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

Written by:
January 4, 2021
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

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

From the moment they first set foot on campus, 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, coaches—the list goes on and on. 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.

To find the highest-paying jobs that don't require a college degree, Stacker consulted the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook to compile a list of all jobs that don't require higher education. All professions that listed a high-school diploma, some college education (without a degree conferred), postsecondary non-degree award, or no formal education requirements for entry-level positions were considered. Jobs that didn't list any entry-level education requirement were excluded, as were job titles that grouped several positions together. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage.

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

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

1 / 50
Indypendenz // Shutterstock

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $50,530
- Employment: 520

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,190
- Employment: 102,390
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
2 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $50,570
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,830
- Employment: 40,370
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
3 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#48. Lodging managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $51,090
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,570
- Employment: 38,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
4 / 50
rlat // Shutterstock

#47. Postal service clerks

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $51,200
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,610
- Employment: 81,170
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
5 / 50
ryanivy308 // Pixabay

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $51,420
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,360
- Employment: 58,930
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
6 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $51,470
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,920
- Employment: 52,270
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
7 / 50
Jat306 // Shutterstock

#44. Millwrights

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $51,870
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,050
- Employment: 47,320
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
8 / 50
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#43. Postal service mail carriers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $52,320
- Employment: 1,420

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,180
- Employment: 339,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
9 / 50
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

#42. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $52,430
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,540
- Employment: 87,120
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
10 / 50
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

#41. Airfield operations specialists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $53,220
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,620
- Employment: 10,680
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
11 / 50
Pandu Agus Wismoyo // Unsplash

#40. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $53,320
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,110
- Employment: 133,310
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
12 / 50
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

#39. Occupational health and safety technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $53,660
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,470
- Employment: 20,580
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
13 / 50
Canva

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $54,050
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,580
- Employment: 44,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
14 / 50
Shift Drive // Shutterstock

#37. Computer user support specialists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $54,410
- Employment: 1,880

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,550
- Employment: 647,330
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
15 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#36. Advertising sales agents

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $55,360
- Employment: 590

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,660
- Employment: 129,740
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
16 / 50
welcomia // Shutterstock

#35. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $55,950
- Employment: 970

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,840
- Employment: 147,800
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
17 / 50
LStockStudio // Shutterstock

#34. Brokerage clerks

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $56,490
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,190
- Employment: 47,990
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
18 / 50
Canva

#33. Sound engineering technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $57,800
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,090
- Employment: 12,890
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
19 / 50
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#32. Chefs and head cooks

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $59,230
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,310
- Employment: 128,190
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
20 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $59,790
- Employment: 6,060

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,130
- Employment: 1,487,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
21 / 50
Stealth Communications // Wikimedia Commons

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $61,700
- Employment: 1,240

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,560
- Employment: 208,480
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
22 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#29. Food service managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $61,780
- Employment: 790

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- Employment: 235,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
23 / 50
Canva

#28. Construction and building inspectors

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $61,930
- Employment: 660

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,390
- Employment: 110,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
24 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#27. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $62,260
- Employment: 1,340

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,920
- Employment: 542,690
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
25 / 50
Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 2,680

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,760
- Employment: 1,039,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
26 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#25. Private detectives and investigators

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,000
- Employment: 35,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
27 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#24. Insurance appraisers, auto damage

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $64,010
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 13,750
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
28 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#23. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $64,900
- Employment: 2,390

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
29 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $65,710
- Employment: 2,760

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 631,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
30 / 50
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

#21. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $66,570
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,000
- Employment: 46,430
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
31 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $66,990
- Employment: 3,680

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 626,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
32 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $68,350
- Employment: 2,510

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,550
- Employment: 485,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
33 / 50
Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

#18. Gas plant operators

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $69,060
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,050
- Employment: 14,410
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
34 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $69,130
- Employment: 8,380

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
35 / 50
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $71,620
- Employment: 440

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
36 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#15. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $73,700
- Employment: 850

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
37 / 50
Canva

#14. Transportation inspectors

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $73,780
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,530
- Employment: 30,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
38 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#13. Detectives and criminal investigators

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $74,120
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
39 / 50
Canva

#12. Fire inspectors and investigators

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $75,190
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,730
- Employment: 13,710
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
40 / 50
Suwin // Shutterstock

#11. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $77,580
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,280
- Employment: 22,650
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
41 / 50
Canva

#10. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $77,900
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,250
- Employment: 28,350
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
42 / 50
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#9. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $78,030
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,220
- Employment: 13,850
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
43 / 50
Canva

#8. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $78,570
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,950
- Employment: 121,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
44 / 50
U.S. Air Force

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $80,340
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 69,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
45 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $81,100
- Employment: 970

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
46 / 50
Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $81,470
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,520
- Employment: 22,560
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
47 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $83,400
- Employment: 480

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,320
- Employment: 132,040
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
48 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#3. Insurance sales agents

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $97,130
- Employment: 2,170

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 410,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
49 / 50
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

#2. Power distributors and dispatchers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $102,410
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,910
- Employment: 10,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
50 / 50
Skycolors // Shutterstock

#1. Commercial pilots

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $104,090
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,870
- Employment: 37,830
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

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