Highest-paying jobs in Birmingham that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Birmingham that don't require a college degree
College isn't for everyone—despite what today's youth may hear from the adults in their lives.
From the moment they arrive freshman year, 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.
The median wage for high school diploma recipients is about $809 a week—higher than those without a diploma ($626), but well below the median for bachelor's degree holders ($1,334). But many jobs without college degree requirements still pay decent wages. Some even pay better than jobs reserved for degree earners.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Birmingham that don't require higher education. 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 are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022.
Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs in Birmingham that don't require a college degree.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
#50. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $51,840
- Median hourly wage: $24.92
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 910 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#49. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other
- Median annual wage: $51,980
- Median hourly wage: $24.99
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#48. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $52,520
- Median hourly wage: $25.25
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,800 people (5.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#47. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $52,910
- Median hourly wage: $25.44
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#46. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $53,060
- Median hourly wage: $25.51
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#45. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $53,370
- Median hourly wage: $25.66
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,420 people (2.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#44. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $53,550
- Median hourly wage: $25.74
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 600 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#43. Tool and die makers
- Median annual wage: $54,370
- Median hourly wage: $26.14
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 210 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#42. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Median annual wage: $54,380
- Median hourly wage: $26.14
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#41. Helpers--extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $54,440
- Median hourly wage: $26.17
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#40. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $55,000
- Median hourly wage: $26.44
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 30 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#39. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $55,550
- Median hourly wage: $26.71
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 200 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#38. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $56,640
- Median hourly wage: $27.23
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 740 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#37. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $57,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.51
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 310 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#36. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $57,330
- Median hourly wage: $27.56
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 3,250 people (6.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#35. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $58,500
- Median hourly wage: $28.13
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#34. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $58,520
- Median hourly wage: $28.14
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 290 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#33. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $58,570
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 400 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#32. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $59,580
- Median hourly wage: $28.65
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 3,080 people (6.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#31. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $59,600
- Median hourly wage: $28.65
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 6,060 people (12.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#30. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $59,660
- Median hourly wage: $28.68
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 3,540 people (7.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#29. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $60,180
- Median hourly wage: $28.93
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,320 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#28. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $60,190
- Median hourly wage: $28.94
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 420 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#27. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $60,700
- Median hourly wage: $29.19
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,550 people (5.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#26. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $61,100
- Median hourly wage: $29.37
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 160 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#25. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $61,730
- Median hourly wage: $29.68
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#24. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $61,910
- Median hourly wage: $29.77
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 310 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#23. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $62,040
- Median hourly wage: $29.83
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 6,020 people (12.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#22. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $62,510
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 820 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#21. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $62,810
- Median hourly wage: $30.20
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,490 people (4.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#20. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $63,030
- Median hourly wage: $30.31
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#19. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $64,180
- Median hourly wage: $30.85
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 3,690 people (7.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#18. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $65,000
- Median hourly wage: $31.25
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 480 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#17. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $66,150
- Median hourly wage: $31.81
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 980 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#16. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $67,000
- Median hourly wage: $32.21
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#15. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $67,650
- Median hourly wage: $32.52
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,030 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#14. Plant and system operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $70,450
- Median hourly wage: $33.87
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#13. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $70,620
- Median hourly wage: $33.95
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,900 people (5.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#12. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $74,530
- Median hourly wage: $35.83
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 300 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#11. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $76,850
- Median hourly wage: $36.95
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,920 people (3.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#10. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $77,240
- Median hourly wage: $37.14
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#9. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $78,170
- Median hourly wage: $37.58
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 190 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#8. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $83,620
- Median hourly wage: $40.20
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#7. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $85,160
- Median hourly wage: $40.94
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#6. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $86,980
- Median hourly wage: $41.82
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 280 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#5. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $100,000
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 160 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $102,820
- Median hourly wage: $49.43
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 280 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $104,560
- Median hourly wage: $50.27
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 550 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#2. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Median annual wage: $104,850
- Median hourly wage: $50.41
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 310 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#1. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $134,710
- Median hourly wage: $64.77
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 130 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
