Highest-paying jobs in Birmingham

Written by:
July 8, 2022
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Highest-paying jobs in Birmingham

Stacker collected information on the highest-paying jobs in Birmingham-Hoover, AL, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.

In Birmingham, the annual mean wage is $51,720 or 11.2% lower than national mean of $58,260, while the highest-paying occupation makes $364,290. Read on to see which jobs make the list.

#50. Budget analysts

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $101,030
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,240
- Employment: 47,440
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($114,670)
--- Iowa City, IA ($108,870)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($106,380)

#49. Public relations managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $101,100
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $138,000
- Employment: 59,850
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($183,410)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($182,890)
--- Boulder, CO ($174,250)

#48. Financial and investment analysts

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $101,400
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 870

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,020
- Employment: 291,880
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($135,620)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($133,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($132,820)

#47. Nurse practitioners

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $102,170
- #332 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,290

National
- Annual mean salary: $118,040
- Employment: 234,690
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($197,870)
--- Napa, CA ($184,700)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($180,380)

#46. Electronics engineers, except computer

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $103,070
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,490
- Employment: 107,170
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($152,060)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($138,480)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($136,310)

#45. Veterinarians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $103,350
- #157 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $109,920
- Employment: 77,260
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,440)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,670)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($140,390)

#44. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $104,100
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $99,700
- Employment: 22,870
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($127,700)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($123,690)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($122,770)

#43. Physics teachers, postsecondary

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $104,470
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $99,480
- Employment: 12,460
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($148,140)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($144,580)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($142,450)

#42. Business teachers, postsecondary

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $105,460
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,720
- Employment: 79,640
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($175,640)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($175,080)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($154,600)

#41. Construction managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $105,710
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,690

National
- Annual mean salary: $108,210
- Employment: 284,750
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($160,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,050)
--- Napa, CA ($145,430)

#40. Education administrators, postsecondary

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $105,930
- #108 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 840

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,260
- Employment: 155,990
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Corvallis, OR ($178,570)
--- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($165,940)
--- Syracuse, NY ($164,660)

#39. Industrial production managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $106,740
- #245 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $117,780
- Employment: 192,270
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($155,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($153,860)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($153,470)

#38. Computer network architects

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $108,720
- #102 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680

National
- Annual mean salary: $120,650
- Employment: 168,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,600)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($152,900)
--- Rapid City, SD ($145,810)

#37. Training and development managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $108,760
- #81 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $128,800
- Employment: 35,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($180,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($176,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($166,410)

#36. Clinical and counseling psychologists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $109,550
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $99,640
- Employment: 58,100
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($136,630)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($134,200)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($133,060)

#35. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $109,560
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,580
- Employment: 144,640
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)

#34. Commercial pilots

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $113,870
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,080
- Employment: 42,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)

#33. Facilities managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $118,760
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $101,970
- Employment: 101,230
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($146,040)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($136,440)
--- Ithaca, NY ($136,210)

#32. Architects, except landscape and naval

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $120,430
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,900
- Employment: 100,400
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($120,430)
--- Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL ($115,450)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,780)

#31. General and operations managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $120,740
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,460

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,250
- Employment: 2,984,920
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($165,340)
--- Trenton, NJ ($165,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($159,210)

#30. Personal financial advisors

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $120,900
- #79 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,300

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,960
- Employment: 263,030
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($172,780)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,010)
--- East Stroudsburg, PA ($158,790)

#29. Optometrists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $121,440
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,440
- Employment: 38,720
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wilmington, NC ($198,370)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($172,190)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($169,140)

#28. Electrical engineers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $121,460
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,000

National
- Annual mean salary: $107,890
- Employment: 186,020
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($148,870)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($133,640)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,680)

#27. Power distributors and dispatchers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $123,540
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $95,520
- Employment: 9,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($131,560)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($129,570)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($123,540)

#26. Marketing managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $123,660
- #188 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450

National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($210,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($198,870)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($191,310)

#25. Database architects

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $124,570
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $121,840
- Employment: 50,440
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($187,070)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,830)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($156,530)

#24. Human resources managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $125,710
- #99 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450

National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($190,020)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,410)

#23. Purchasing managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $126,200
- #82 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $134,590
- Employment: 69,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($181,030)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($174,760)

#22. Pharmacists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $127,420
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,470

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,690
- Employment: 312,550
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($168,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($163,840)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($158,420)

#21. Compensation and benefits managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $128,060
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $139,470
- Employment: 15,330
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($190,560)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($187,770)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,130)

#20. Project management specialists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $130,250
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,420
- Employment: 743,860
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($133,950)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($130,250)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($125,330)

#19. Administrative services managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $130,460
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $113,030
- Employment: 224,620
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,360)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($142,650)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($141,950)

#18. Sales managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $130,680
- #108 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,200

National
- Annual mean salary: $142,390
- Employment: 453,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($198,960)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($196,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($182,820)

#17. Computer and information systems managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $132,820
- #171 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,410

National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($211,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,800)

#16. Aerospace engineers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $137,930
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $122,970
- Employment: 56,640
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA ($166,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,490)
--- Boulder, CO ($148,990)

#15. Lawyers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $141,410
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,340

National
- Annual mean salary: $148,030
- Employment: 681,010
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($231,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($191,460)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($186,610)

#14. Financial managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $145,440
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,300

National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($209,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($201,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,900)

#13. Chief executives

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $149,400
- #278 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $213,020
- Employment: 200,480
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($313,440)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($298,960)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($296,480)

#12. Pediatricians, general

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $152,450
- #90 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $198,420
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($298,760)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($298,320)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($291,940)

#11. Architectural and engineering managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $155,510
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510

National
- Annual mean salary: $158,970
- Employment: 187,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($206,050)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($198,430)

#10. Sales engineers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $158,740
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $118,630
- Employment: 59,550
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salisbury, MD-DE ($169,330)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($158,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($158,320)

#9. Psychiatrists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $169,040
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $249,760
- Employment: 25,520
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($360,840)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($360,740)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($333,190)

#8. Dentists, general

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $176,210
- #112 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $167,160
- Employment: 108,680
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Manchester, NH ($276,510)
--- Salinas, CA ($234,410)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($229,800)

#7. Nurse anesthetists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $199,320
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

National
- Annual mean salary: $202,470
- Employment: 43,950
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Springfield, IL ($298,890)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($283,550)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($276,810)

#6. Natural sciences managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $199,880
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $156,110
- Employment: 74,760
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($222,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($219,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($216,750)

#5. Family medicine physicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $203,200
- #215 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $235,930
- Employment: 102,930
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Coeur d'Alene, ID ($336,820)
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($336,140)
--- Gainesville, GA ($330,930)

#4. Obstetricians and gynecologists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $268,930
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $296,210
- Employment: 21,570
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($377,980)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($375,200)
--- Modesto, CA ($362,780)

#3. Radiologists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $347,880
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $301,720
- Employment: 29,530
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($370,570)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($358,680)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($358,450)

#2. Cardiologists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $355,320
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $353,970
- Employment: 18,610
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($411,230)
--- Cleveland-Elyria, OH ($365,880)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($363,270)

#1. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $364,290
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $306,220
- Employment: 16,260
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($366,650)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($364,290)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($354,880)

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