Highest paying jobs in Birmingham for high school graduates
A high school diploma gives graduates a leg up in the workforce, even if they don't pursue any further education.
The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that workers over age of 25 with a high school diploma or equivalent earned about 25% more than those without one—$853 a week compared to $682. Diploma holders also faced lower unemployment rates, at 4% in 2022, compared to 5.5% for those who never completed high school.
There are many reasons high-school graduates may choose to not continue on to college—for instance, the cost. Average tuition costs continue to rise, increasing by 1% to 4% last year, depending on the institution type. While higher degrees of education typically pave the way for higher earnings, a college degree isn't necessary for many high-paying jobs. And for many careers, it doesn't make sense to pay to study for years when there are paid apprenticeship or learn-on-the-job programs.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Birmingham for those with a high school diploma or equivalent. Jobs are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022. Jobs without available data for annual pay were excluded from this analysis.
Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay high school graduates the most.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
#50. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers
- Median annual wage: $49,860
- Median hourly wage: $23.97
- Total employment: 80 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#49. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $49,880
- Median hourly wage: $23.98
- Total employment: 350 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#48. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $50,080
- Median hourly wage: $24.08
- Total employment: 2,490 people (4.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#47. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $50,120
- Median hourly wage: $24.10
- Total employment: 30 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#46. Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $50,320
- Median hourly wage: $24.19
- Total employment: 180 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#45. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $50,640
- Median hourly wage: $24.35
- Total employment: 450 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#44. Meter readers, utilities
- Median annual wage: $50,660
- Median hourly wage: $24.35
- Total employment: 50 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#43. Coil winders, tapers, and finishers
- Median annual wage: $51,670
- Median hourly wage: $24.84
- Total employment: 80 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#42. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $51,840
- Median hourly wage: $24.92
- 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
#41. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other
- Median annual wage: $51,980
- Median hourly wage: $24.99
- 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
#40. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $52,520
- Median hourly wage: $25.25
- 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
#39. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $52,910
- Median hourly wage: $25.44
- Total employment: 110 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#38. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $53,060
- Median hourly wage: $25.51
- 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
#37. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $53,370
- Median hourly wage: $25.66
- 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
#36. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $53,550
- Median hourly wage: $25.74
- 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
#35. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Median annual wage: $54,380
- Median hourly wage: $26.14
- Total employment: 40 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#34. Helpers--extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $54,440
- Median hourly wage: $26.17
- 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
#33. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $56,640
- Median hourly wage: $27.23
- Total employment: 740 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#32. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $57,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.51
- 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
#31. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $57,330
- Median hourly wage: $27.56
- 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
#30. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $58,500
- Median hourly wage: $28.13
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#29. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $58,570
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- 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
#28. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $59,580
- Median hourly wage: $28.65
- 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
#27. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $59,600
- Median hourly wage: $28.65
- Total employment: 6,060 people (12.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#26. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $59,660
- Median hourly wage: $28.68
- 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
#25. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $60,180
- Median hourly wage: $28.93
- 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
#24. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $60,190
- Median hourly wage: $28.94
- Total employment: 420 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#23. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $60,700
- Median hourly wage: $29.19
- Total employment: 2,550 people (5.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#22. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $61,100
- Median hourly wage: $29.37
- 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
#21. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $61,730
- Median hourly wage: $29.68
- Total employment: 30 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#20. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $61,910
- Median hourly wage: $29.77
- 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
#19. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $62,040
- Median hourly wage: $29.83
- 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
#18. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $62,510
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- 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
#17. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $62,810
- Median hourly wage: $30.20
- Total employment: 2,490 people (4.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#16. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $63,030
- Median hourly wage: $30.31
- 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
#15. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $64,180
- Median hourly wage: $30.85
- Total employment: 3,690 people (7.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#14. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $65,000
- Median hourly wage: $31.25
- Total employment: 480 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#13. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $67,000
- Median hourly wage: $32.21
- Total employment: 60 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#12. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $67,650
- Median hourly wage: $32.52
- Total employment: 1,030 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#11. Plant and system operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $70,450
- Median hourly wage: $33.87
- 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
#10. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $70,620
- Median hourly wage: $33.95
- Total employment: 2,900 people (5.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#9. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $76,850
- Median hourly wage: $36.95
- 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
#8. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $77,240
- Median hourly wage: $37.14
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#7. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $78,170
- Median hourly wage: $37.58
- 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
#6. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $83,620
- Median hourly wage: $40.20
- 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
#5. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $85,160
- Median hourly wage: $40.94
- 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
#4. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $86,980
- Median hourly wage: $41.82
- 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
#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $102,820
- Median hourly wage: $49.43
- Total employment: 280 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $104,560
- Median hourly wage: $50.27
- 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
#1. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $134,710
- Median hourly wage: $64.77
- 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
