Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Gadsden, AL

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

Cost of living: prices in Gadsden, AL run 14.3% below the national average (2024), so a Gadsden, AL salary is worth about 1.17× 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 Gadsden, AL

OccupationMedian, Gadsden, AL · vs. national

1Physical Therapists$106,720
Doctoral or professional degree
$76,530 – $143,390+3.9%
2Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$36,100
No formal educational credential
$23,150 – $38,150+0.8%
3Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$54,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,450 – $64,140-0.3%
4Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$57,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,400 – $78,190-4.6%
5Physical Therapist Assistants$65,060
Associate's degree
$55,640 – $79,600-4.9%
6Insurance Sales Agents$59,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,770 – $141,880-5.1%
7Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$54,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,350 – $73,290-7.2%
8Postal Service Mail Carriers$55,930
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040-7.6%
9Industrial Machinery Mechanics$59,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,990 – $81,740-8.0%
10Social and Community Service Managers$73,920
Bachelor's degree
$43,210 – $125,290-8.0%
11Pharmacists$129,090
Doctoral or professional degree
$82,310 – $155,250-8.4%
12Industrial Production Managers$115,430
Bachelor's degree
$64,620 – $163,570-8.4%
13First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$57,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,770 – $80,120-8.8%
14Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$57,380
Bachelor's degree
$35,670 – $71,570-10.1%
15Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$61,330
Master's degree
$34,190 – $71,140-10.2%
16Helpers--Production Workers$34,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,800 – $36,190-11.1%
17Food Processing Workers, All Other$35,140
No formal educational credential
$35,140 – $37,860-11.4%
18Tire Repairers and Changers$33,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,800 – $39,070-11.7%
19Cost Estimators$69,430
Bachelor's degree
$42,710 – $99,090-11.8%
20Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$43,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,280 – $61,940-12.5%
21Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$56,140
Master's degree
$37,080 – $75,260-12.7%
22Butchers and Meat Cutters$35,040
No formal educational credential
$26,970 – $47,100-12.7%
23Occupational Therapists$87,620
Master's degree
$72,820 – $109,650-12.7%
24Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$92,140
Master's degree
$74,830 – $108,540-13.0%
25Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$56,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,100 – $60,790-13.0%
26Compliance Officers$69,990
Bachelor's degree
$38,500 – $125,320-13.3%
27Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$38,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,880 – $45,200-13.4%
28Child, Family, and School Social Workers$51,490
Bachelor's degree
$36,610 – $82,180-13.5%
29General and Operations Managers$91,470
Bachelor's degree
$46,750 – $196,970-13.5%
30Healthcare Social Workers$58,190
Master's degree
$37,840 – $74,990-14.3%
31Food Service Managers$59,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,870 – $98,790-14.6%
32Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$36,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,370 – $42,940-15.2%
33Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,010 – $97,470-15.4%
34Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$76,270
Bachelor's degree
$44,930 – $124,560-15.4%
35Stockers and Order Fillers$31,270
No formal educational credential
$27,250 – $41,980-16.2%
36Cooks, Fast Food$25,900
No formal educational credential
$21,720 – $34,800-16.2%
37Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$42,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,510 – $77,120-16.6%
38Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$38,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,120 – $48,860-17.1%
39Phlebotomists$37,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,930 – $44,830-17.1%
40First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$61,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,180 – $100,350-17.4%
41Machinists$48,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,280 – $70,920-17.7%
42Speech-Language Pathologists$80,070
Master's degree
$58,860 – $112,970-18.2%
43Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$58,960
Bachelor's degree
$43,930 – $72,390-18.2%
44Tellers$35,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,030 – $42,640-18.3%
45Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$38,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,840 – $57,910-18.3%
46Automotive Body and Related Repairers$44,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,070 – $61,410-18.5%
47Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$49,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,360 – $71,100-19.2%
48Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$40,810
Some college, no degree
$28,760 – $57,510-19.5%
49Packers and Packagers, Hand$29,190
No formal educational credential
$22,110 – $37,300-19.5%
50Pharmacy Technicians$36,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,150 – $47,980-19.6%

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

#	Occupation	MedianGadsden, AL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$106,720	$76,530 – $143,390	+3.9%
2	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$36,100	$23,150 – $38,150	+0.8%
3	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,040	$44,450 – $64,140	-0.3%
4	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,280	$38,400 – $78,190	-4.6%
5	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$65,060	$55,640 – $79,600	-4.9%
6	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,120	$32,770 – $141,880	-5.1%
7	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,410	$37,350 – $73,290	-7.2%
8	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$55,930	$42,390 – $81,040	-7.6%
9	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,330	$36,990 – $81,740	-8.0%
10	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$73,920	$43,210 – $125,290	-8.0%
11	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$129,090	$82,310 – $155,250	-8.4%
12	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$115,430	$64,620 – $163,570	-8.4%
13	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,340	$32,770 – $80,120	-8.8%
14	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$57,380	$35,670 – $71,570	-10.1%
15	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$61,330	$34,190 – $71,140	-10.2%
16	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,720	$23,800 – $36,190	-11.1%
17	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$35,140	$35,140 – $37,860	-11.4%
18	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,280	$22,800 – $39,070	-11.7%
19	Cost EstimatorsBachelor's degree	$69,430	$42,710 – $99,090	-11.8%
20	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,410	$28,280 – $61,940	-12.5%
21	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$56,140	$37,080 – $75,260	-12.7%
22	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$35,040	$26,970 – $47,100	-12.7%
23	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$87,620	$72,820 – $109,650	-12.7%
24	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$92,140	$74,830 – $108,540	-13.0%
25	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,040	$42,100 – $60,790	-13.0%
26	Compliance OfficersBachelor's degree	$69,990	$38,500 – $125,320	-13.3%
27	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,420	$29,880 – $45,200	-13.4%
28	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$51,490	$36,610 – $82,180	-13.5%
29	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$91,470	$46,750 – $196,970	-13.5%
30	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$58,190	$37,840 – $74,990	-14.3%
31	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,270	$39,870 – $98,790	-14.6%
32	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,650	$27,370 – $42,940	-15.2%
33	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,000	$36,010 – $97,470	-15.4%
34	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$76,270	$44,930 – $124,560	-15.4%
35	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$31,270	$27,250 – $41,980	-16.2%
36	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$25,900	$21,720 – $34,800	-16.2%
37	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$42,200	$29,510 – $77,120	-16.6%
38	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,420	$29,120 – $48,860	-17.1%
39	PhlebotomistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,500	$28,930 – $44,830	-17.1%
40	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,460	$32,180 – $100,350	-17.4%
41	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,370	$35,280 – $70,920	-17.7%
42	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$80,070	$58,860 – $112,970	-18.2%
43	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$58,960	$43,930 – $72,390	-18.2%
44	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,150	$29,030 – $42,640	-18.3%
45	Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,860	$27,840 – $57,910	-18.3%
46	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,760	$31,070 – $61,410	-18.5%
47	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,300	$34,360 – $71,100	-19.2%
48	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$40,810	$28,760 – $57,510	-19.5%
49	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$29,190	$22,110 – $37,300	-19.5%
50	Pharmacy TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,800	$31,150 – $47,980	-19.6%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Gadsden, AL

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