Lowest-paying jobs in Birmingham
Published 12:36 pm Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Daniel Lee // Flickr
Lowest-paying jobs in Birmingham
The U.S. may be one of the wealthiest countries in the world but there’s a growing trend of financial inequality, with middle-class households feeling the most impact. In fact, the number of adults who live in middle-class households dropped from 61% in 1971 to 50% in 2021, according to an April 2022 analysis from Pew Research Center. On the other hand, the upper-income level rose from 14% to 21%. The declining middle class in the U.S. can be attributed to various factors including a decrease in unions and manufacturing jobs and an increased need for college-educated, tech-savvy employees.
The COVID-19 pandemic also played a major role in exposing the harsh financial gap as those who fell under the middle- and upper-income brackets were able to keep their jobs and/or work remotely. At the start of the pandemic in the U.S., workers who fell under the lower-income tier found themselves unemployed or having to be out of work, even if temporarily, as their place of employment was closed.
Those who worked in the leisure and hospitality industries were hit the hardest financially. In December 2020, employment in the hospitality industry was down by 23% compared to pre-pandemic levels in February 2020, an unemployment rate that surpassed other industries. Service employees such as housekeepers, food preparation workers, kitchen cooks, automobile glass installers, and animal caretakers were some of the lowest-paying jobs in the nation.
Stacker compiled a list of the lowest-paying jobs in Birmingham-Hoover, 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.
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Canva
#50. Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $29,080
– #60 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40
National
– Annual mean salary: $35,820
– Employment: 13,580
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Albany, OR ($50,430)
— Pittsburgh, PA ($49,010)
— Richmond, VA ($46,530)
ESB Basic // Shutterstock
#49. Switchboard operators, including answering service
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $28,650
– #162 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 220
National
– Annual mean salary: $34,590
– Employment: 48,190
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($51,610)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,250)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,440)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
#48. Recreation workers
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $28,200
– #269 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 780
National
– Annual mean salary: $32,020
– Employment: 264,020
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($50,710)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($45,730)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($44,200)
Canva
#46 (tie). Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $28,100
– #166 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70
National
– Annual mean salary: $31,440
– Employment: 277,200
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,490)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($40,560)
— Ithaca, NY ($39,570)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#46 (tie). Retail salespersons
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $28,100
– #309 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 15,030
National
– Annual mean salary: $31,920
– Employment: 3,693,490
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,150)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,150)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($38,790)
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Africa Studio // Shutterstock
#45. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,970
– #217 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 390
National
– Annual mean salary: $32,570
– Employment: 175,660
– Entry level education requirements: not available
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,740)
— Napa, CA ($42,730)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($42,000)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
#44. Manicurists and pedicurists
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,930
– #103 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 160
National
– Annual mean salary: $30,480
– Employment: 120,540
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Provo-Orem, UT ($45,320)
— Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI ($42,170)
— Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($40,030)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
#43. Nursing assistants
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,870
– #320 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 4,940
National
– Annual mean salary: $33,250
– Employment: 1,314,830
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,690)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,500)
— Salinas, CA ($44,210)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#42. Driver/sales workers
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,520
– #295 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: data not available
National
– Annual mean salary: $31,970
– Employment: 477,020
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Bismarck, ND ($48,560)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($46,390)
— Fargo, ND-MN ($46,360)
Canva
#41. Helpers–production workers
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,290
– #315 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 2,550
National
– Annual mean salary: $32,910
– Employment: 202,860
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN ($48,190)
— Pittsfield, MA ($43,910)
— Reno, NV ($41,940)
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Pixabay
#39 (tie). Psychiatric aides
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,140
– #67 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 100
National
– Annual mean salary: $34,640
– Employment: 39,140
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($54,830)
— Stockton-Lodi, CA ($54,000)
— Utica-Rome, NY ($51,960)
Jorge Royan // Wikimedia Commons
#39 (tie). Cooks, restaurant
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,140
– #286 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 3,970
National
– Annual mean salary: $31,630
– Employment: 1,193,860
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($43,900)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,380)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($41,690)
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
#38. Residential advisors
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,040
– #247 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 670
National
– Annual mean salary: $34,950
– Employment: 92,500
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Trenton, NJ ($50,560)
— Napa, CA ($48,390)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($46,210)
Sean Rayford // Getty Images
#37. Security guards
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $26,790
– #365 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 5,430
National
– Annual mean salary: $35,830
– Employment: 1,057,100
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Idaho Falls, ID ($70,350)
— San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($58,440)
