Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Montgomery, AL

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

Cost of living: prices in Montgomery, AL run 10.3% below the national average (2024), so a Montgomery, 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 Montgomery, AL

OccupationMedian, Montgomery, AL · vs. national

1Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$84,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,770 – $85,800+45.3%
2Instructional Coordinators$97,710
Master's degree
$53,320 – $112,400+26.2%
3Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$45,700
No formal educational credential
$26,980 – $52,970+24.6%
4Driver/Sales Workers$46,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,280 – $64,310+19.4%
5Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$57,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,740 – $62,650+19.2%
6Rehabilitation Counselors$55,050
Master's degree
$38,180 – $80,110+17.5%
7Financial Specialists, All Other$94,520
Bachelor's degree
$65,170 – $118,160+16.5%
8Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$44,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,970 – $53,590+12.2%
9Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$55,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,530 – $76,200+11.8%
10Financial Examiners$105,180
Bachelor's degree
$65,720 – $168,460+11.7%
11Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$70,790
Bachelor's degree
$62,160 – $76,650+8.7%
12First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$84,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,240 – $107,810+8.1%
13Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$49,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,500 – $63,270+8.0%
14Business Operations Specialists, All Other$89,320
Bachelor's degree
$54,950 – $126,440+7.5%
15Physicians, All Other$285,260
Doctoral or professional degree
$99,990 – $396,110+7.3%
16Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$48,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,000 – $64,440+6.2%
17Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,640 – $60,260+6.0%
18Automotive Body and Related Repairers$57,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,690 – $71,840+5.6%
19Power Plant Operators$107,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,440 – $125,070+4.9%
20Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$99,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,150 – $102,710+4.7%
21Information and Record Clerks, All Other$51,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,340 – $64,940+4.3%
22Bakers$38,720
No formal educational credential
$22,190 – $41,000+4.2%
23Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$52,430
Bachelor's degree
$28,560 – $73,320+3.0%
24First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,580 – $127,660+2.9%
25Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$64,140
Bachelor's degree
$38,880 – $116,170+2.8%
26Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,360+2.4%
27General and Operations Managers$107,980
Bachelor's degree
$56,990 – $230,590+2.1%
28Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$45,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,640 – $63,130+1.6%
29Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$75,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,340 – $93,290+1.5%
30Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$108,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,100 – $171,860+1.4%
31Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$80,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,220 – $92,050+1.2%
32Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$49,610
No formal educational credential
$36,190 – $57,970+1.0%
33Teachers and Instructors, All Other$66,520
Bachelor's degree
$37,570 – $98,710+0.6%
34Massage Therapists$58,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$23,170 – $102,700+0.5%
35Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$47,440 – $75,0300.0%
36Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,460 – $81,060-0.3%
37Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,010
No formal educational credential
$25,130 – $44,350-0.7%
38Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$47,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,200 – $68,220-1.0%
39Helpers--Production Workers$38,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,770 – $44,120-1.1%
40Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,400 – $57,420-1.6%
41Chefs and Head Cooks$61,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,840 – $82,010-1.8%
42Manicurists and Pedicurists$35,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$22,140 – $57,990-2.0%
43Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$62,520
Bachelor's degree
$49,340 – $94,850-2.0%
44Archivists$63,130
Master's degree
$46,660 – $97,470-2.2%
45Paramedics$59,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,280 – $59,760-2.5%
46Computer Programmers$97,710
Bachelor's degree
$55,360 – $125,290-2.7%
47Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,370 – $79,550-2.8%
48Pharmacists$136,620
Doctoral or professional degree
$104,000 – $173,380-3.0%
49Editors$75,520
Bachelor's degree
$37,650 – $137,670-3.1%
50Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$48,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,750 – $66,550-3.1%

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

#	Occupation	MedianMontgomery, AL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,360	$44,770 – $85,800	+45.3%
2	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$97,710	$53,320 – $112,400	+26.2%
3	Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural AnimalsNo formal educational credential	$45,700	$26,980 – $52,970	+24.6%
4	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,300	$25,280 – $64,310	+19.4%
5	Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,240	$36,740 – $62,650	+19.2%
6	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$55,050	$38,180 – $80,110	+17.5%
7	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$94,520	$65,170 – $118,160	+16.5%
8	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,180	$29,970 – $53,590	+12.2%
9	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,060	$35,530 – $76,200	+11.8%
10	Financial ExaminersBachelor's degree	$105,180	$65,720 – $168,460	+11.7%
11	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$70,790	$62,160 – $76,650	+8.7%
12	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,270	$69,240 – $107,810	+8.1%
13	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,310	$36,500 – $63,270	+8.0%
14	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$89,320	$54,950 – $126,440	+7.5%
15	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$285,260	$99,990 – $396,110	+7.3%
16	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,680	$35,000 – $64,440	+6.2%
17	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,990	$31,640 – $60,260	+6.0%
18	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,990	$30,690 – $71,840	+5.6%
19	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,080	$62,440 – $125,070	+4.9%
20	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,800	$44,150 – $102,710	+4.7%
21	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,630	$42,340 – $64,940	+4.3%
22	BakersNo formal educational credential	$38,720	$22,190 – $41,000	+4.2%
23	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$52,430	$28,560 – $73,320	+3.0%
24	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,610	$46,580 – $127,660	+2.9%
25	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentsBachelor's degree	$64,140	$38,880 – $116,170	+2.8%
26	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$42,600 – $76,360	+2.4%
27	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$107,980	$56,990 – $230,590	+2.1%
28	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,380	$26,640 – $63,130	+1.6%
29	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,230	$43,340 – $93,290	+1.5%
30	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,760	$58,100 – $171,860	+1.4%
31	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,810	$48,220 – $92,050	+1.2%
32	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$49,610	$36,190 – $57,970	+1.0%
33	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$66,520	$37,570 – $98,710	+0.6%
34	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,750	$23,170 – $102,700	+0.5%
35	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$47,440 – $75,030	0.0%
36	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,120	$36,460 – $81,060	-0.3%
37	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$36,010	$25,130 – $44,350	-0.7%
38	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,940	$28,200 – $68,220	-1.0%
39	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,630	$29,770 – $44,120	-1.1%
40	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,190	$34,400 – $57,420	-1.6%
41	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,330	$40,840 – $82,010	-1.8%
42	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$35,060	$22,140 – $57,990	-2.0%
43	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$62,520	$49,340 – $94,850	-2.0%
44	ArchivistsMaster's degree	$63,130	$46,660 – $97,470	-2.2%
45	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,090	$39,280 – $59,760	-2.5%
46	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$97,710	$55,360 – $125,290	-2.7%
47	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,700	$40,370 – $79,550	-2.8%
48	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$136,620	$104,000 – $173,380	-3.0%
49	EditorsBachelor's degree	$75,520	$37,650 – $137,670	-3.1%
50	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,790	$31,750 – $66,550	-3.1%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Montgomery, AL

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