Highest-paying jobs in Tuscaloosa that don't require a college degree

Published 2:47 pm Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Highest-paying jobs in Tuscaloosa that don’t require a college degree

College isn’t for everyone—despite what today’s youth may hear from the adults in their lives.

From the moment they arrive freshman year, today’s high school students are inundated with messages about the importance of receiving a college education. They hear it from their guidance counselors, teachers, parents, family members, neighbors, and coaches.

While graduation from a four-year college can certainly work wonders for students’ future careers, it’s not necessary for all fields—something admissions officers and guidance counselors sometimes fail to mention.

The median wage for high school diploma recipients is about $809 a week—higher than those without a diploma ($626), but well below the median for bachelor’s degree holders ($1,334). But many jobs without college degree requirements still pay decent wages. Some even pay better than jobs reserved for degree earners.

Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Tuscaloosa that don’t require higher education. Professions that listed a high school diploma, some college education (without a degree conferred), postsecondary nondegree award, or no formal education requirements for entry-level positions were considered. Jobs are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022.

Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs in Tuscaloosa that don’t require a college degree.

This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.


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#50. Electricians

– Median annual wage: $48,950
– Median hourly wage: $23.53
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 400 people (4.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship

Akimov Igor // Shutterstock

#49. Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders

– Median annual wage: $49,020
– Median hourly wage: $23.57
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 60 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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#48. Surveying and mapping technicians

– Median annual wage: $49,460
– Median hourly wage: $23.78
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 30 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#47. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

– Median annual wage: $49,740
– Median hourly wage: $23.91
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 30 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

goodluz // Shutterstock

#46. Real estate sales agents

– Median annual wage: $49,930
– Median hourly wage: $24.01
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 90 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

– Median annual wage: $50,050
– Median hourly wage: $24.06
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 250 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

fizkes // Shutterstock

#43. Public safety telecommunicators (tie)

– Median annual wage: $50,240
– Median hourly wage: $24.16
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 140 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

#43. Security and fire alarm systems installers (tie)

– Median annual wage: $50,240
– Median hourly wage: $24.15
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 50 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

DuxX // Shutterstock

#42. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

– Median annual wage: $50,500
– Median hourly wage: $24.28
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 170 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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#41. Crane and tower operators

– Median annual wage: $51,290
– Median hourly wage: $24.66
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 50 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Bigflick // Shutterstock

#40. Correctional officers and jailers

– Median annual wage: $51,320
– Median hourly wage: $24.67
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 240 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock

#39. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders

– Median annual wage: $51,500
– Median hourly wage: $24.76
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 200 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

New Africa // Shutterstock

#38. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers

– Median annual wage: $51,730
– Median hourly wage: $24.87
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 100 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

#37. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

– Median annual wage: $51,850
– Median hourly wage: $24.93
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 30 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#36. Office and administrative support workers, all other

– Median annual wage: $51,880
– Median hourly wage: $24.94
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 40 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training

Jat306 // Shutterstock

#35. Millwrights

– Median annual wage: $51,930
– Median hourly wage: $24.97
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 120 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

#34. Structural iron and steel workers

– Median annual wage: $52,080
– Median hourly wage: $25.04
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 50 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#33. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators

– Median annual wage: $52,500
– Median hourly wage: $25.24
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 5,440 people (54.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#32. Postal service mail carriers

– Median annual wage: $52,850
– Median hourly wage: $25.41
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 250 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training

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#31. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

– Median annual wage: $53,080
– Median hourly wage: $25.52
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 40 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#30. Insurance sales agents

– Median annual wage: $53,540
– Median hourly wage: $25.74
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 220 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

pio3 // Shutterstock

#29. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers

– Median annual wage: $53,710
– Median hourly wage: $25.82
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 750 people (7.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

welcomia // Shutterstock

#28. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

– Median annual wage: $53,800
– Median hourly wage: $25.86
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 260 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

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

#27. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

– Median annual wage: $55,720
– Median hourly wage: $26.79
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 470 people (4.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

rlat // Shutterstock

#26. Postal service clerks

– Median annual wage: $56,200
– Median hourly wage: $27.02
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 50 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

– Median annual wage: $56,490
– Median hourly wage: $27.16
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 860 people (8.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#24. Food service managers

– Median annual wage: $57,210
– Median hourly wage: $27.50
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 280 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training

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#23. Construction and building inspectors

– Median annual wage: $58,540
– Median hourly wage: $28.14
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 50 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

SatawatK // Shutterstock

#22. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers

– Median annual wage: $59,350
– Median hourly wage: $28.53
– Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Total employment: 110 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

#21. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

– Median annual wage: $59,400
– Median hourly wage: $28.56
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 420 people (4.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

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#20. Firefighters

– Median annual wage: $60,680
– Median hourly wage: $29.18
– Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Total employment: 380 people (3.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

#19. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

– Median annual wage: $61,120
– Median hourly wage: $29.39
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#18. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

– Median annual wage: $61,530
– Median hourly wage: $29.58
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 120 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

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#17. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

– Median annual wage: $62,000
– Median hourly wage: $29.81
– Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Total employment: 40 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

– Median annual wage: $62,030
– Median hourly wage: $29.82
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 90 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

#15. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

– Median annual wage: $62,240
– Median hourly wage: $29.93
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 70 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

SritanaN // Shutterstock

#14. Industrial machinery mechanics

– Median annual wage: $62,990
– Median hourly wage: $30.29
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 1,460 people (14.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

#13. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

– Median annual wage: $65,220
– Median hourly wage: $31.36
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 140 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

sculpies // Shutterstock

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

– Median annual wage: $65,700
– Median hourly wage: $31.59
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 790 people (7.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

#11. Gas plant operators

– Median annual wage: $66,540
– Median hourly wage: $31.99
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 60 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

– Median annual wage: $67,090
– Median hourly wage: $32.25
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 980 people (9.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

– Median annual wage: $67,350
– Median hourly wage: $32.38
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 560 people (5.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#8. Chefs and head cooks

– Median annual wage: $67,790
– Median hourly wage: $32.59
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 50 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#7. Real estate brokers

– Median annual wage: $72,940
– Median hourly wage: $35.07
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: Not available
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#6. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

– Median annual wage: $79,440
– Median hourly wage: $38.19
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 40 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

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#5. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

– Median annual wage: $84,980
– Median hourly wage: $40.86
– Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Total employment: 50 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

– Median annual wage: $85,660
– Median hourly wage: $41.18
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 70 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

#3. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

– Median annual wage: $98,220
– Median hourly wage: $47.22
– Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Total employment: 120 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

– Median annual wage: $104,550
– Median hourly wage: $50.27
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 80 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

goodluz // Shutterstock

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

– Median annual wage: $109,010
– Median hourly wage: $52.41
– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
– Total employment: 50 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None