Highest-Paying Jobs Without a College Degree in Birmingham, Alabama (2025 BLS Data)
- The median wage for all jobs in Birmingham, Alabama was $47,770 in May 2025, below the U.S. median of $50,980.
- The best-paid job here that typically needs only a high school diploma or less was electrical power-line installers and repairers, at a median of $102,470.
- Short training programs and associate’s degrees open another tier, led by first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers at $83,030.
You don’t need a four-year degree to earn well in Birmingham, Alabama. Using the federal government’s most recent occupational wage survey (BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Birmingham, AL)) and the education level BLS lists as typical for entry into each job (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35), here are the best-paying jobs in the metro area that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. Birmingham, AL had about 520,290 wage and salary jobs in the survey.
Top-paying jobs that need a high school diploma or less
Jobs with at least 300 positions in the metro area, ranked by median annual wage. The last column shows the national median for comparison.
| Occupation | Birmingham, Alabama median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | $102,470 | 490 | $95,320 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $94,790 | 400 | $106,040 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $84,640 | 1,510 | $78,000 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $80,760 | 730 | $87,520 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $77,160 | 3,220 | $79,860 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $76,330 | 900 | $76,590 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,760 | 3,450 | $74,450 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $71,450 | 6,210 | $72,080 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $71,280 | 3,720 | $79,920 |
| Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | $67,200 | 1,330 | $65,510 |
| Insurance Sales Agents | $66,640 | 2,670 | $62,280 |
| Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers | $65,610 | 340 | $74,330 |
Many of these jobs pay well because they come with long on-the-job training, licensing, physical risk or irregular hours. Several are skilled trades that train through paid apprenticeships.
Top-paying jobs that need a certificate or associate’s degree
Jobs where BLS lists a postsecondary certificate, some college or an associate’s degree as the typical entry credential:
| Occupation | Birmingham, Alabama median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $83,030 | 370 | $93,530 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $69,890 | 450 | $96,590 |
| Respiratory Therapists | $67,480 | 790 | $82,280 |
| Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers | $63,080 | 840 | $63,890 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $62,770 | 1,050 | $80,110 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $62,380 | 800 | $68,380 |
| Dental Hygienists | $61,730 | 1,150 | $98,100 |
| Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | $61,040 | 380 | $79,870 |
The most common jobs in Birmingham, Alabama, for context
The largest occupations by employment, and what they pay locally:
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $78,680 | 17,850 |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,450 | 15,280 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $44,580 | 10,900 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,660 | 10,890 |
| Cashiers | $29,310 | 10,690 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,020 | 10,080 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $40,530 | 9,850 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $54,460 | 9,170 |
How to use these numbers
- Medians are midpoints. Half of workers in each job earn more and half earn less; new workers usually start well below the median.
- Overtime is not included. BLS wage estimates exclude overtime pay and shift differentials, so jobs with heavy overtime often pay more in practice (see the OEWS technical notes).
- Check the training path. “Typical entry education” is what most new workers have; licenses and apprenticeships may still be required.
Published October 30, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original chart by JobPayRaise.com using BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
Comments (1)
One more data point from the same survey: the occupation most concentrated in Birmingham, Alabama relative to the nation is metal-refining furnace operators and tenders, with a location quotient of 7.48. That means those jobs make up about 7.48 times as large a share of local employment as they do nationally. There are about 420 of them locally, at a median of $56,250. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Birmingham, AL). Location quotients compare each job’s share of local employment with its share nationally (see BLS OEWS overview).
— JobPayRaise Data Desk