Lowest-paying jobs in Decatur

Published 12:39 pm Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Daniel Lee // Flickr

Lowest-paying jobs in Decatur

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 Decatur, AL, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.

Bigflick // Shutterstock

#50. Correctional officers and jailers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $31,230
– #255 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 170

National
– Annual mean salary: $53,420
– Employment: 392,600
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($96,580)
— Salinas, CA ($89,100)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($86,260)

Canva

#49. Bakers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $31,130
– #150 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

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)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#48. Tellers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $30,920
– #319 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 260

National
– Annual mean salary: $34,930
– Employment: 364,210
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,040)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,490)
— Napa, CA ($42,000)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

#47. Phlebotomists

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $30,580
– #295 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 100

National
– Annual mean salary: $38,450
– Employment: 132,750
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($56,940)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($55,050)
— Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($53,880)

Pixabay

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

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $30,290
– #338 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,210

National
– Annual mean salary: $34,950
– Employment: 2,729,010
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,210)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,230)
— Fairbanks, AK ($42,590)

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Goldsithney // Shutterstock

#45. Psychiatric technicians

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $30,210
– #141 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 150

National
– Annual mean salary: $38,000
– Employment: 93,410
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Napa, CA ($76,220)
— San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($69,420)
— Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($67,950)

Pixabay

#44. Parts salespersons

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $30,150
– #362 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 140

National
– Annual mean salary: $36,920
– Employment: 265,130
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($48,330)
— Danville, IL ($48,080)
— Barnstable Town, MA ($47,620)

Needpix

#43. Food batchmakers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $30,140
– #208 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $36,190
– Employment: 155,240
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Battle Creek, MI ($65,310)
— Cedar Rapids, IA ($56,900)
— Binghamton, NY ($50,910)

Canva

#42. Helpers–installation, maintenance, and repair workers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $29,770
– #252 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 90

National
– Annual mean salary: $35,090
– Employment: 88,480
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Pittsfield, MA ($58,590)
— Reno, NV ($50,700)
— Springfield, MA-CT ($50,600)

Canva

#41. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $28,920
– #353 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 220

National
– Annual mean salary: $35,240
– Employment: 892,450
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,650)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,240)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($44,830)

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The Boston Globe // Getty Images

#40. Stockers and order fillers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $28,820
– #313 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 840

National
– Annual mean salary: $33,020
– Employment: 2,451,430
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,240)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,960)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($40,620)

Canva

#39. Helpers–production workers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $28,710
– #291 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 320

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)

Canva

#38. Tire repairers and changers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $28,700
– #270 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $32,520
– Employment: 93,180
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($44,520)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,520)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,370)

New Africa // Shutterstock

#37. Receptionists and information clerks

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $28,320
– #321 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 450

National
– Annual mean salary: $32,910
– Employment: 983,150
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,080)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,680)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($41,290)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#36. Social and human service assistants

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $28,010
– #382 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

National
– Annual mean salary: $40,460
– Employment: 398,380
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($56,140)
— Danbury, CT ($54,870)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($54,590)

Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

#35. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,810
– #313 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $38,250
– Employment: 118,670
– Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($57,990)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,220)
— Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($51,340)

Canva

#34. Agricultural equipment operators

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,740
– #66 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $36,280
– Employment: 26,180
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Dubuque, IA ($45,450)
— Wichita, KS ($45,340)
— Kansas City, MO-KS ($45,240)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#33. Retail salespersons

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,700
– #326 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,520

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)

viviandnguyen_ // Flickr

#32. Packers and packagers, hand

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,560
– #246 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 250

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)

Undrey // Shutterstock

#31. Data entry keyers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,540
– #301 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $35,940
– Employment: 147,170
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($48,170)
— Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($46,500)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,530)

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Rusty Clark ~ 100K Photos // Flickr

#30. Counter and rental clerks

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,110
– #374 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 120

National
– Annual mean salary: $36,170
– Employment: 371,620
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($48,760)
— Fairbanks, AK ($47,080)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,760)

Canva

#29. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,070
– #280 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

National
– Annual mean salary: $29,960
– Employment: 111,480
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($50,340)
— Fairbanks, AK ($41,840)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,120)

Ruslan Galiullin // Shutterstock

#28. Office clerks, general

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,010
– #377 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 610

National
– Annual mean salary: $38,990
– Employment: 2,578,180
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($49,980)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($49,740)
— Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($48,850)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

#27. Sewing machine operators

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $26,870
– #200 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 110

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)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

#26. Emergency medical technicians

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $26,770
– #265 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $36,690
– Employment: 161,400
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($63,500)
— Coeur d’Alene, ID ($59,020)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($58,770)

Unsplash

#25. Amusement and recreation attendants

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $26,530
– #89 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

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)

GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#24. Nursing assistants

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $26,520
– #363 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 330

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)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

#23. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $26,170
– #300 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 270

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)

Jorge Royan // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Cooks, restaurant

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,530
– #358 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 420

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)

Unsplash

#21. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,300
– #342 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 810

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)

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Africa Studio // Shutterstock

#20. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $24,630
– #331 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

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)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#19. Animal caretakers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $24,620
– #326 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

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)

Canva

#18. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $24,520
– #272 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

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)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

#17. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $23,660
– #299 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

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)

Ryan Everton // Unsplash

#16. Dishwashers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $23,170
– #268 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

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)

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Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

#15. Cashiers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $22,830
– #311 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,520

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)

Crew // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Bartenders

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $22,810
– #347 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

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)

Canva

#13. Food preparation workers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $22,540
– #362 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 450

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)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

#12. Food servers, nonrestaurant

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $22,530
– #301 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

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)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

#11. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $22,350
– #360 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 210

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)

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Canva

#10. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $22,140
– #386 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 200

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)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#9. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $21,430
– #378 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 280

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

#8. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $21,140
– #348 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 100

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)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

#7. Childcare workers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $21,100
– #350 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 120

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)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

#6. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $21,080
– #336 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

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)

Daniel Lee // Flickr

#5. Cooks, fast food

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $20,860
– #275 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)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#4. Waiters and waitresses

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $20,280
– #366 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 700

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)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#3. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $20,130
– #333 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 110

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)

Pxhere

#2. Fast food and counter workers

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $20,090
– #363 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 960

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

#1. Bus drivers, school

Decatur, AL
– Annual mean salary: $18,080
– #341 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 190

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)