— Kennewick-Richland, WA ($55,500)
Canva
#36. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $26,420
– #246 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 430
National
– Annual mean salary: $31,780
– Employment: 98,970
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Ames, IA ($44,000)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,680)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,920)
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Canva
#35. Physical therapist aides
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $26,180
– #137 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 250
National
– Annual mean salary: $30,370
– Employment: 42,390
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Santa Rosa, CA ($45,060)
— Jackson, MS ($42,210)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($40,510)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
#34. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $26,100
– #272 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,450
National
– Annual mean salary: $31,760
– Employment: 1,187,270
– Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($46,390)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,080)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,820)
Canva
#33. Bakers
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,800
– #307 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 560
National
– Annual mean salary: $32,300
– Employment: 181,800
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,850)
— Chattanooga, TN-GA ($41,660)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,160)
Canva
#32. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,720
– #343 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,970
National
– Annual mean salary: $31,520
– Employment: 392,860
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($48,130)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,400)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($47,000)
Canva
#31. Crossing guards and flaggers
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,690
– #164 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60
National
– Annual mean salary: $35,670
– Employment: 82,690
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,540)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($55,860)
— Bellingham, WA ($54,870)
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UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
#30. Sewing machine operators
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,610
– #218 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 310
National
– Annual mean salary: $30,880
– Employment: 116,220
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Appleton, WI ($43,060)
— Glens Falls, NY ($42,270)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($40,660)
PxHere
#29. Library assistants, clerical
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,580
– #205 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 320
National
– Annual mean salary: $32,490
– Employment: 78,470
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($53,770)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($52,500)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($49,030)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
#28. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,540
– #327 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,400
National
– Annual mean salary: $30,550
– Employment: 351,960
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($40,840)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,980)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,780)
Unsplash
#27. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,430
– #339 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 6,080
National
– Annual mean salary: $31,860
– Employment: 2,036,680
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,030)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($41,240)
— Barnstable Town, MA ($41,150)
Canva
#26. Orderlies
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,360
– #105 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 140
National
– Annual mean salary: $33,440
– Employment: 45,160
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($55,820)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($51,370)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($49,740)
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Jason Person // Shutterstock
#25. Cooks, short order
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,200
– #156 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 370
National
– Annual mean salary: $28,110
– Employment: 124,800
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,670)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,060)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($37,940)
viviandnguyen_ // Flickr
#24. Packers and packagers, hand
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,050
– #313 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,130
National
– Annual mean salary: $30,950
– Employment: 585,270
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,960)
— Rome, GA ($38,830)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,460)
Canva
#23. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $24,490
– #88 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 90
National
– Annual mean salary: $28,110
– Employment: 26,910
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,040)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($37,370)
— Springfield, MA-CT ($36,530)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
#22. Animal caretakers
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $24,480
– #334 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,080
National
– Annual mean salary: $29,520
– Employment: 225,680
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($40,460)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,720)
— Salinas, CA ($37,420)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
#21. Food servers, nonrestaurant
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $24,390
– #264 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 600
National
– Annual mean salary: $29,500
– Employment: 243,030
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Napa, CA ($46,270)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,930)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,400)
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Ryan Everton // Unsplash
#20. Dishwashers
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $24,110
– #205 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 860
National
– Annual mean salary: $27,350
– Employment: 377,040
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($37,560)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,200)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($36,440)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
#19. Parking attendants
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $24,010
– #146 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 180
National
– Annual mean salary: $29,210
– Employment: 91,160
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,920)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,670)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($35,420)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
#18. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $23,580
– #301 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 650
