Highest paying jobs in Mobile for high school graduates

Written by:
March 22, 2021
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

Highest paying jobs in Mobile for high school graduates

The average college graduate in 2019 earned $78,000 a year, while the average high school graduate takes home just $45,000, according to research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. To put it in perspective, the average annual wage for workers in the U.S. that same year was $51,916.27.

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.

Just because you decide higher education isn’t in the cards doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to a lifetime of low-paying jobs. You just need to be strategic about the career you choose. Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying jobs for high school graduates in Mobile, AL using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage.

As this BLS data reflects the 2019 calendar year, the wages listed do not reflect any economic changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay the most for high school graduates.

1 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $45,950
- #151 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,920
- Employment: 52,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($91,020)
--- Glens Falls, NY ($86,890)
--- Madison, WI ($85,750)
2 / 50
Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

#49. Riggers

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $45,980
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,420
- Employment: 23,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,340)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($78,220)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($73,610)
3 / 50
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

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

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $45,990
- #209 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,340
- Employment: 103,580
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($77,450)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($72,980)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($71,740)
4 / 50
Kot500 // Shutterstock

#47. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $47,680
- #173 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,360
- Employment: 266,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($69,910)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($68,840)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($67,900)
5 / 50
Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#46. Electricians

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $47,870
- #288 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,900

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,370
- Employment: 688,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($100,400)
--- Trenton, NJ ($84,950)
--- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($84,810)
6 / 50
PHILIPIMAGE // Shutterstock

#45. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $48,080
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $43,440
- Employment: 22,940
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($59,490)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($58,270)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($57,680)
7 / 50
welcomia // Shutterstock

#44. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $48,200
- #247 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,840
- Employment: 147,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($80,010)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($77,660)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,510)
8 / 50
Pixabay

#43. Surveying and mapping technicians

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $48,270
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 53,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($82,420)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($78,050)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($77,870)
9 / 50
Canva

#42. Automotive body and related repairers

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- #106 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,390
- Employment: 144,180
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($79,950)
--- Napa, CA ($73,930)
--- Raleigh, NC ($69,030)
10 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#41. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $48,700
- #249 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,190

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,800
- Employment: 442,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($89,470)
--- Kankakee, IL ($88,790)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,230)
11 / 50
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#40. Chefs and head cooks

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $49,340
- #159 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,310
- Employment: 128,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($91,770)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($84,240)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($83,490)
12 / 50
Canva

#39. Construction and building inspectors

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $49,880
- #252 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,390
- Employment: 110,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($101,820)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($101,000)
--- Madera, CA ($95,910)
13 / 50
GolF2532 // Shutterstock

#38. Security and fire alarm systems installers

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $49,960
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,210
- Employment: 71,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($67,650)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($66,170)
--- Anchorage, AK ($65,830)
14 / 50
LStockStudio // Shutterstock

#37. Brokerage clerks

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $50,040
- #79 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,190
- Employment: 47,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($69,070)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($65,450)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($63,270)
15 / 50
Pixabay

#36. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $50,150
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,430

National
- Annual mean salary: $45,190
- Employment: 410,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wheeling, WV-OH ($85,310)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($74,280)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($71,220)
16 / 50
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

#35. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $50,210
- #133 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,640
- Employment: 370,380
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($73,910)
--- Parkersburg-Vienna, WV ($68,320)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($67,050)
17 / 50
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $50,280
- #229 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charleston-North Charleston, SC ($110,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($107,190)
--- San Juan-Carolina-Caguas, PR ($103,530)
18 / 50
Indypendenz // Shutterstock

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

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $50,300
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,190
- Employment: 102,390
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($55,700)
--- Wausau, WI ($55,630)
--- Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($54,450)
19 / 50
Unsplash

#32. Structural iron and steel workers

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $50,410
- #83 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,170
- Employment: 76,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($92,750)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($90,150)
--- Rockford, IL ($86,870)
20 / 50
LuckView // Shutterstock

#31. Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $50,440
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $37,310
- Employment: 195,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Flint, MI ($56,830)
--- Mobile, AL ($50,440)
--- Modesto, CA ($48,630)
21 / 50
Canva

#30. Cargo and freight agents

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $50,570
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,770
- Employment: 95,810
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bend-Redmond, OR ($71,990)
--- Erie, PA ($66,030)
--- New Haven, CT ($61,930)
22 / 50
London Metropolitan Archives/Heritage Images // Getty Images

