Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Birmingham

Written by:
February 17, 2021
LightField Studios // Shutterstock

Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Birmingham

Anybody who has taken a course in marketing, psychology or sociology is likely familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. First detailed by psychologist Andrew Maslow in his 1943 work “A Theory of Human Motivation,” the hierarchy breaks down the complex network of human thoughts into a categorical triage, placing self-development at the top and security and physical health at the bottom. In setting up this pyramid, Maslow framed self-recognition and creative development as ultimate goals, while also prioritizing personal safety and strong physical health.

As such, it has never been more important to recognize the health care professionals who work tirelessly to keep the population healthy. In 2019, the United States spent 17.7% of its GDP on health. While it’s encouraging to know that the country is investing in those responsible for maintaining the nation’s well-being, not all health care professionals receive equal compensation.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Birmingham-Hoover, AL using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage. Keep reading to see which health care jobs make the most and least in your city.

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#49. Orderlies

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $22,590
- #122 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,710
- Employment: 46,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($51,240)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($49,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,730)
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#48. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $22,830
- #248 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,690
- Employment: 97,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($48,240)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,890)
--- Port St. Lucie, FL ($43,200)
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#47. Pharmacy aides

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $23,060
- #131 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,490
- Employment: 37,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($46,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($46,430)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($42,620)
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GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#46. Nursing assistants

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $24,990
- #350 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,660

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,720
- Employment: 1,419,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($46,170)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,100)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($44,710)
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#45. Physical therapist aides

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $27,320
- #99 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,180
- Employment: 49,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Savannah, GA ($50,470)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($44,720)
--- Boulder, CO ($41,450)
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Goldsithney // Shutterstock

#44. Psychiatric technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $27,690
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 600

National
- Annual mean salary: $37,550
- Employment: 78,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($72,990)
--- Fresno, CA ($66,710)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($66,290)
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Pixabay

#43. Psychiatric aides

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $28,770
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,590
- Employment: 55,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($48,280)
--- Rochester, NY ($45,890)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($45,010)
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#42. Medical equipment preparers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $30,790
- #179 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510

National
- Annual mean salary: $39,530
- Employment: 56,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($63,400)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($61,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,670)
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Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

#41. Pharmacy technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $30,930
- #311 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,010

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,250
- Employment: 417,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,090)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($50,790)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($50,070)
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Milkovasa // Shutterstock

#40. Medical assistants

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $31,280
- #284 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,940

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,720
- Employment: 712,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($49,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,920)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,140)
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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

#39. Phlebotomists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $32,020
- #222 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,480
- Employment: 128,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($58,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,040)
--- Redding, CA ($52,310)
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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#38. Medical transcriptionists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $34,390
- #130 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,210
- Employment: 55,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($67,840)
--- Amarillo, TX ($56,970)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($54,080)
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Rido // Shutterstock

#37. Opticians, dispensing

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $35,060
- #184 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $40,730
- Employment: 72,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($70,730)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($68,970)
--- New Haven, CT ($66,020)
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#36. Ophthalmic medical technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $35,440
- #137 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

National
- Annual mean salary: $38,760
- Employment: 58,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Duluth, MN-WI ($56,620)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($53,770)
--- New Bedford, MA ($53,250)
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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#35. Dental assistants

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $35,560
- #314 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 351,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($56,010)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($54,510)
--- Rochester, MN ($53,010)
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Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

#34. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $36,430
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($76,660)
--- Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA ($57,740)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($50,100)
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#33. Athletic trainers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $38,610
- #144 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,540
- Employment: 28,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($73,250)
--- Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($66,390)
--- Trenton, NJ ($65,320)
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Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

#32. Surgical technologists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $39,890
- #249 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,110
- Employment: 109,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($74,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,790)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($69,750)
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NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

#31. Massage therapists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $40,600
- #141 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,180
- Employment: 107,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($76,930)
--- Yakima, WA ($72,870)
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($70,090)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#30. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $42,290
- #307 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,930

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 697,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,490)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,160)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($67,990)
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#29. Recreational therapists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $46,990
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,130
- Employment: 19,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($83,590)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,800)
--- Fresno, CA ($82,170)
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#28. Dental hygienists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $47,800
- #373 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,270

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($140,150)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($120,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,940)
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lenetstan // Shutterstock

