$103,380
Bachelor's degree
$50,050 – $228,160-2.3%
35Occupational Therapists$97,600
Master's degree
$77,970 – $124,800-2.7%
36Business Operations Specialists, All Other$80,790
Bachelor's degree
$46,320 – $118,870-2.7%
37Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$62,270
Master's degree
$44,610 – $77,050-3.2%
38Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$47,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,160 – $61,260-3.3%
39Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$48,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,820 – $92,600-3.3%
40Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$77,080
Doctoral or professional degree
$50,980 – $127,640-3.6%
41Medical Records Specialists$49,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,290 – $77,340-3.6%
42Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$37,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,390 – $57,720-3.6%
43Mechanical Engineers$100,230
Bachelor's degree
$63,820 – $165,090-3.7%
44Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$81,440
Doctoral or professional degree
$49,800 – $130,620-3.8%
45Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$36,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,430 – $46,290-4.7%
46Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$44,160
No formal educational credential
$30,410 – $63,270-4.9%
47Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$58,070
Bachelor's degree
$37,170 – $80,860-5.1%
48Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$103,580
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,930 – $164,210-5.2%
49Administrative Services Managers$108,110
Bachelor's degree
$46,810 – $154,990-5.3%
50Pharmacists$133,180
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,680 – $159,430-5.5%

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

#	Occupation	MedianAuburn-Opelika, AL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,810	$20,480 – $99,290	+37.4%
2	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$128,090	$76,660 – $155,290	+32.1%
3	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$59,550	$21,730 – $225,290	+25.8%
4	Psychology Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$98,250	$49,160 – $166,710	+22.3%
5	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$77,950	$41,290 – $97,590	+21.7%
6	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$75,910	$46,010 – $82,850	+18.9%
7	Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural AnimalsNo formal educational credential	$41,270	$24,210 – $48,010	+12.5%
8	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,830	$36,380 – $62,040	+11.8%
9	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$293,630	$61,730 – $428,790	+10.4%
10	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,580	$38,880 – $65,300	+10.3%
11	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,990	$60,530 – $121,830	+10.2%
12	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,830	$39,480 – $81,160	+10.2%
13	Emergency Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,210	$32,660 – $57,320	+8.4%
14	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$79,380	$51,480 – $130,890	+5.3%
15	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,320	$31,080 – $84,550	+3.8%
16	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,090	$21,850 – $59,170	+2.8%
17	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$36,620	$24,660 – $40,570	+2.7%
18	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,870	$36,840 – $77,250	+2.5%
19	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$51,570	$32,310 – $68,310	+1.9%
20	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,010	$36,830 – $213,140	+1.2%
21	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$44,960	$28,980 – $56,190	+0.9%
22	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$66,300	$29,720 – $94,000	+0.2%
23	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$61,940	$39,760 – $98,130	+0.1%
24	First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,510	$28,850 – $66,630	-0.1%
25	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$49,620	$38,730 – $62,970	-0.1%
26	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$81,490	$59,560 – $118,360	-1.0%
27	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$98,130	$46,980 – $209,470	-1.0%
28	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,590	$62,780 – $156,600	-1.2%
29	History Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$82,570	$60,980 – $98,360	-1.5%
30	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,570	$43,750 – $104,040	-1.6%
31	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$93,520	$39,780 – $124,530	-1.8%
32	Athletic TrainersMaster's degree	$61,410	$38,430 – $85,950	-1.8%
33	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,180	$63,650 – $183,890	-1.9%
34	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$103,380	$50,050 – $228,160	-2.3%
35	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$97,600	$77,970 – $124,800	-2.7%
36	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$80,790	$46,320 – $118,870	-2.7%
37	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$62,270	$44,610 – $77,050	-3.2%
38	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,600	$30,160 – $61,260	-3.3%
39	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,690	$36,820 – $92,600	-3.3%
40	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$77,080	$50,980 – $127,640	-3.6%
41	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,310	$32,290 – $77,340	-3.6%
42	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,980	$26,390 – $57,720	-3.6%
43	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$100,230	$63,820 – $165,090	-3.7%
44	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$81,440	$49,800 – $130,620	-3.8%
45	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,360	$26,430 – $46,290	-4.7%
46	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$44,160	$30,410 – $63,270	-4.9%
47	Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersBachelor's degree	$58,070	$37,170 – $80,860	-5.1%
48	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$103,580	$48,930 – $164,210	-5.2%
49	Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$108,110	$46,810 – $154,990	-5.3%
50	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$133,180	$63,680 – $159,430	-5.5%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Auburn-Opelika, AL

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