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An internet presentation of the Occupational Outlook Handbook plus related career guidance information

Highest paying to lowest paying occupations

Tuscaloosa, AL

This list of OES earnings and employment estimates for occupations in the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, area is ordered by average earnings. The occupation title is a link to the section of the Occupational Outlook Handbook that includes the occupation. (In some cases two or more OES occupations are included together in one OOH article.)

Occupations ranked by mean annual earnings

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Metropolitian area, all industries, May 2005

Mean annual wageOccupationMedian annual wageEmployment
$172,950Physicians and surgeons, all other
(area) (ind)
>$145K 100
$165,360Internists, general
(area) (ind)
>$145Kn.a.
$163,970Personal financial advisors
(area) (ind)
>$145K 40
$139,150Psychiatrists
(area) (ind)
$138,620 30
$124,160Dentists, general
(area) (ind)
$106,310 60
$119,420Chief executives
(area) (ind)
$113,460 110
$98,720Mechanical engineers
(area) (ind)
$101,500n.a.
$97,050Sales managers
(area) (ind)
$82,250 100
$92,760Management analysts
(area) (ind)
$58,460 80
$87,000General and operations managers
(area) (ind)
$73,850 1,280
$86,360Engineering managers
(area) (ind)
$80,540 80
$84,450Lawyers
(area) (ind)
$58,660 280
$82,130Family and general practitioners
(area) (ind)
$45,890 70
$81,260Financial managers
(area) (ind)
$68,780 240
$79,650Medical and health services managers
(area) (ind)
$76,280 130
$79,520Engineers, all other
(area) (ind)
$94,960n.a.
$77,860Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists
(area) (ind)
$54,790n.a.
$76,430Architects, except landscape and naval
(area) (ind)
$78,580n.a.
$76,390Pharmacists
(area) (ind)
$82,910 260
$75,870Management occupations
(area) (ind)
$65,480 3,610
$74,970Industrial production managers
(area) (ind)
$74,140 150
$72,420Legal occupations
(area) (ind)
$54,500 380
$68,590Computer and information systems managers
(area) (ind)
$60,230 70
$67,590Human resources managers, all other
(area) (ind)
$63,820 30
$67,450Industrial engineers
(area) (ind)
$66,680 150
$67,440Electrical engineers
(area) (ind)
$65,290 120
$67,010Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
(area) (ind)
$55,140 60
$65,790Computer programmers
(area) (ind)
$66,510 100
$65,230Marketing managers
(area) (ind)
$58,650 50
$64,830Financial analysts
(area) (ind)
$60,820n.a.
$64,000Education administrators, elementary and secondary school
(area) (ind)
$66,900 230
$63,390Managers, all other
(area) (ind)
$59,310 250
$62,200Physical therapists
(area) (ind)
$62,630 110
$61,700Property, real estate, and community association managers
(area) (ind)
$58,500 30
$60,000Occupational therapists
(area) (ind)
$62,280 30
$59,460Architecture and engineering occupations
(area) (ind)
$54,750 1,370
$59,440Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
(area) (ind)
$54,210 40
$57,990Education administrators, all other
(area) (ind)
$59,090 30
$57,410Construction managers
(area) (ind)
$51,620 170
$57,280Public relations managers
(area) (ind)
$53,780 30
$55,230Market research analysts
(area) (ind)
$55,020 70
$53,950Computer systems analysts
(area) (ind)
$52,070 130
$53,820First-line supervisors/managers of non-retail sales workers
(area) (ind)
$48,940 160
$52,780Administrative services managers
(area) (ind)
$49,780 50
$52,060Loan officers
(area) (ind)
$41,890 180
$52,000Social workers, all other
(area) (ind)
$52,820 40
$51,620Electrical power-line installers and repairers
(area) (ind)
$50,660 140
$51,150First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers
(area) (ind)
$46,720 400
$50,400Life, physical, and social science occupations
(area) (ind)
$45,940 460
$49,770Insurance sales agents
(area) (ind)
$41,410 120
$49,460Electrical and electronic engineering technicians
(area) (ind)
$50,370 50
$48,430Computer and mathematical occupations
(area) (ind)
$43,970 570
$48,360Civil engineers
(area) (ind)
$45,970 100
$48,250Network and computer systems administrators
(area) (ind)
$43,490 70
$48,180First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers
(area) (ind)
$44,390 730
$47,980Engineering technicians, except drafters, all other
(area) (ind)
$47,130n.a.
$47,890Network systems and data communications analysts
(area) (ind)
$41,680 40
$47,830Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agents
(area) (ind)
$44,670 30
$47,730First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers
(area) (ind)
