Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Huntsville, AL

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

Cost of living: prices in Huntsville, AL run 6.9% below the national average (2024), so a Huntsville, AL salary is worth about 1.07× 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 Huntsville, AL

OccupationMedian, Huntsville, AL · vs. national

1Business Operations Specialists, All Other$124,950
Bachelor's degree
$77,000 – $183,040+50.5%
2Operations Research Analysts$132,000
Bachelor's degree
$78,170 – $188,140+48.4%
3Logisticians$117,060
Bachelor's degree
$72,310 – $151,240+42.2%
4Physicians, All Other$357,010
Doctoral or professional degree
$151,230 – $418,070+34.2%
5General and Operations Managers$136,340
Bachelor's degree
$61,340 – $282,970+28.9%
6Financial Specialists, All Other$104,440
Bachelor's degree
$63,880 – $186,780+28.8%
7Engineers, All Other$155,630
Bachelor's degree
$93,890 – $195,190+26.6%
8Budget Analysts$113,400
Bachelor's degree
$76,420 – $148,950+23.7%
9Teachers and Instructors, All Other$80,950
Bachelor's degree
$31,730 – $118,620+22.4%
10Buyers and Purchasing Agents$94,990
Bachelor's degree
$57,700 – $149,070+22.2%
11Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$61,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,890 – $99,410+21.9%
12Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$126,550
Bachelor's degree
$62,400 – $203,240+20.6%
13Management Analysts$121,970
Bachelor's degree
$79,890 – $168,810+19.7%
14Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$92,390
Associate's degree
$51,290 – $128,150+17.9%
15Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$124,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,330 – $163,370+16.0%
16Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$78,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,830 – $78,920+15.8%
17Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$61,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,290 – $81,170+12.8%
18Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors$128,210
Bachelor's degree
$88,350 – $182,500+11.3%
19Chemists$101,500
Bachelor's degree
$62,200 – $167,630+11.2%
20Training and Development Specialists$76,360
Bachelor's degree
$41,590 – $129,390+10.2%
21Computer Programmers$110,110
Bachelor's degree
$70,700 – $164,950+9.7%
22Project Management Specialists$112,130
Bachelor's degree
$75,800 – $178,050+9.6%
23Mechanical Drafters$78,250
Associate's degree
$45,430 – $133,090+9.4%
24Managers, All Other$153,920
Bachelor's degree
$120,720 – $212,290+8.5%
25Industrial Production Managers$136,240
Bachelor's degree
$81,370 – $209,980+8.1%
26Electrical Engineers$130,330
Bachelor's degree
$85,420 – $208,130+8.0%
27Materials Engineers$120,720
Bachelor's degree
$81,430 – $177,720+7.0%
28Technical Writers$96,470
Bachelor's degree
$65,690 – $123,070+6.7%
29Machinists$62,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,920 – $85,460+6.4%
30Compliance Officers$84,990
Bachelor's degree
$49,550 – $142,670+5.3%
31Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$82,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,420 – $100,090+5.3%
32Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$94,570
Bachelor's degree
$57,640 – $139,530+4.9%
33Civil Engineers$105,760
Bachelor's degree
$76,110 – $207,990+4.9%
34Facilities Managers$111,730
Bachelor's degree
$72,770 – $165,540+4.8%
35Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$46,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,040 – $48,200+3.9%
36Environmental Engineers$111,270
Bachelor's degree
$73,760 – $160,270+3.9%
37Human Resources Specialists$78,780
Bachelor's degree
$47,880 – $132,570+3.7%
38Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$61,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,540 – $94,810+3.7%
39Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,470 – $55,850+3.6%
40Industrial Engineers$106,110
Bachelor's degree
$79,390 – $168,660+3.6%
41Computer Occupations, All Other$120,450
Bachelor's degree
$58,200 – $168,580+3.3%
42Automotive Body and Related Repairers$56,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,300 – $76,270+3.0%
43Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$51,090
No formal educational credential
$36,770 – $64,680+2.8%
44Insurance Sales Agents$63,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,360 – $157,440+2.5%
45Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$61,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,790 – $86,660+2.5%
46Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$133,330
Bachelor's degree
$81,970 – $195,190+2.4%
47Chefs and Head Cooks$64,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,120 – $86,290+2.4%
48Self-Enrichment Teachers$47,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,960 – $64,540+2.0%
49Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$66,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,940 – $78,370+1.8%
50Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$61,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,080 – $78,550+1.7%

