Most common jobs in Huntsville

Written by:
July 11, 2021
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Most common jobs in Huntsville

The 10 largest occupations in America employ 30.5 million workers, representing 21% of all workers. Keeping America's economy moving would be impossible without office workers, package handlers, food prep workers, and truck drivers. And what would the sick do without the millions of hospital workers, nurses, and home health aides?

Stacker compiled a list of the most common jobs in Huntsville using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by total employment as of May 2020. While much has changed during the coronavirus pandemic, the jobs featured here give a holistic view at the most popular industries in your area and how many jobs are supported.

Keep reading to see which jobs in Huntsville are the most common.

#50. Carpenters

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 710 (3.095 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $42,750 (#268 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 699,300 (5.027 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $54,200
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,950)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($82,300)
--- Hanford-Corcoran, CA ($79,870)
- Job description: Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. May also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation. Includes brattice builders who build doors or brattices (ventilation walls or partitions) in underground passageways.

#49. Market research analysts and marketing specialists

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 730 (3.179 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $65,940 (#101 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 690,160 (4.962 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $73,970
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($117,900)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($97,720)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($96,150)
- Job description: Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.

#48. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 900 (3.888 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $54,330 (#240 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 991,000 (7.124 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $67,340
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($99,170)
--- Fresno, CA ($96,200)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($95,500)
- Job description: Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

#46. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 920 (3.968 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $41,580 (#335 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 676,440 (4.863 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $50,090
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,950)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($74,820)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($74,520)
- Job description: Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.

#46. Cooks, fast food

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 920 (3.967 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $18,380 (#310 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 544,420 (3.914 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $24,300
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cedar Rapids, IA ($34,790)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($33,580)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($33,570)
- Job description: Prepare and cook food in a fast food restaurant with a limited menu. Duties of these cooks are limited to preparation of a few basic items and normally involve operating large-volume single-purpose cooking equipment.

#46. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 920 (4.004 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $53,970 (#252 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 654,900 (4.708 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $70,000
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($131,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,570)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($115,690)
- Job description: Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts. Includes police officers working at educational institutions.

#43 (tie). Computer hardware engineers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 930 (4.010 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $117,790 (#29 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 64,710 (0.465 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $126,140
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($179,570)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($171,540)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($153,780)
- Job description: Research, design, develop, or test computer or computer-related equipment for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use. May supervise the manufacturing and installation of computer or computer-related equipment and components.

#43 (tie). Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 930 (4.037 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $52,570 (#234 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 599,520 (4.31 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $64,990
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bakersfield, CA ($101,970)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($89,200)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($88,220)
- Job description: Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.

#42. Network and computer systems administrators

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 940 (4.088 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $83,220 (#112 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 339,560 (2.441 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $89,460
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($134,260)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($116,840)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($111,790)
- Job description: Install, configure, and maintain an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. Perform system monitoring and verify the integrity and availability of hardware, network, and server resources and systems. Review system and application logs and verify completion of scheduled jobs, including system backups. Analyze network and server resource consumption and control user access. Install and upgrade software and maintain software licenses. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software.

#41. Packers and packagers, hand

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 950 (4.118 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,390 (#226 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 599,270 (4.308 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,270
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rome, GA ($39,770)
--- Longview, WA ($39,680)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($36,820)
- Job description: Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.

#40. Information security analysts

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 960 (4.149 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $92,430 (#117 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 138,000 (0.992 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $107,580
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($147,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($136,910)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($130,620)
- Job description: Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

#39. Electronics engineers, except computer

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 970 (4.188 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $123,390 (#18 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 122,320 (0.879 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $112,320
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($148,210)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($134,110)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($131,740)
- Job description: Research, design, develop, or test electronic components and systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use employing knowledge of electronic theory and materials properties. Design electronic circuits and components for use in fields such as telecommunications, aerospace guidance and propulsion control, acoustics, or instruments and controls.

#37 (tie). Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,010 (4.384 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,310 (#189 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 283,800 (2.04 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $38,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($52,330)
--- Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA ($51,130)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($49,290)
- Job description: Assemble or modify electromechanical equipment or devices, such as servomechanisms, gyros, dynamometers, magnetic drums, tape drives, brakes, control linkage, actuators, and appliances.

#37 (tie). Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,010 (4.391 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,620 (#162 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 872,370 (6.272 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,800
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($46,990)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,160)
--- New Haven, CT ($43,820)
- Job description: Landscape or maintain grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment. Workers typically perform a variety of tasks, which may include any combination of the following: sod laying, mowing, trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, sprinkler installation, and installation of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units.