$42,880 770
$47,380Business and financial operations occupations
(area) (ind)
$39,620 1,750
$46,630Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
(area) (ind)
$40,780 720
$46,320Occupational health and safety specialists
(area) (ind)
$41,380 50
$46,220Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
(area) (ind)
$39,090 5,990
$45,950Vocational education teachers, secondary school
(area) (ind)
$44,810n.a.
$45,060Automotive body and related repairers
(area) (ind)
$44,830 100
$44,980Business operations specialists, all other
(area) (ind)
$41,290 130
$44,530Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other
(area) (ind)
$46,710 90
$44,270Postal service clerks
(area) (ind)
$46,560 40
$43,860Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
(area) (ind)
$45,740 70
$43,760Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
(area) (ind)
$40,090 40
$43,570Power plant operators
(area) (ind)
$37,200n.a.
$43,460Coaches and scouts
(area) (ind)
$21,690 210
$43,390Medical and clinical laboratory technologists
(area) (ind)
$45,050 80
$43,230First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators
(area) (ind)
$40,470 150
$43,030Accountants and auditors
(area) (ind)
$37,350 520
$42,680Surveyors
(area) (ind)
$38,510 70
$42,380Postal service mail carriers
(area) (ind)
$43,380 220
$42,350Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation
(area) (ind)
$40,450 50
$42,050Foresters
(area) (ind)
$42,980n.a.
$41,990Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school
(area) (ind)
$39,730n.a.
$41,600Editors
(area) (ind)
$35,550 70
$41,540Dietitians and nutritionists
(area) (ind)
$41,050 40
$41,390Speech-language pathologists
(area) (ind)
$40,230n.a.
$41,320Construction and building inspectors
(area) (ind)
$40,200 70
$40,290Gas plant operators
(area) (ind)
$39,960n.a.
$40,140Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
(area) (ind)
$45,920 50
$40,090Audiologists
(area) (ind)
$39,330n.a.
$40,040Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products
(area) (ind)
$36,010 100
$40,010Millwrights
(area) (ind)
$40,320 50
$39,990Training and development specialists
(area) (ind)
$37,660 70
$39,760Sales and related workers, all other
(area) (ind)
$29,710 40
$39,730Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
(area) (ind)
$37,440 40
$39,590Social and community service managers
(area) (ind)
$36,210 50
$39,450Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
(area) (ind)
$38,140 30
$39,330Mental health and substance abuse social workers
(area) (ind)
$40,030 100
$39,300Traffic technicians
(area) (ind)
$39,280 40
$39,260Crane and tower operators
(area) (ind)
$36,430 60
$39,100Industrial machinery mechanics
(area) (ind)
$39,500 270
$38,780Advertising sales agents
(area) (ind)
$29,010 100
$38,750Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education
(area) (ind)
$38,790 550
$38,530Drafters, all other
(area) (ind)
$38,950n.a.
$38,430Embalmers
(area) (ind)
$39,980n.a.
$38,280First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers
(area) (ind)
$34,500 1,030
$37,950Physical therapist assistants
(area) (ind)
$40,050 50
$37,660Dental hygienists
(area) (ind)
$38,640 100
$37,460Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists
(area) (ind)
$36,120 30
$37,330Paralegals and legal assistants
(area) (ind)
$35,930 30
$37,300Special education teachers, middle school
(area) (ind)
$36,350n.a.
$37,290First-line supervisors/managers of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand
(area) (ind)
$37,020 90
$37,220Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders
(area) (ind)
$38,280 250
$37,210Educational, vocational, and school counselors
(area) (ind)
$39,020 120
$37,110Education administrators, preschool and child care center/program
(area) (ind)
$36,210n.a.
$37,100Security and fire alarm systems installers
(area) (ind)
$33,850 30
$37,010Machinists
(area) (ind)
$38,070 140
$36,990Executive secretaries and administrative assistants
(area) (ind)
$35,040 380
$36,970Cost estimators
(area) (ind)
$36,810 100
$36,590Food service managers
(area) (ind)
$36,220 50
$36,270Public relations specialists
(area) (ind)
$35,190 40
$36,260Maintenance workers, machinery
(area) (ind)
$37,410 60
$35,920Computer support specialists
(area) (ind)
$32,710 170
$35,770Education, training, and library occupations
(area) (ind)
$34,520 5,500
$35,710Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
(area) (ind)
$35,800 180
$35,670Special education teachers, secondary school
(area) (ind)
$35,050 50
$35,480Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
(area) (ind)
