
Highest-paying jobs in Decatur
Stacker collected information on the highest-paying jobs in Decatur, 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 Decatur, the annual mean wage is $47,670 or 18.2% lower than national mean of $58,260, while the highest-paying occupation makes $149,750. Read on to see which jobs make the list.

#50. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $67,040
- #207 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,390
- Employment: 1,242,490
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,280)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($92,660)
--- Napa, CA ($92,620)
#49. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $67,480
- #299 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,760
- Employment: 128,230
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- 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)

#48. Chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $67,810
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,450
- Employment: 106,170
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Billings, MT ($88,420)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($76,050)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($71,340)

#47. Market research analysts and marketing specialists
- Annual mean salary: $69,020
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $76,080
- Employment: 727,540
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($108,370)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($99,510)
#46. Accountants and auditors
- Annual mean salary: $70,360
- #282 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,980
- Employment: 1,318,550
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,830)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($109,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,540)
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#45. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $72,100
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 740
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,330
- Employment: 629,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($98,170)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($97,910)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($90,410)
#44. Occupational health and safety specialists
- Annual mean salary: $72,140
- #211 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $78,740
- Employment: 106,340
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($111,950)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($108,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($108,020)
#43. Network and computer systems administrators
- Annual mean salary: $73,390
- #295 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,250
- Employment: 316,760
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($135,440)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,370)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($110,930)

#42. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $73,750
- #262 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $92,320
- Employment: 243,920
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- 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)
#41. Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
- Annual mean salary: $75,070
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,240
- Employment: 76,890
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($116,630)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($109,190)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,710)
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#40. Database administrators
- Annual mean salary: $76,720
- #166 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,550
- Employment: 85,870
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($123,540)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,430)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($120,280)

#39. Loan officers
- Annual mean salary: $76,740
- #164 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,570
- Employment: 340,170
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($111,830)
--- Bend-Redmond, OR ($106,290)
--- Wilmington, NC ($104,930)

#38. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $77,290
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,590
- Employment: 526,240
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- 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)

#37. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $78,410
- #130 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,060
- Employment: 123,940
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($117,700)
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,490)
#36. Environmental engineers
- Annual mean salary: $79,170
- #155 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $100,220
- Employment: 42,660
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($131,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,470)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($127,160)
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#35. Logisticians
- Annual mean salary: $79,840
- #79 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,230
- Employment: 189,320
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($115,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($111,740)
--- Kokomo, IN ($101,310)

#34. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $81,000
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,340
- Employment: 422,600
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- 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)
#33. Lawyers
- Annual mean salary: $86,360
- #371 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)

#32. Medical and health services managers
- Annual mean salary: $86,450
- #377 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,840
- Employment: 436,770
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($162,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($157,340)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,370)

#31. Computer systems analysts
- Annual mean salary: $87,140
- #209 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,210
- Employment: 505,150
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($131,650)
--- Huntsville, AL ($118,690)
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#30. Management analysts
- Annual mean salary: $87,360
- #187 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $100,530
- Employment: 768,450
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dothan, AL ($135,020)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($127,320)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($125,250)
#29. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Annual mean salary: $88,920
- #227 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,650
- Employment: 274,710
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($144,880)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($143,450)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($142,330)
#28. Occupational therapists
- Annual mean salary: $90,960
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,470
- Employment: 127,830
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,190)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,210)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($113,190)
#27. Physical therapists
- Annual mean salary: $91,470
- #151 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $92,920
- Employment: 225,350
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($123,190)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($118,370)
--- Midland, TX ($116,880)

#26. Software developers
- Annual mean salary: $92,030
- #270 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,990
- Employment: 1,364,180
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($167,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($158,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($148,220)
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#25. Veterinarians
- Annual mean salary: $92,040
- #259 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)

#24. Training and development specialists
- Annual mean salary: $94,650
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,620
- Employment: 336,030
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dothan, AL ($111,580)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,720)
--- Decatur, AL ($94,650)

#23. Nurse practitioners
- Annual mean salary: $95,170
- #372 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)
#22. Construction managers
- Annual mean salary: $96,390
- #201 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
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)
#21. Mechanical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $100,970
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,000
- Employment: 278,240
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($137,540)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($128,790)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,030)
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#20. Industrial engineers
- Annual mean salary: $101,970
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,200
- Employment: 293,950
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($142,770)
--- Midland, TX ($129,440)
--- Billings, MT ($126,170)
#19. Chemists
- Annual mean salary: $102,000
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,130
- Employment: 80,600
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($131,290)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($115,790)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($108,330)

#18. Materials engineers
- Annual mean salary: $102,380
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $101,950
- Employment: 21,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($135,680)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($134,720)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($129,400)
#17. Computer network architects
- Annual mean salary: $105,330
- #129 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#16. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $105,340
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
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#15. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $108,130
- #238 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#14. Civil engineers
- Annual mean salary: $108,380
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,490
- Employment: 304,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,720)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,550)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($115,120)
#13. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $112,260
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
#12. General and operations managers
- Annual mean salary: $113,250
- #97 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 980
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)

#11. Purchasing managers
- Annual mean salary: $114,360
- #138 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
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#10. Electrical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $114,760
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
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)
#9. Chemical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $120,090
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $121,840
- Employment: 24,180
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($173,640)
--- Anchorage, AK ($159,010)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($152,820)
#8. Pharmacists
- Annual mean salary: $120,530
- #236 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
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)
#7. Computer and information systems managers
- Annual mean salary: $120,850
- #279 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
#6. Personal financial advisors
- Annual mean salary: $126,550
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
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#5. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $129,370
- #188 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)

#4. Sales managers
- Annual mean salary: $130,780
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
#3. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $131,090
- #138 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)

#2. Industrial production managers
- Annual mean salary: $133,770
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
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)
#1. Architectural and engineering managers
- Annual mean salary: $149,750
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)
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