Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Columbus, GA-AL

Each occupation's median wage in Columbus, GA-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 Columbus, GA-AL pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Columbus, GA-AL run 10.7% below the national average (2024), so a Columbus, GA-AL salary is worth about 1.12× 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 Columbus, GA-AL

OccupationMedian, Columbus, GA-AL · vs. national

1Social Workers, All Other$96,820
Bachelor's degree
$43,170 – $118,710+34.7%
2Counselors, All Other$65,540
Master's degree
$49,010 – $88,970+28.9%
3Facilities Managers$125,530
Bachelor's degree
$68,750 – $178,570+17.7%
4Information and Record Clerks, All Other$58,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,050 – $65,150+17.4%
5Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$42,890
No formal educational credential
$26,840 – $42,890+15.0%
6Dentists, General$196,310
Doctoral or professional degree
$124,470 – $359,740+14.8%
7Database Administrators$119,740
Bachelor's degree
$55,980 – $153,160+14.5%
8Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$55,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,590 – $68,680+14.5%
9Instructional Coordinators$88,610
Master's degree
$59,630 – $124,910+14.4%
10Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$55,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,380 – $78,820+14.1%
11Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$92,170
Bachelor's degree
$55,250 – $121,630+12.1%
12Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$53,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,530 – $65,030+8.0%
13Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$79,770
Associate's degree
$41,040 – $100,420+7.3%
14Procurement Clerks$54,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,860 – $63,400+6.8%
15Education Administrators, All Other$101,230
Bachelor's degree
$71,560 – $132,910+6.3%
16Insurance Sales Agents$65,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,890 – $153,280+5.5%
17Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$71,690
Master's degree
$44,520 – $96,360+5.0%
18Transportation Workers, All Other$47,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,280 – $55,340+3.4%
19Medical Records Specialists$52,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,060 – $75,390+2.8%
20Industrial Production Managers$128,520
Bachelor's degree
$79,040 – $187,700+2.0%
21Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$64,580
Bachelor's degree
$40,620 – $85,000+1.2%
22Driver/Sales Workers$39,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$19,990 – $56,790+0.7%
23Chefs and Head Cooks$62,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,960 – $95,050+0.7%
24Production Workers, All Other$40,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,630 – $80,790-0.1%
25Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$106,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,590 – $176,630-0.5%
26Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$62,180
Bachelor's degree
$44,550 – $76,250-0.8%
27Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,900 – $101,210-0.9%
28Food Processing Workers, All Other$39,190
No formal educational credential
$28,680 – $47,650-1.2%
29Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$102,890
Bachelor's degree
$77,760 – $132,440-1.4%
30Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$88,610
Bachelor's degree
$42,910 – $116,320-1.7%
31Logisticians$80,790
Bachelor's degree
$42,610 – $121,830-1.9%
32Personal Financial Advisors$102,820
Bachelor's degree
$47,950 – $435,050-2.1%
33Computer Systems Analysts$103,410
Bachelor's degree
$71,220 – $140,680-2.3%
34First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$72,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,620 – $121,410-2.5%
35Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$49,110
Associate's degree
$37,290 – $61,800-3.0%
36Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$44,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,340 – $90,480-3.2%
37Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$97,270
Doctoral or professional degree
$71,620 – $128,670-3.3%
38Industrial Engineers$98,970
Bachelor's degree
$75,990 – $133,500-3.4%
39Engineers, All Other$118,770
Bachelor's degree
$60,170 – $158,160-3.4%
40Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$48,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,420 – $76,200-3.5%
41Education Administrators, Postsecondary$100,980
Master's degree
$57,160 – $131,860-3.5%
42Project Management Specialists$98,470
Bachelor's degree
$52,810 – $150,290-3.8%
43Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$61,360
Bachelor's degree
$47,930 – $77,070-4.1%
44Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$95,140
Bachelor's degree
$65,710 – $165,570-4.2%
45Machine Feeders and Offbearers$39,450
No formal educational credential
$29,270 – $46,320-4.3%
46Physical Therapists$98,300
Doctoral or professional degree
$73,340 – $127,460-4.3%
47Speech-Language Pathologists$93,540
Master's degree
$57,350 – $120,540-4.4%
48Postal Service Clerks$59,190
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030-4.7%
49Computer and Information Systems Managers$166,750
Bachelor's degree
$105,680 – $216,480-4.8%
50Architectural and Engineering Managers$162,450
Bachelor's degree
$106,900 – $203,390-5.1%

