
Highest-paying jobs in Birmingham that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Birmingham that don't require a college degree
From the moment they arrive on campus, today's high school students are inundated with messages about the importance of receiving a college education. They hear it from their guidance counselors, teachers, parents, family members, neighbors, and coaches. While graduation from a four-year college can certainly work wonders for students' future careers, it's not necessary for all fields — something admissions officers and guidance counselors sometimes fail to mention.
To find the highest paying jobs that don't require a college degree, Stacker consulted the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook to compile a list of all jobs that don't require higher education. All professions that listed a high school diploma, some college education (without a degree conferred), postsecondary nondegree award, or no formal education requirements for entry-level positions were considered. Jobs that didn't list any entry-level education requirement were excluded, as were job titles that grouped several positions together. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.
Keep reading to discover the highest paying jobs in Birmingham-Hoover, AL that don't require a college degree.
#50. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks
- Annual mean salary: $50,380
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,630
- Employment: 100,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tulsa, OK ($58,060)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($55,720)
--- Columbus, OH ($53,800)
#49. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $51,980
- #431 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,530
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,780
- Employment: 373,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($85,900)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($85,360)
--- Anchorage, AK ($82,890)
#48. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Annual mean salary: $53,490
- #113 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,220
- Employment: 367,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($74,970)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($71,160)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($67,140)
#47. Computer user support specialists
- Annual mean salary: $53,500
- #192 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,630
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,650
- Employment: 654,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($90,480)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,920)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($76,510)
#46. Postal service clerks
- Annual mean salary: $53,850
- #147 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,210
- Employment: 79,320
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houma-Thibodaux, LA ($59,410)
--- Florence, SC ($59,360)
--- Monroe, MI ($59,320)
#45. Millwrights
- Annual mean salary: $54,130
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,260
- Employment: 39,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($91,590)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,580)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($80,780)
#44. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Annual mean salary: $54,230
- #128 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,360
- Employment: 25,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,600)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($92,910)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($86,660)
#43. Postal service mail carriers
- Annual mean salary: $54,620
- #111 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,430
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,370
- Employment: 335,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Modesto, CA ($57,160)
--- Bismarck, ND ($57,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,820)
#42. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Annual mean salary: $54,700
- #112 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,510
- Employment: 29,820
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($106,300)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,930)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($99,740)
#41. Real estate sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $55,910
- #174 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,480
- Employment: 175,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Midland, TX ($100,060)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($99,880)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($93,400)
#40. Brokerage clerks
- Annual mean salary: $55,930
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,710
- Employment: 39,980
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($74,310)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($69,330)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,970)
#39. Tool and die makers
- Annual mean salary: $56,250
- #81 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $56,150
- Employment: 63,630
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,920)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($72,510)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($71,910)
#38. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Annual mean salary: $56,530
- #149 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,250
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,280
- Employment: 145,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($86,740)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,520)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,470)
#37. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $57,580
- #252 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,480
- Employment: 117,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($121,510)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,190)
#36. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Annual mean salary: $57,990
- #188 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,230
- Employment: 50,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($87,890)
--- Fresno, CA ($86,230)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($85,640)
#35. Advertising sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $59,410
- #84 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,540
- Employment: 96,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,840)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($97,720)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($83,050)
#34. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $59,870
- #214 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,030
- Employment: 234,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($103,610)
#33. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Annual mean salary: $60,180
- #171 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 800
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,350
- Employment: 172,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($88,140)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($84,690)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($80,570)
#32. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Annual mean salary: $60,850
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,560
- Employment: 21,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($77,880)
--- Anchorage, AK ($77,690)
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($77,100)
#31. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $61,160
- #142 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,440
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,380
- Employment: 1,443,630
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,050)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($79,520)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,430)
#30. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $61,560
- #267 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,390
National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,026,390
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,810)
--- Boulder, CO ($101,630)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,360)
#29. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Annual mean salary: $61,640
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,500
- Employment: 34,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($105,090)
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($97,860)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($96,520)
#28. Chefs and head cooks
- Annual mean salary: $62,340
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $56,920
- Employment: 129,810
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($81,020)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($79,600)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($79,430)
#27. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Annual mean salary: $62,360
- #147 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,310
- Employment: 44,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($98,380)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($94,070)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($92,800)
#26. Real estate brokers
- Annual mean salary: $62,710
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,490
- Employment: 48,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($152,460)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($133,810)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($132,320)
#25. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Annual mean salary: $63,940
- #104 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,750
- Employment: 54,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($114,400)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,220)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($112,950)
#24. Gas plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $64,810
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $76,970
- Employment: 15,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($98,750)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($97,080)
#23. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $65,270
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,250
- Employment: 101,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,680)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($90,370)
--- Salinas, CA ($88,050)
#22. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $65,380
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,060
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,870
- Employment: 466,910
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,590)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($87,760)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,420)
#21. Lodging managers
- Annual mean salary: $65,710
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,770
- Employment: 35,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($121,090)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($111,410)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)
#20. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $68,890
- #129 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,690
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,330
- Employment: 629,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($98,170)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($97,910)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($90,410)
#19. Private detectives and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $69,920
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,970
- Employment: 28,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Jackson, MI ($93,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($91,080)
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($87,760)
#18. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $70,320
- #210 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,460
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,060
- Employment: 665,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,820)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($101,210)
#17. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $70,390
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 620
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,970
- Employment: 210,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($91,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($89,860)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,750)
#16. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $70,540
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,540
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,340
- Employment: 422,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,470)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($95,620)
#15. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $71,660
- #132 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,090
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,960
- Employment: 278,140
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($104,350)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($95,200)
--- Salinas, CA ($90,800)
#14. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $74,320
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,500
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,390
- Employment: 1,242,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,280)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($92,660)
--- Napa, CA ($92,620)
#13. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $74,770
- #123 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,880
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,590
- Employment: 526,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,830)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,870)
#12. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $75,170
- #309 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500
National
- Annual mean salary: $92,320
- Employment: 243,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($129,860)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($121,360)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($121,250)
#11. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Annual mean salary: $76,890
- #147 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,270
- Employment: 80,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($171,060)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($145,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($135,860)
#10. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $82,830
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,320
- Employment: 22,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($130,290)
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($113,590)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($113,480)
#9. Transportation inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $83,890
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,620
- Employment: 25,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($112,260)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($111,930)
--- Anchorage, AK ($108,140)
#8. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Annual mean salary: $84,990
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,820
- Employment: 12,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($97,930)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($96,450)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($94,460)
#7. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $86,460
- #218 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,760
- Employment: 128,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($182,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($170,740)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($164,600)
#6. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $86,630
- #108 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,060
- Employment: 123,940
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($117,700)
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,490)
#5. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $87,870
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,370
- Employment: 107,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($132,210)
--- Anchorage, AK ($127,070)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($123,460)
#4. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Annual mean salary: $97,230
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $87,640
- Employment: 22,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($120,210)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,510)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($114,280)
#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $109,560
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,580
- Employment: 144,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)
#2. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $113,870
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,080
- Employment: 42,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)
#1. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Annual mean salary: $123,540
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,520
- Employment: 9,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($131,560)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($129,570)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($123,540)