Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
60 Highest Paying Jobs in Alabama (2026)
The highest-paying job in Alabama is Pediatrician with a state-aggregated median salary of $189,650 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data weighted across the state's 1 BLS-tracked metro. Across all 60 occupations the average median is $94,647, with 24 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. Alabama's average cost-of-living index is 90, so the average median equates to $105,163 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
The 60 occupations below are ranked by median wage across Alabama — rolling up wage data across all metropolitan areas in the state. State-level rollups smooth over the substantial intra-state wage variation typical of larger states. For state-level wage comparisons, BLS OEWS state files aggregate across MSAs and non-MSA areas. The aggregation hides legitimate within-state differences: a job in Alabama's primary metro often pays substantially more (and costs substantially more to live near) than the same job in smaller cities.
Use the per-metro pages for the geographic-specific view. The state-level ranking is most useful for comparing Alabama to other states, not for comparing within-state options.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Alabama
Ranked by state-aggregated median (50th percentile) salary, employment-weighted across Alabama's single tracked metro.
State median $189,650 · 80 jobs · top metro: Birmingham ($189,650)
Pediatricians in Alabama earn $189,650 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Birmingham) pays $189,650 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $170,230 · 2,800 jobs · top metro: Birmingham ($170,230)
Lawyers in Alabama earn $170,230 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Birmingham) pays $170,230 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $162,890 · 110 jobs · top metro: Birmingham ($162,890)
Optometrists in Alabama earn $162,890 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Birmingham) pays $162,890 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $153,930 · 2,700 jobs · top metro: Birmingham ($153,930)
Financial Managers in Alabama earn $153,930 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Birmingham) pays $153,930 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $140,230 · 2,230 jobs · top metro: Birmingham ($140,230)
Computer and Information Systems Managers in Alabama earn $140,230 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Birmingham) pays $140,230 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $138,800 · 1,550 jobs · top metro: Birmingham ($138,800)
Pharmacists in Alabama earn $138,800 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Birmingham) pays $138,800 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $131,140 · 880 jobs · top metro: Birmingham ($131,140)
Computer Network Architects in Alabama earn $131,140 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Birmingham) pays $131,140 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $130,160 · 660 jobs · top metro: Birmingham ($130,160)
Marketing Managers in Alabama earn $130,160 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Birmingham) pays $130,160 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $127,080 · 620 jobs · top metro: Birmingham ($127,080)
Human Resources Managers in Alabama earn $127,080 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Birmingham) pays $127,080 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $125,940 · 190 jobs · top metro: Birmingham ($125,940)
Business Professor (Postsecondary)s in Alabama earn $125,940 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Birmingham) pays $125,940 median, materially above the state aggregate.
Full Ranking: All 60 Tracked Occupations
| Rank | Role | Category | State Median | Top Metro | Top Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pediatrician | Healthcare | $189,650 | Birmingham | $189,650 | 80 |
| 2 | Lawyer | Legal | $170,230 | Birmingham | $170,230 | 2,800 |
| 3 | Optometrist | Healthcare | $162,890 | Birmingham | $162,890 | 110 |
| 4 | Financial Manager | Finance | $153,930 | Birmingham | $153,930 | 2,700 |
| 5 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $140,230 | Birmingham | $140,230 | 2,230 |
| 6 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $138,800 | Birmingham | $138,800 | 1,550 |
| 7 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $131,140 | Birmingham | $131,140 | 880 |
| 8 | Marketing Manager | Management | $130,160 | Birmingham | $130,160 | 660 |
| 9 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $127,080 | Birmingham | $127,080 | 620 |
| 10 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $125,940 | Birmingham | $125,940 | 190 |
| 11 | Software Developer | Technology | $125,410 | Birmingham | $125,410 | 3,830 |
| 12 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $123,560 | Birmingham | $123,560 | 7,950 |
| 13 | Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $119,990 | Birmingham | $119,990 | 140 |
| 14 | Sales Manager | Management | $119,740 | Birmingham | $119,740 | 1,560 |
| 15 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $115,520 | Birmingham | $115,520 | 670 |
| 16 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $112,960 | Birmingham | $112,960 | 900 |
| 17 | Management Analyst | Management | $108,220 | Birmingham | $108,220 | 1,290 |
| 18 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $107,700 | Birmingham | $107,700 | 1,350 |
| 19 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $106,890 | Birmingham | $106,890 | 310 |