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

#	Occupation	MedianHuntsville, AL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$124,950	$77,000 – $183,040	+50.5%
2	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$132,000	$78,170 – $188,140	+48.4%
3	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$117,060	$72,310 – $151,240	+42.2%
4	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$357,010	$151,230 – $418,070	+34.2%
5	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$136,340	$61,340 – $282,970	+28.9%
6	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$104,440	$63,880 – $186,780	+28.8%
7	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$155,630	$93,890 – $195,190	+26.6%
8	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$113,400	$76,420 – $148,950	+23.7%
9	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$80,950	$31,730 – $118,620	+22.4%
10	Buyers and Purchasing AgentsBachelor's degree	$94,990	$57,700 – $149,070	+22.2%
11	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,790	$40,890 – $99,410	+21.9%
12	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$126,550	$62,400 – $203,240	+20.6%
13	Management AnalystsBachelor's degree	$121,970	$79,890 – $168,810	+19.7%
14	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$92,390	$51,290 – $128,150	+17.9%
15	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$124,380	$82,330 – $163,370	+16.0%
16	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,910	$48,830 – $78,920	+15.8%
17	Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,390	$49,290 – $81,170	+12.8%
18	Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsBachelor's degree	$128,210	$88,350 – $182,500	+11.3%
19	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$101,500	$62,200 – $167,630	+11.2%
20	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$76,360	$41,590 – $129,390	+10.2%
21	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$110,110	$70,700 – $164,950	+9.7%
22	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$112,130	$75,800 – $178,050	+9.6%
23	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$78,250	$45,430 – $133,090	+9.4%
24	Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$153,920	$120,720 – $212,290	+8.5%
25	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$136,240	$81,370 – $209,980	+8.1%
26	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$130,330	$85,420 – $208,130	+8.0%
27	Materials EngineersBachelor's degree	$120,720	$81,430 – $177,720	+7.0%
28	Technical WritersBachelor's degree	$96,470	$65,690 – $123,070	+6.7%
29	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,490	$44,920 – $85,460	+6.4%
30	Compliance OfficersBachelor's degree	$84,990	$49,550 – $142,670	+5.3%
31	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,120	$44,420 – $100,090	+5.3%
32	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$94,570	$57,640 – $139,530	+4.9%
33	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$105,760	$76,110 – $207,990	+4.9%
34	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$111,730	$72,770 – $165,540	+4.8%
35	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,390	$32,040 – $48,200	+3.9%
36	Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree	$111,270	$73,760 – $160,270	+3.9%
37	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$78,780	$47,880 – $132,570	+3.7%
38	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,840	$45,540 – $94,810	+3.7%
39	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,000	$35,470 – $55,850	+3.6%
40	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$106,110	$79,390 – $168,660	+3.6%
41	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$120,450	$58,200 – $168,580	+3.3%
42	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,520	$32,300 – $76,270	+3.0%
43	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$51,090	$36,770 – $64,680	+2.8%
44	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,860	$40,360 – $157,440	+2.5%
45	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,550	$34,790 – $86,660	+2.5%
46	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$133,330	$81,970 – $195,190	+2.4%
47	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,000	$40,120 – $86,290	+2.4%
48	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,750	$26,960 – $64,540	+2.0%
49	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,660	$49,940 – $78,370	+1.8%
50	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,080	$39,080 – $78,550	+1.7%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Huntsville, AL

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