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

#	Occupation	MedianColumbus, GA-AL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$96,820	$43,170 – $118,710	+34.7%
2	Counselors, All OtherMaster's degree	$65,540	$49,010 – $88,970	+28.9%
3	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$125,530	$68,750 – $178,570	+17.7%
4	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,120	$44,050 – $65,150	+17.4%
5	Shuttle Drivers and ChauffeursNo formal educational credential	$42,890	$26,840 – $42,890	+15.0%
6	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$196,310	$124,470 – $359,740	+14.8%
7	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$119,740	$55,980 – $153,160	+14.5%
8	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,430	$35,590 – $68,680	+14.5%
9	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$88,610	$59,630 – $124,910	+14.4%
10	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,430	$34,380 – $78,820	+14.1%
11	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$92,170	$55,250 – $121,630	+12.1%
12	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,180	$34,530 – $65,030	+8.0%
13	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,770	$41,040 – $100,420	+7.3%
14	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,020	$36,860 – $63,400	+6.8%
15	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$101,230	$71,560 – $132,910	+6.3%
16	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,680	$39,890 – $153,280	+5.5%
17	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$71,690	$44,520 – $96,360	+5.0%
18	Transportation Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,180	$33,280 – $55,340	+3.4%
19	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,580	$36,060 – $75,390	+2.8%
20	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$128,520	$79,040 – $187,700	+2.0%
21	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$64,580	$40,620 – $85,000	+1.2%
22	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,050	$19,990 – $56,790	+0.7%
23	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,920	$37,960 – $95,050	+0.7%
24	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,080	$26,630 – $80,790	-0.1%
25	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,740	$65,590 – $176,630	-0.5%
26	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$62,180	$44,550 – $76,250	-0.8%
27	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,960	$45,900 – $101,210	-0.9%
28	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$39,190	$28,680 – $47,650	-1.2%
29	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$102,890	$77,760 – $132,440	-1.4%
30	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$88,610	$42,910 – $116,320	-1.7%
31	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$80,790	$42,610 – $121,830	-1.9%
32	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$102,820	$47,950 – $435,050	-2.1%
33	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$103,410	$71,220 – $140,680	-2.3%
34	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,580	$40,620 – $121,410	-2.5%
35	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$49,110	$37,290 – $61,800	-3.0%
36	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,210	$26,340 – $90,480	-3.2%
37	Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$97,270	$71,620 – $128,670	-3.3%
38	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$98,970	$75,990 – $133,500	-3.4%
39	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$118,770	$60,170 – $158,160	-3.4%
40	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,830	$30,420 – $76,200	-3.5%
41	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$100,980	$57,160 – $131,860	-3.5%
42	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$98,470	$52,810 – $150,290	-3.8%
43	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$61,360	$47,930 – $77,070	-4.1%
44	Architects, Except Landscape and NavalBachelor's degree	$95,140	$65,710 – $165,570	-4.2%
45	Machine Feeders and OffbearersNo formal educational credential	$39,450	$29,270 – $46,320	-4.3%
46	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$98,300	$73,340 – $127,460	-4.3%
47	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$93,540	$57,350 – $120,540	-4.4%
48	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,190	$42,600 – $75,030	-4.7%
49	Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree	$166,750	$105,680 – $216,480	-4.8%
50	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$162,450	$106,900 – $203,390	-5.1%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Columbus, GA-AL

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