#35 (tie). Medical assistants

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,110 (4.821 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,680 (#362 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 710,200 (5.106 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,930
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($53,960)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($53,660)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($52,520)
- Job description: Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

#35 (tie). Computer programmers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,110 (4.812 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $87,240 (#90 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 178,140 (1.281 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $95,640
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($125,420)
--- Midland, TX ($119,390)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($113,530)
- Job description: Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

#34. Electricians

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,120 (4.846 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $49,400 (#279 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 656,510 (4.72 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $61,550
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,680)
--- Trenton, NJ ($90,210)
--- Kankakee, IL ($88,530)
- Job description: Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.

#33. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,130 (4.874 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $59,680 (#328 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 614,080 (4.415 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $72,990
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,870)
--- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($103,930)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($100,620)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.

#32. Maintenance and repair workers, general

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,170 (5.088 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,420 (#306 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,357,630 (9.76 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $43,790
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($58,140)
--- Yuba City, CA ($57,930)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($54,820)
- Job description: Perform work involving the skills of two or more maintenance or craft occupations to keep machines, mechanical equipment, or the structure of a building in repair. Duties may involve pipe fitting; HVAC maintenance; insulating; welding; machining; carpentry; repairing electrical or mechanical equipment; installing, aligning, and balancing new equipment; and repairing buildings, floors, or stairs.

#31. Cooks, restaurant

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,240 (5.377 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,390 (#253 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,109,650 (7.977 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,530
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($45,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,950)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($39,450)
- Job description: Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.

#30. Human resources specialists

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,290 (5.577 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $73,360 (#33 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 647,810 (4.657 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $69,430
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($96,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,680)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($90,130)
- Job description: Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization. May perform other activities in multiple human resources areas.

#28 (tie). Computer user support specialists

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,310 (5.661 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $50,350 (#211 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 634,820 (4.564 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $57,000
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($86,350)
--- Napa, CA ($78,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,670)
- Job description: Provide technical assistance to computer users. Answer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, via telephone, or electronically. May provide assistance concerning the use of computer hardware and software, including printing, installation, word processing, electronic mail, and operating systems.

#28 (tie). Computer and information systems managers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,310 (5.684 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $142,640 (#82 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 457,290 (3.288 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $161,730
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($235,040)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($212,480)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($201,320)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

#27. Construction laborers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,330 (5.772 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,030 (#314 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 971,330 (6.983 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $43,000
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($66,670)
--- Kankakee, IL ($65,730)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($63,860)
- Job description: Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris, and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.

#26. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,370 (5.941 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $67,790 (#129 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 599,900 (4.313 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $66,800
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($101,930)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($100,590)
--- Longview, WA ($99,590)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators. Excludes team or work leaders.

#25. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,390 (6.003 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $68,380 (#87 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 977,070 (7.024 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $70,490
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($115,620)
--- Lawrence, KS ($97,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($94,870)
- Job description: Sell services to individuals or businesses. May describe options or resolve client problems.

#24. Mechanical engineers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,400 (6.059 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $101,380 (#45 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 293,960 (2.113 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $95,560
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($125,760)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,190)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($123,700)
- Job description: Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.

#23. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,410 (6.088 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $61,830 (#146 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 115,270 (0.829 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $68,310
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bakersfield, CA ($90,130)
--- Salinas, CA ($87,550)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($85,190)
- Job description: Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, adjust, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery for subsequent evaluation and use by engineering staff in making engineering design decisions.

#21 (tie). Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,540 (6.668 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $40,740 (#355 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,797,710 (12.924 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $48,710
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($65,170)
--- Danville, IL ($63,230)
--- Lewiston, ID-WA ($62,250)
- Job description: Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers' license. Includes tow truck drivers.

#21 (tie). Industrial engineers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,540 (6.676 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $102,990 (#33 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 290,190 (2.086 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $93,610
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Billings, MT ($125,760)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($123,710)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($123,510)
- Job description: Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and production coordination.

#20. Security guards

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,570 (6.807 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,360 (#232 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,054,400 (7.58 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,360
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($66,030)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($61,090)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($51,850)
- Job description: Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.

#19. Receptionists and information clerks

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,730 (7.485 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $27,660 (#318 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 968,420 (6.962 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,410
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($43,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,160)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,840)
- Job description: Answer inquiries and provide information to the general public, customers, visitors, and other interested parties regarding activities conducted at establishment and location of departments, offices, and employees within the organization.