#27. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $49,490
- #309 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,090

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($109,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,670)
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Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#26. Respiratory therapists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $53,880
- #222 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 710

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($101,520)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($98,810)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,950)
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#25. Dietitians and nutritionists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $55,030
- #212 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,330
- Employment: 67,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($88,350)
--- Salinas, CA ($87,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,890)
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Halfpoint // Shutterstock

#24. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $55,790
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salem, OR ($106,620)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($103,050)
--- Medford, OR ($82,780)
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#23. Physical therapist assistants

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $57,370
- #158 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($78,530)
--- Victoria, TX ($78,070)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($75,470)
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SofikoS // Shutterstock

#22. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $62,120
- #211 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($126,850)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($115,280)
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#21. Occupational therapy assistants

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $62,350
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($92,580)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($83,690)
--- Reno, NV ($81,800)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#20. Registered nurses

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $62,810
- #289 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 16,760

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,460
- Employment: 2,982,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($138,000)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($134,000)
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#19. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $63,260
- #118 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($124,950)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,870)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($99,920)
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#18. Nuclear medicine technologists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $64,550
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,660)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,340)
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#17. Audiologists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $70,650
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,900
- Employment: 13,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Reno, NV ($146,950)
--- Fresno, CA ($131,270)
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($120,440)
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#16. Speech-language pathologists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $74,800
- #220 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,000
- Employment: 154,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($117,710)
--- Corvallis, OR ($105,380)
--- Chico, CA ($104,640)
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KSai23 // Shutterstock

#15. Chiropractors

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $75,920
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $85,010
- Employment: 35,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($160,330)
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($149,580)
--- Reno, NV ($140,260)
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#14. Radiation therapists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $76,350
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($142,300)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($126,260)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,720)
37 / 49
Ohiodominican // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Physician assistants

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $81,420
- #302 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $112,410
- Employment: 120,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($161,370)
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($156,250)
--- Waterbury, CT ($154,550)
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ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock

#12. Occupational therapists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $89,470
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,210
- Employment: 133,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- The Villages, FL ($115,090)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($108,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($107,450)
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Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock

#11. Physical therapists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $93,860
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 900

National
- Annual mean salary: $90,170
- Employment: 233,350
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yuba City, CA ($116,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($116,120)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($113,950)
40 / 49
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#10. Nurse practitioners

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $103,520
- #249 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,070

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,840
- Employment: 200,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($175,060)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($160,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,150)
41 / 49
Austin Community College // Flickr

#9. Veterinarians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $109,720
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $104,820
- Employment: 74,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sherman-Denison, TX ($210,960)
--- Lubbock, TX ($176,730)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($161,230)
42 / 49
Grace Nichols // U.S. Air Force

#8. Pharmacists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $128,690
- #135 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,410

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,510
- Employment: 311,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tyler, TX ($161,790)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($158,250)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($157,850)
43 / 49
Kzenon // Shutterstock

#7. Optometrists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $128,920
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $122,980
- Employment: 39,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($238,460)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($210,490)
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($183,380)
44 / 49
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#6. Pediatricians, general

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $145,440
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $184,410
- Employment: 29,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($277,390)
--- Killeen-Temple, TX ($273,770)
--- Chico, CA ($270,550)
45 / 49
LightField Studios // Shutterstock

#5. Psychiatrists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $153,550
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $220,430
- Employment: 25,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($282,400)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($280,270)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($280,200)
46 / 49
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#4. Dentists, general

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $169,180
- #202 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $178,260
- Employment: 110,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Burlington, NC ($278,360)
--- Burlington-South Burlington, VT ($275,430)
--- Longview, TX ($272,440)
47 / 49
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#3. Nurse anesthetists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $171,170
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $181,040
- Employment: 43,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($266,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($254,860)
--- Columbus, GA-AL ($247,540)
48 / 49
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#2. Family medicine physicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $257,020
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $213,270
- Employment: 109,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Racine, WI ($286,030)
--- Jacksonville, NC ($282,580)
--- Gadsden, AL ($281,430)
49 / 49
Unsplash

#1. Surgeons, except ophthalmologists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Annual mean salary: $264,940
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $252,040
- Employment: 36,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wausau, WI ($285,230)
--- Oshkosh-Neenah, WI ($285,210)
--- Asheville, NC ($284,780)

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