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Highest paying jobs in Montgomery for high school graduates

The average college graduate in 2020 earned $1,305 a week, while the average high school graduate takes home just $781, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Of course, college isn’t for everyone. There are many reasons high-school graduates may choose to not continue on to college, not the least of which being cost. Average tuition costs continue to rise each year, the exception being the 2020-2021 school year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Average tuition at a public, in-state university coming in at $9,687; tuition for out-of-state students at public schools, and for everyone at private universities, is significantly higher at $21,874 and $35,087, respectively.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest paying jobs for high school graduates in Montgomery, AL using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay the most for high school graduates.

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#50. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $41,360
– #266 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 130

National
– Annual mean salary: $44,300
– Employment: 149,120
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($70,030)
— Waco, TX ($63,080)
— Springfield, MA-CT ($57,930)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

#49. Correctional officers and jailers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $41,820
– #234 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,110

National
– Annual mean salary: $52,340
– Employment: 405,870
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($96,580)
— Salinas, CA ($89,100)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($86,260)

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#48. Glaziers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $42,270
– #139 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $50,970
– Employment: 52,190
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($78,840)
— Salem, OR ($78,000)
— Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area ($76,680)

Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock

#47. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $42,560
– #194 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 270

National
– Annual mean salary: $52,750
– Employment: 160,950
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area ($84,640)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($78,320)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($77,210)

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#46. Dental laboratory technicians

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $43,550
– #109 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $45,230
– Employment: 30,800
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($67,730)
— Idaho Falls, ID ($59,560)
— Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($55,140)

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U.S. Air Force photo // Airman 1st Class Greg Erwin

#45. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $43,810
– #150 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 430

National
– Annual mean salary: $42,140
– Employment: 137,510
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Midland, MI ($60,190)
— Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($58,940)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($58,790)

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#44. Automotive body and related repairers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $43,860
– #384 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 160

National
– Annual mean salary: $49,430
– Employment: 137,120
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Ann Arbor, MI ($71,350)
— Ames, IA ($68,340)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,060)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

#43. Security and fire alarm systems installers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $44,630
– #160 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $52,150
– Employment: 68,920
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Eugene, OR ($70,940)
— Salem, OR ($68,640)
— Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($68,520)

Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#42. Electricians

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $44,760
– #495 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 570

National
– Annual mean salary: $61,550
– Employment: 656,510
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,900)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,090)
— Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($86,600)

Unsplash

#41. Structural iron and steel workers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $44,850
– #166 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 140

National
– Annual mean salary: $58,650
– Employment: 71,490
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($95,020)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($88,250)
— Western Washington nonmetropolitan area ($84,570)

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#40. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $44,970
– #299 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 610

National
– Annual mean salary: $46,690
– Employment: 397,550
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($72,500)
— Anchorage, AK ($71,840)
— West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($71,250)

Pxhere

#39. Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $44,990
– #37 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $46,000
– Employment: 15,290
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Charleston-North Charleston, SC ($73,990)
— Salt Lake City, UT ($61,150)
— Duluth, MN-WI ($58,790)

London Metropolitan Archives/Heritage Images // Getty Images

#38. Machinists

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $45,000
– #319 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 320

National
– Annual mean salary: $47,800
– Employment: 360,340
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($76,230)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($71,070)
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($69,300)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

#37. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $45,590
– #403 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 300

National
– Annual mean salary: $52,090
– Employment: 253,010
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,900)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($73,400)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($70,480)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#36. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $45,990
– #441 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 330

National
– Annual mean salary: $61,100
– Employment: 417,440
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,580)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,500)
— Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($89,190)

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Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

#35. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $47,980
– #282 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 120

National
– Annual mean salary: $54,040
– Employment: 103,730
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Madera, CA ($76,040)
— Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($74,800)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($73,360)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

#34. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $49,280
– #227 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 110

National
– Annual mean salary: $62,400
– Employment: 50,660
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($98,380)
— Salt Lake City, UT ($94,070)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($92,800)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

#33. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $49,920
– #223 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $51,890
– Employment: 119,380
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,980)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($92,370)
— Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($87,990)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

#32. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $50,790
– #203 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 160

National
– Annual mean salary: $52,000
– Employment: 362,090
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Idaho Falls, ID ($74,970)
— Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($71,160)
— West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($67,770)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

#31. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $50,980
– #73 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 230

National
– Annual mean salary: $51,440
– Employment: 105,400
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Huntsville, AL ($55,830)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($55,260)
— Wausau, WI ($55,060)

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welcomia // Shutterstock

#30. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $51,080
– #335 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 250

National
– Annual mean salary: $57,000
– Employment: 147,680
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($86,740)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,520)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,470)

Pixabay

#29. Surveying and mapping technicians

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $51,570
– #87 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $49,770
– Employment: 53,370
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($84,710)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($77,840)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,960)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#28. Postal service mail carriers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $51,910
– #465 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 470