#18. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,900 (8.252 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $42,570 (#130 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,443,940 (10.381 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $44,100
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($56,700)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($55,720)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($55,720)
- Job description: Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.

#17. Electrical engineers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,960 (8.488 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $107,880 (#64 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 185,220 (1.332 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $105,990
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,480)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($130,150)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($125,700)
- Job description: Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.

#16. Nursing assistants

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 1,990 (8.616 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $27,820 (#293 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,371,050 (9.857 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,050
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,420)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($43,960)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($42,200)
- Job description: Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.

#15. Elementary school teachers, except special education

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 2,170 (9.399 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $53,040 (#237 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,364,870 (9.812 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $65,420
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Merced, CA ($99,360)
--- Kingston, NY ($93,780)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($92,910)
- Job description: Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.

#13 (tie). Office clerks, general

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 2,240 (9.724 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,300 (#373 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,788,090 (20.044 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($49,560)
--- Napa, CA ($47,570)
--- Boulder, CO ($47,160)
- Job description: Perform duties too varied and diverse to be classified in any specific office clerical occupation, requiring knowledge of office systems and procedures. Clerical duties may be assigned in accordance with the office procedures of individual establishments and may include a combination of answering telephones, bookkeeping, typing or word processing, office machine operation, and filing.

#13 (tie). First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 2,240 (9.713 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,150 (#292 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 891,540 (6.409 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,880
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($59,490)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($53,350)
--- Napa, CA ($53,230)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in preparing and serving food.

#12. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 2,290 (9.904 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $56,140 (#214 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,427,260 (10.261 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $62,010
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($78,770)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($77,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($75,820)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of clerical and administrative support workers.

#11. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 2,370 (10.266 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $42,420 (#301 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,063,110 (7.643 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $47,300
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($62,180)
--- Yakima, WA ($61,710)
--- Sheboygan, WI ($61,610)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of retail sales workers in an establishment or department. Duties may include management functions, such as purchasing, budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.

#10. Accountants and auditors

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 2,460 (10.659 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $74,810 (#135 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,274,620 (9.163 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $81,660
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($111,680)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($105,720)
--- Midland, TX ($103,120)
- Job description: Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.

#9. Waiters and waitresses

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 2,660 (11.531 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $19,110 (#367 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,944,240 (13.977 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $27,470
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($62,630)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($57,210)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($43,160)
- Job description: Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.

#8. Logisticians

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 2,750 (11.924 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $98,990 (#6 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 184,230 (1.324 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $79,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($116,200)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($112,040)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($110,510)
- Job description: Analyze and coordinate the ongoing logistical functions of a firm or organization. Responsible for the entire life cycle of a product, including acquisition, distribution, internal allocation, delivery, and final disposal of resources.

#7. Aerospace engineers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 3,010 (13.034 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $121,300 (#21 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 60,630 (0.436 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $121,110
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($151,410)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($142,260)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($135,490)
- Job description: Perform engineering duties in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. May conduct basic and applied research to evaluate adaptability of materials and equipment to aircraft design and manufacture. May recommend improvements in testing equipment and techniques.

#6. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 3,930 (17.034 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $28,980 (#334 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,805,200 (20.167 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,710
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,690)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($41,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,820)
- Job description: Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified.

#5. General and operations managers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 4,110 (17.808 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $149,420 (#14 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,347,420 (16.876 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $125,740
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($183,170)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($175,990)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($172,370)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

#4. Customer service representatives

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 4,790 (20.760 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,350 (#167 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,833,250 (20.368 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $38,510
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($49,930)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,720)
--- Midland, MI ($47,250)
- Job description: Interact with customers to provide basic or scripted information in response to routine inquiries about products and services. May handle and resolve general complaints. Excludes individuals whose duties are primarily installation, sales, repair, and technical support.

#3. Registered nurses

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 5,230 (22.658 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $58,600 (#359 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,986,500 (21.47 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $80,010
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,200)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($146,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($142,140)
- Job description: Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.

#2. Cashiers

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 5,430 (23.544 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $22,810 (#286 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 3,333,100 (23.962 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $25,710
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($35,970)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($34,480)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($34,320)
- Job description: Receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions. May use electronic scanners, cash registers, or related equipment. May process credit or debit card transactions and validate checks.

#1. Retail salespersons

Huntsville, AL
- Employment: 6,350 (27.494 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,510 (#199 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 3,659,670 (26.31 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $30,940
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,160)
--- Carson City, NV ($40,030)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($39,160)
- Job description: Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.

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