| 20 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $105,440 | Birmingham | $105,440 | 280 |
| 21 | Computer Programmer | Technology | $103,750 | Birmingham | $103,750 | 120 |
| 22 | Database Architect | Technology | $101,850 | Birmingham | $101,850 | 540 |
| 23 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $100,500 | Birmingham | $100,500 | 3,430 |
| 24 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $100,480 | Birmingham | $100,480 | 940 |
| 25 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $99,470 | Birmingham | $99,470 | 1,870 |
| 26 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $98,810 | Birmingham | $98,810 | 780 |
| 27 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $97,750 | Birmingham | $97,750 | 1,030 |
| 28 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $97,420 | Birmingham | $97,420 | 1,070 |
| 29 | Architect | Engineering | $96,730 | Birmingham | $96,730 | 500 |
| 30 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $95,250 | Birmingham | $95,250 | 540 |
| 31 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $94,330 | Birmingham | $94,330 | 400 |
| 32 | Data Scientist | Technology | $94,240 | Birmingham | $94,240 | 490 |
| 33 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $91,290 | Birmingham | $91,290 | 1,100 |
| 34 | Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $89,940 | Birmingham | $89,940 | 100 |
| 35 | Audiologist | Healthcare | $86,300 | Birmingham | $86,300 | 0 |
| 36 | Network Architect | Technology | $84,350 | Birmingham | $84,350 | 1,290 |
| 37 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $82,060 | Birmingham | $82,060 | 360 |
| 38 | Statistician | Technology | $80,240 | Birmingham | $80,240 | 90 |
| 39 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $79,480 | Birmingham | $79,480 | 1,190 |
| 40 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $78,680 | Birmingham | $78,680 | 17,850 |
| 41 | Accountant | Finance | $78,660 | Birmingham | $78,660 | 7,790 |
| 42 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $75,750 | Birmingham | $75,750 | 600 |
| 43 | Loan Officer | Finance | $66,740 | Birmingham | $66,740 | 1,730 |
| 44 | Web Designer | Technology | $66,640 | Birmingham | $66,640 | 200 |
| 45 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $64,880 | Birmingham | $64,880 | 710 |
| 46 | Writer/Author | Creative | $64,460 | Birmingham | $64,460 | 70 |
| 47 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $62,650 | Birmingham | $62,650 | 2,850 |
| 48 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $62,630 | Birmingham | $62,630 | 5,340 |
| 49 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $62,190 | Birmingham | $62,190 | 2,660 |
| 50 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $62,000 | Birmingham | $62,000 | 220 |
| 51 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $61,730 | Birmingham | $61,730 | 1,150 |
| 52 | Web Developer | Technology | $60,130 | Birmingham | $60,130 | 40 |
| 53 | Plumber | Trades | $60,090 | Birmingham | $60,090 | 1,840 |
| 54 | Electrician | Trades | $56,630 | Birmingham | $56,630 | 2,780 |
| 55 | Paralegal | Legal | $53,160 | Birmingham | $53,160 | 2,420 |
| 56 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $52,480 | Birmingham | $52,480 | 530 |
| 57 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $51,430 | Birmingham | $51,430 | 2,790 |
| 58 | Carpenter | Trades | $50,400 | Birmingham | $50,400 | 1,660 |
| 59 | Welder | Trades | $49,930 | Birmingham | $49,930 | 2,160 |
| 60 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $47,830 | Birmingham | $47,830 | 2,220 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in Alabama
Alabama's pay distribution reflects its mix of regional employers and industries, plus the local cost of living that affects nominal salary levels in the BLS data.
$Alabama tracks $1 BLS-published metros covering approximately $103,550 workers across the $60 occupations on this page. State-aggregated medians are employment-weighted across metros, which is the right way to read "state pay" when BLS publishes by metro. The Pediatrician top spot reflects Birmingham pulling the upper end of the distribution; smaller metros in Alabama typically pay 10–25% less for the same role.
Metro-by-Metro Detail
For salary data specific to one metro within Alabama, see:
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in Alabama is Pediatrician with a state median salary of $189,650. The top-paying metro for this role is Birmingham at $189,650 median. The role employs roughly 80 workers across Alabama.
24 of the 60 BLS-tracked occupations in Alabama have a state-aggregated median salary of $100,000 or higher. That places this state in the upper tier nationally for high-paying occupations.
Across 60 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in Alabama is $94,647. The figure is employment-weighted across 1 metros, so larger occupations and larger metros contribute proportionally more. Cost-of-living-adjusted to a national-average baseline, it equates to $105,163.
BLS OEWS publishes wage data by Metropolitan Statistical Area. For Alabama, this page aggregates Birmingham. Some non-MSA areas (small towns, rural counties) are excluded from OEWS metro tables but covered in BLS state-level summaries; we use metro-level data to preserve the percentile granularity.
Every wage figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers. State aggregates are computed by employment-weighting metro-level percentile wages across the BLS-tracked metros in Alabama.
State aggregates are employment-weighted across the BLS-tracked metros in Alabama, using OEWS 2025 data.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.