#29. Machinists

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $51,270
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,120
- Employment: 383,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Manchester, NH ($69,820)
--- Anchorage, AK ($67,000)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($66,940)
23 / 50
rlat // Shutterstock

#28. Postal service clerks

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $51,420
- #145 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,610
- Employment: 81,170
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Flagstaff, AZ ($56,540)
--- Florence, SC ($56,080)
--- Monroe, MI ($55,650)
24 / 50
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#27. Postal service mail carriers

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $51,510
- #215 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,180
- Employment: 339,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($56,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,220)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($54,930)
25 / 50
Unsplash

#26. Crane and tower operators

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $51,640
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,530
- Employment: 45,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Reading, PA ($82,410)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,220)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($81,920)
26 / 50
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

#25. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $53,080
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690

National
- Annual mean salary: $43,000
- Employment: 576,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($79,700)
--- Anchorage, AK ($78,400)
--- Odessa, TX ($75,850)
27 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#24. Lodging managers

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $53,660
- #112 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,570
- Employment: 38,340
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($110,620)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,250)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($97,090)
28 / 50
Jat306 // Shutterstock

#23. Millwrights

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $53,820
- #81 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,050
- Employment: 47,320
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($82,700)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($81,740)
--- Eugene, OR ($81,510)
29 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $53,910
- #235 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,090

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,130
- Employment: 1,487,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($73,300)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($73,050)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($71,190)
30 / 50
Pxhere

#21. Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $54,320
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $43,280
- Employment: 17,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($63,470)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($59,360)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($57,410)
31 / 50
Canva

#20. Boilermakers

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $54,700
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,040
- Employment: 15,820
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($88,500)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($86,630)
--- Pittsburgh, PA ($85,140)
32 / 50
Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $54,970
- #240 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 960

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,760
- Employment: 1,039,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC ($94,480)
--- Walla Walla, WA ($88,980)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($88,360)
33 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

#18. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $57,810
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,830
- Employment: 40,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Billings, MT ($91,500)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,580)
--- Anchorage, AK ($90,400)
34 / 50
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

#17. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $60,430
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,540
- Employment: 87,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Billings, MT ($78,670)
--- Hattiesburg, MS ($70,540)
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($69,990)
35 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#16. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $60,460
- #90 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,920
- Employment: 542,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($85,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($82,480)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,240)
36 / 50
SritanaN // Shutterstock

#15. Industrial machinery mechanics

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $61,760
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,130

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,320
- Employment: 387,630
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($84,670)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($82,010)
--- Manhattan, KS ($81,810)
37 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#14. Food service managers

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $64,080
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- Employment: 235,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ocean City, NJ ($91,790)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($90,830)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($89,760)
38 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $65,290
- #202 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,340

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 626,180
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($108,140)
--- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($104,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($99,580)
39 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $65,480
- #234 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 950

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,550
- Employment: 485,700
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,740)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($88,950)
40 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#11. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $65,850
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($103,440)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($88,480)
--- Hammond, LA ($86,880)
41 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $66,950
- #170 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,180

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Fe, NM ($94,880)
--- Kingston, NY ($91,660)
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($90,850)
42 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $73,000
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,040

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 631,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($100,350)
--- Longview, WA ($96,560)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($95,410)
43 / 50
Canva

#8. Chemical plant and system operators

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $73,260
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,710
- Employment: 28,840
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($86,690)
--- Corpus Christi, TX ($85,080)
--- Mobile, AL ($73,260)
44 / 50
Skycolors // Shutterstock

#7. Commercial pilots

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $74,680
- #91 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,870
- Employment: 37,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($164,720)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($139,920)
--- Jackson, MS ($136,010)
45 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $74,930
- #151 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($125,850)
--- Anchorage, AK ($122,370)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($122,130)
46 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#5. Insurance sales agents

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $80,460
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 410,050
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,960)
--- New Bedford, MA ($103,050)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($97,130)
47 / 50
Canva

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $88,020
- #147 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,950
- Employment: 121,340
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($189,800)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($180,940)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($178,670)
48 / 50
Canva

#3. Transportation inspectors

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $88,450
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,530
- Employment: 30,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($120,180)
--- Anchorage, AK ($105,450)
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($101,660)
49 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $89,360
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($116,640)
--- Raleigh, NC ($112,570)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($110,260)
50 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Mobile, AL
- Annual mean salary: $101,560
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,320
- Employment: 132,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($151,260)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($144,220)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($139,860)

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