Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Tuscaloosa, AL

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

Cost of living: prices in Tuscaloosa, AL run 12.3% below the national average (2024), so a Tuscaloosa, 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 Tuscaloosa, AL

OccupationMedian, Tuscaloosa, AL · vs. national

1Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$82,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,670 – $82,250+71.6%
2Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$61,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,570 – $73,650+42.7%
3Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$48,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,570 – $58,610+24.2%
4Facilities Managers$129,880
Bachelor's degree
$80,230 – $201,390+21.8%
5Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$53,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,470 – $70,970+18.8%
6Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$70,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,310 – $86,990+18.4%
7Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$57,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,360 – $63,080+17.3%
8Real Estate Sales Agents$61,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,410 – $107,410+16.9%
9Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$125,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,460 – $215,330+16.7%
10Lodging Managers$80,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,090 – $105,610+15.9%
11Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$89,610
Associate's degree
$49,550 – $103,090+14.6%
12Bakers$42,580
No formal educational credential
$28,590 – $46,000+14.6%
13Information and Record Clerks, All Other$55,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,910 – $72,650+12.1%
14Mechanical Engineers$110,520
Bachelor's degree
$73,730 – $165,930+6.2%
15Automotive Body and Related Repairers$58,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,360 – $86,940+6.1%
16Chefs and Head Cooks$65,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,830 – $89,710+5.5%
17First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$61,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,000 – $103,990+3.7%
18Logisticians$85,260
Bachelor's degree
$59,900 – $105,780+3.6%
19Physical Therapists$106,450
Doctoral or professional degree
$75,160 – $139,050+3.6%
20Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$47,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,930 – $74,830+3.5%
21Industrial Engineers$104,840
Bachelor's degree
$78,230 – $130,100+2.3%
22Business Teachers, Postsecondary$100,530
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,190 – $207,160+1.5%
23Education Administrators, All Other$96,040
Bachelor's degree
$45,170 – $126,400+0.9%
24First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,990 – $108,990+0.7%
25Occupational Therapists$100,760
Master's degree
$72,080 – $116,830+0.4%
26Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$48,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,860 – $83,470+0.1%
27Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$95,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,660 – $102,1600.0%
28Insurance Sales Agents$62,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,110 – $211,100-0.1%
29Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$49,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,610 – $76,300-0.4%
30Surveying and Mapping Technicians$53,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,870 – $73,200-0.7%
31Computer Occupations, All Other$115,750
Bachelor's degree
$57,520 – $154,320-0.7%
32Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$50,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,560 – $77,600-0.8%
33Firefighters$58,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,530 – $87,400-1.5%
34Postal Service Clerks$61,050
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030-1.7%
35Industrial Production Managers$123,390
Bachelor's degree
$81,760 – $197,150-2.1%
36Chemical Technicians$59,060
Associate's degree
$44,980 – $76,200-2.2%
37Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,990 – $84,910-2.4%
38Management Analysts$99,190
Bachelor's degree
$61,710 – $131,270-2.6%
39Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$49,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,800 – $59,240-2.7%
40Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$52,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,620 – $75,920-2.9%
41Postal Service Mail Carriers$58,690
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040-3.1%
42Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$47,920
No formal educational credential
$27,380 – $60,530-3.6%
43Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,960 – $78,260-3.8%
44Driver/Sales Workers$37,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,310 – $59,110-4.1%
45Business Operations Specialists, All Other$79,640
Bachelor's degree
$46,840 – $120,050-4.1%
46Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$74,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,470 – $97,070-4.3%
47General and Operations Managers$101,210
Bachelor's degree
$52,120 – $222,160-4.3%
48Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$80,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$49,140 – $160,530-4.4%
49Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$62,230
Bachelor's degree
$49,290 – $73,700-4.4%
50Electrical Engineers$114,980
Bachelor's degree
$82,300 – $157,990-4.7%

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

#	Occupation	MedianTuscaloosa, AL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,250	$34,670 – $82,250	+71.6%
2	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,680	$29,570 – $73,650	+42.7%
3	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,940	$29,570 – $58,610	+24.2%
4	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$129,880	$80,230 – $201,390	+21.8%
5	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,050	$39,470 – $70,970	+18.8%
6	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,610	$40,310 – $86,990	+18.4%
7	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,460	$37,360 – $63,080	+17.3%
8	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,770	$35,410 – $107,410	+16.9%
9	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$125,100	$66,460 – $215,330	+16.7%
10	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,240	$46,090 – $105,610	+15.9%
11	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$89,610	$49,550 – $103,090	+14.6%
12	BakersNo formal educational credential	$42,580	$28,590 – $46,000	+14.6%
13	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,490	$44,910 – $72,650	+12.1%
14	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$110,520	$73,730 – $165,930	+6.2%
15	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,240	$36,360 – $86,940	+6.1%
16	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,900	$37,830 – $89,710	+5.5%
17	First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,500	$44,000 – $103,990	+3.7%
18	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$85,260	$59,900 – $105,780	+3.6%
19	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$106,450	$75,160 – $139,050	+3.6%
20	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,770	$30,930 – $74,830	+3.5%
21	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$104,840	$78,230 – $130,100	+2.3%
22	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$100,530	$62,190 – $207,160	+1.5%
23	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$96,040	$45,170 – $126,400	+0.9%
24	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,940	$46,990 – $108,990	+0.7%
25	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$100,760	$72,080 – $116,830	+0.4%
26	Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,110	$37,860 – $83,470	+0.1%
27	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,290	$46,660 – $102,160	0.0%
28	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,230	$40,110 – $211,100	-0.1%
29	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,040	$35,610 – $76,300	-0.4%
30	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,850	$26,870 – $73,200	-0.7%
31	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$115,750	$57,520 – $154,320	-0.7%
32	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,300	$42,560 – $77,600	-0.8%
33	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,400	$36,530 – $87,400	-1.5%
34	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,050	$42,600 – $75,030	-1.7%
35	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$123,390	$81,760 – $197,150	-2.1%
36	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,060	$44,980 – $76,200	-2.2%
37	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,990	$44,990 – $84,910	-2.4%
38	Management AnalystsBachelor's degree	$99,190	$61,710 – $131,270	-2.6%
39	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,920	$40,800 – $59,240	-2.7%
40	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,180	$37,620 – $75,920	-2.9%
41	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$58,690	$42,390 – $81,040	-3.1%
42	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$47,920	$27,380 – $60,530	-3.6%
43	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,030	$45,960 – $78,260	-3.8%
44	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,170	$25,310 – $59,110	-4.1%
45	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$79,640	$46,840 – $120,050	-4.1%
46	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,670	$52,470 – $97,070	-4.3%
47	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$101,210	$52,120 – $222,160	-4.3%
48	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$80,860	$49,140 – $160,530	-4.4%
49	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$62,230	$49,290 – $73,700	-4.4%
50	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$114,980	$82,300 – $157,990	-4.7%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Tuscaloosa, AL

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