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Average Salary in Alabama
This page shows what jobs actually pay in Alabama, occupation by occupation, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey for May 2024. BLS publishes wage estimates for 680 occupations in Alabama. For context, the U.S. all-occupation mean annual wage in May 2024 was $67,920, the median wage was $23.80 an hour, and total U.S. employment covered by the survey was 154,187,380 jobs. Use the tables below to see Alabama's highest-paying occupations, its largest occupations, and which Alabama jobs pay more — or less — than the same job nationally.
Highest-paying occupations in Alabama
The highest-paying occupation BLS publishes for Alabama is dermatologists, with a mean annual wage of $239,200+ — 501.7% higher than the U.S. all-occupation mean of $67,920 — and a median wage of $239,200+ across 120 jobs. Compared with the same occupation nationally (mean $239,200+), Alabama pays 17.5% higher for this work. Next on the list are oral and maxillofacial surgeons at a mean of $239,200+ and orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric at $239,200+. These top-paying fields are small: together the top three employ 470 people in Alabama, so they describe the top of the Alabama wage ladder rather than the typical worker's experience.
| Occupation | Employment | Median hourly | Median annual | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dermatologists | 120 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | 110 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | 240 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Physicians, All Other | 3,780 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Physicians, Pathologists | 60 | $114.43 | $238,020 | $239,200+ |
| Surgeons, All Other | 410 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Pediatricians, General | 330 | $97.27 | $202,330 | $234,790 |
| Orthodontists | 130 | $106.74 | $222,010 | $231,680 |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | 30 | $110.49 | $229,820 | $230,260 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | 380 | $95.64 | $198,930 | $212,590 |
| Chief Executives | 830 | $79.04 | $164,400 | $207,190 |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 80 | $98.35 | $204,570 | $206,010 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 1,410 | $86.14 | $179,160 | $176,970 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 3,480 | $75.73 | $157,520 | $160,920 |
| Financial Managers | 6,390 | $66.37 | $138,040 | $153,650 |
Largest occupations in Alabama
The occupation with the most jobs in Alabama is retail salespersons, employing an estimated 60,330 people at a median annual wage of $29,430 and a mean of $32,840. Nationally the same occupation pays a median of $34,580, so Alabama's typical pay for this work runs 14.9% lower. The next-largest occupations are registered nurses (53,340 jobs, median $71,040) and miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators (51,030 jobs, median $40,620). Because these occupations are so large, their wages move the overall picture of Alabama pay far more than the small, highly paid fields above.
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 60,330 | $29,430 | $32,840 |
| Registered Nurses | 53,340 | $71,040 | $74,970 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 51,030 | $40,620 | $42,550 |
| Cashiers | 48,790 | $26,760 | $26,170 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 44,120 | $32,050 | $35,370 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 42,180 | $40,200 | $41,860 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 37,960 | $35,780 | $36,380 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 37,500 | $23,490 | $25,450 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 37,490 | $50,120 | $54,040 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 33,720 | $37,730 | $39,920 |
| General and Operations Managers | 32,370 | $106,330 | $134,790 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 28,540 | $21,920 | $24,420 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | 25,580 | $26,690 | $26,340 |
| Accountants and Auditors | 25,420 | $71,070 | $80,760 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 24,960 | $29,120 | $30,020 |
Where Alabama pays a premium — and where it lags
Comparing each occupation's Alabama median with its own national median shows where Alabama's labor market is strong. Among occupations with at least 1,000 Alabama jobs, the largest premium is for chemical equipment operators and tenders: a median of $72,900 in Alabama versus $57,090 nationally, 27.7% higher. The largest discount is for bus drivers, school, at $17,620 in Alabama versus $47,040 nationally, 62.5% lower. In total, 20 of the 294 occupations with 1,000 or more Alabama jobs pay a median above their national median. Separately, 189 of the 680 occupations published for Alabama have a median annual wage above the U.S. all-occupation mean of $67,920, which underlines how much of Alabama's job base sits in lower-wage service work even in a state with high-paying headline jobs.
| Occupation | Alabama median | U.S. median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $72,900 | $57,090 | +27.7% |
| Engineers, All Other | $146,480 | $117,750 | +24.4% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $98,070 | $81,270 | +20.7% |
| Logisticians | $95,030 | $80,880 | +17.5% |
| Avionics Technicians | $92,100 | $81,390 | +13.2% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,920 | $33,760 | -35.1% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $22,790 | $35,240 | -35.3% |
| Dental Hygienists | $59,840 | $94,260 | -36.5% |
| Legislators | $26,990 | $44,810 | -39.8% |
| Bus Drivers, School | $17,620 | $47,040 | -62.5% |
Alabama salary FAQ
What is the highest-paying job in Alabama?
By average pay, dermatologists is the highest-paying occupation BLS publishes for Alabama, with a mean annual wage of $239,200+ and a median of $239,200+ in May 2024.
What is the average salary in Alabama?
For context, the U.S. all-occupation mean annual wage was $67,920 in May 2024. In Alabama, the largest occupation, retail salespersons, paid a median of $29,430 across 60,330 jobs, and the tables on this page show mean and median pay for all 680 published occupations.
How many jobs does the largest occupation in Alabama have?
Retail Salespersons is the largest occupation published for Alabama, with an estimated 60,330 jobs in May 2024 and a mean annual wage of $32,840.
Which occupations pay more in Alabama than in the U.S. overall?
Among occupations with at least 1,000 Alabama jobs, chemical equipment operators and tenders shows the largest premium: a median of $72,900 in Alabama versus $57,090 nationally, 27.7% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Figures checked October 2026.