National
– Annual mean salary: $27,830
– Employment: 157,400
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,740)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,290)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($35,690)
CHRISTOF STACHE // Getty Images
#17. Preschool teachers, except special education
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $23,460
– #370 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,130
National
– Annual mean salary: $36,460
– Employment: 391,670
– Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($49,990)
— Ocean City, NJ ($49,720)
— Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($49,560)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
#16. Cashiers
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $23,260
– #281 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 11,080
National
– Annual mean salary: $26,780
– Employment: 3,335,170
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,860)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($36,910)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($35,400)
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Crew // Wikimedia Commons
#15. Bartenders
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $23,190
– #331 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 790
National
– Annual mean salary: $30,340
– Employment: 485,330
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($50,180)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,820)
— Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($47,440)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
#14. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $22,870
– #344 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 2,140
National
– Annual mean salary: $29,580
– Employment: 723,430
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($45,430)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($44,940)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,580)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
#13. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $22,840
– #307 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 780
National
– Annual mean salary: $28,040
– Employment: 220,380
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($52,150)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($48,900)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,910)
Pixabay
#12. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $22,240
– #183 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 190
National
– Annual mean salary: $27,320
– Employment: 114,320
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($43,930)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,420)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($37,930)
Canva
#11. Food preparation workers
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $22,140
– #369 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 6,100
National
– Annual mean salary: $28,810
– Employment: 783,350
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,950)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,230)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($38,340)
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Unsplash
#10. Amusement and recreation attendants
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $21,840
– #268 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,220
National
– Annual mean salary: $26,110
– Employment: 262,170
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($37,560)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($36,800)
— Anchorage, AK ($36,020)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
#9. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $21,620
– #312 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 730
National
– Annual mean salary: $27,690
– Employment: 336,970
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($38,490)
— Ithaca, NY ($38,170)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($37,910)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
#8. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $21,560
– #280 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 870
National
– Annual mean salary: $26,000
– Employment: 324,690
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($37,560)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,060)
— Madera, CA ($36,490)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
#7. Childcare workers
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $21,540
– #337 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,100
National
– Annual mean salary: $27,680
– Employment: 438,520
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,390)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,120)
— Napa, CA ($36,850)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#6. Waiters and waitresses
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $21,450
– #339 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 5,940
National
– Annual mean salary: $29,010
– Employment: 1,804,030
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Glens Falls, NY ($47,570)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,080)
— Ithaca, NY ($44,970)
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Daniel Lee // Flickr
#5. Cooks, fast food
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $21,360
– #255 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: data not available
National
– Annual mean salary: $25,490
– Employment: 768,130
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($36,820)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($36,640)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($35,040)
create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
#4. Legislators
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $21,300
– #150 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 190
National
– Annual mean salary: $57,110
– Employment: 44,590
– Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Yakima, WA ($139,690)
— Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($136,400)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($132,460)
Pxhere
#3. Fast food and counter workers
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $20,790
– #342 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 8,210
National
– Annual mean salary: $26,060
– Employment: 3,095,120
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,090)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($36,360)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($34,240)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
#2. Bus drivers, school
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $19,790
– #332 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,680
National
– Annual mean salary: $38,750
– Employment: 361,420
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Elkhart-Goshen, IN ($55,400)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($55,150)
— Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($53,770)
Education Images // Getty Images
#1. Substitute teachers, short-term
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $18,240
– #300 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,390
National
– Annual mean salary: $38,410
– Employment: 374,620
– Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Prescott, AZ ($64,310)
— Appleton, WI ($63,310)
— Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL ($58,770)
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