National
– Annual mean salary: $53,180
– Employment: 333,570
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Modesto, CA ($57,160)
— Bismarck, ND ($57,090)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,820)

rlat // Shutterstock

#27. Postal service clerks

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $52,080
– #269 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 100

National
– Annual mean salary: $51,200
– Employment: 86,950
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Houma-Thibodaux, LA ($59,410)
— Florence, SC ($59,360)
— Monroe, MI ($59,320)

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#26. Construction and building inspectors

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $52,530
– #351 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 140

National
– Annual mean salary: $66,470
– Employment: 113,770
– 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)

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GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $52,980
– #384 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,790

National
– Annual mean salary: $62,010
– Employment: 1,427,260
– 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)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

#24. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $54,170
– #168 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 110

National
– Annual mean salary: $61,860
– Employment: 122,480
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,680)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($90,370)
— Salinas, CA ($88,050)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

#23. Property, real estate, and community association managers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $54,810
– #293 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 190

National
– Annual mean salary: $73,210
– Employment: 219,800
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
— Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
— Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area ($105,220)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

#22. Industrial machinery mechanics

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $54,920
– #330 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 810

National
– Annual mean salary: $57,350
– Employment: 385,980
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($85,900)
— Lake Charles, LA ($85,360)
— Anchorage, AK ($82,890)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#21. Chefs and head cooks

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $57,850
– #99 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $58,740
– Employment: 101,490
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Leominster-Gardner, MA ($81,020)
— Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area ($79,820)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($79,600)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#20. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $59,930
– #180 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 360

National
– Annual mean salary: $65,230
– Employment: 503,390
– 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)

sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $60,050
– #456 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 730

National
– Annual mean salary: $72,990
– Employment: 614,080
– 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)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

#17 (tie). Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $61,200
– #424 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,160

National
– Annual mean salary: $73,500
– Employment: 1,278,670
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,280)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($92,660)
— Napa, CA ($92,620)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#17 (tie). Food service managers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $61,200
– #186 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 240

National
– Annual mean salary: $61,000
– Employment: 197,010
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Trenton, NJ ($91,320)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($89,860)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,750)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#16. Advertising sales agents

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $62,720
– #57 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 130

National
– Annual mean salary: $68,040
– Employment: 110,040
– 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)

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Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $63,720
– #200 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 780

National
– Annual mean salary: $70,490
– Employment: 977,070
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,810)
— Boulder, CO ($101,630)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,360)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

#14. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $64,080
– #433 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 770

National
– Annual mean salary: $73,100
– Employment: 475,000
– 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)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

#13. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $65,930
– #98 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 100

National
– Annual mean salary: $67,600
– Employment: 53,420
– 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)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

#12. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $66,480
– #437 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 170

National
– Annual mean salary: $90,120
– Employment: 240,290
– 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)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#11. Lodging managers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $67,430
– #68 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

National
– Annual mean salary: $65,270
– Employment: 31,790
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area ($122,290)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($121,090)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($111,410)

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Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $68,310
– #144 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,380

National
– Annual mean salary: $66,800
– Employment: 599,900
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Baton Rouge, LA ($98,170)
— Lake Charles, LA ($97,910)
— West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($96,900)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#9. Insurance sales agents

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $68,660
– #124 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 470

National
– Annual mean salary: $69,100
– Employment: 409,950
– 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)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#8. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $68,740
– #197 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 360

National
– Annual mean salary: $70,650
– Employment: 287,150
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kennewick-Richland, WA ($104,350)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($95,200)
— Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area ($92,500)

Prath // Shutterstock

#7. Detectives and criminal investigators

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $70,580
– #234 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 220

National
– Annual mean salary: $89,300
– Employment: 105,980
– 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)

goodluz // Shutterstock

#6. Real estate sales agents

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $72,090
– #41 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 100

National
– Annual mean salary: $62,990
– Employment: 168,740
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Midland, TX ($100,060)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($99,880)
— Worcester, MA-CT ($93,400)

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#5. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $83,920
– #243 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 90

National
– Annual mean salary: $97,180
– Employment: 122,310
– 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)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

#4. Power plant operators

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $85,230
– #65 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $81,890
– Employment: 32,960
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fresno, CA ($129,650)
— Wenatchee, WA ($123,180)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($114,660)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $85,820
– #116 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 160

National
– Annual mean salary: $74,410
– Employment: 114,930
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($117,700)
— Salinas, CA ($110,180)
— North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area ($109,740)

Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $86,930
– #320 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 100

National
– Annual mean salary: $105,100
– Employment: 132,210
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
— Trenton, NJ ($144,620)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

#1. Commercial pilots

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $94,530
– #127 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $110,830
– Employment: 37,120
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
— Savannah, GA ($177,450)

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