$34,850 260
$35,430Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
(area) (ind)
$37,260 100
$35,390First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers
(area) (ind)
$28,330 960
$35,340Eligibility interviewers, government programs
(area) (ind)
$34,880 30
$35,330Employment, recruitment, and placement specialists
(area) (ind)
$32,730 50
$35,170Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers
(area) (ind)
$33,770 30
$34,850Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
(area) (ind)
$27,710 710
$34,840Electricians
(area) (ind)
$35,030 570
$34,680Wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products
(area) (ind)
$34,400 40
$34,250Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
(area) (ind)
$32,590 120
$34,230Recreational therapists
(area) (ind)
$32,040 40
$34,140Community and social services occupations
(area) (ind)
$33,950 720
$33,910Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
(area) (ind)
$32,310 3,860
$33,190Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
(area) (ind)
$33,590 270
$33,170Conveyor operators and tenders
(area) (ind)
$35,790 30
$32,950Architectural and civil drafters
(area) (ind)
$32,630 70
$32,790Farm equipment mechanics
(area) (ind)
$31,160 30
$32,770Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
(area) (ind)
$31,860 680
$32,630Medical and public health social workers
(area) (ind)
$31,030 120
$32,360Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators
(area) (ind)
$32,470 110
$32,260Sales representatives, services, all other
(area) (ind)
$36,900 150
$32,260Protective service occupations
(area) (ind)
$33,680 1,360
$32,160Medical and clinical laboratory technicians
(area) (ind)
$30,900 150
$32,040All other information and record clerks
(area) (ind)
$30,930 150
$31,850Child, family, and school social workers
(area) (ind)
$31,180 80
$31,300Tax preparers
(area) (ind)
$29,190 80
$31,240All Occupations
(area) (ind)
$25,160 85,720
$31,150Librarians
(area) (ind)
$33,810n.a.
$31,110Production, planning, and expediting clerks
(area) (ind)
$27,600 190
$30,980Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
(area) (ind)
$31,510 350
$30,850Construction and extraction occupations
(area) (ind)
$28,760 7,110
$30,560Surveying and mapping technicians
(area) (ind)
$29,060 110
$30,310Painters, construction and maintenance
(area) (ind)
$29,260 250
$30,220Graphic designers
(area) (ind)
$28,620 60
$30,140Social and human service assistants
(area) (ind)
$29,330 110
$29,980Chefs and head cooks
(area) (ind)
$29,090 40
$29,840Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers
(area) (ind)
$30,580 110
$29,790Painting, coating, and decorating workers
(area) (ind)
$31,550 50
$29,570Production occupations
(area) (ind)
$27,220 10,550
$29,560Painters, transportation equipment
(area) (ind)
$30,090n.a.
$29,360Payroll and timekeeping clerks
(area) (ind)
$29,360 120
$29,210Insurance claims and policy processing clerks
(area) (ind)
$28,810n.a.
$29,010Electronic home entertainment equipment installers and repairers
(area) (ind)
$31,980n.a.
$28,830Derrick operators, oil and gas
(area) (ind)
$27,190 40
$28,810Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
(area) (ind)
$26,460 90
$28,520Court, municipal, and license clerks
(area) (ind)
$28,740 50
$28,340Sheet metal workers
(area) (ind)
$27,150 130
$28,250Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
(area) (ind)
$27,590 1,050
$28,190Maintenance and repair workers, general
(area) (ind)
$26,370 1,200
$28,160Service unit operators, oil, gas, and mining
(area) (ind)
$26,810 100
$28,140Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer
(area) (ind)
$25,380 1,550
$27,980Automotive service technicians and mechanics
(area) (ind)
$23,640 490
$27,910First-line supervisors/managers of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
(area) (ind)
$23,190 70
$27,850Carpenters
(area) (ind)
$28,200 760
$27,550Teachers and instructors, all other
(area) (ind)
$30,230 150
$27,420First-line supervisors/managers of housekeeping and janitorial workers
(area) (ind)
$25,290 80
$27,170Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
(area) (ind)
$26,060 1,120
$27,050Computer operators
(area) (ind)
$25,960 40
$26,880Refuse and recyclable material collectors
(area) (ind)
$27,690 110
$26,830Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
(area) (ind)
$25,890 70
$26,820Industrial truck and tractor operators
(area) (ind)
$25,530 470
$26,780Team assemblers
(area) (ind)
$24,790n.a.
$26,610Cement masons and concrete finishers
(area) (ind)
$26,690 140
$26,520Civil engineering technicians
(area) (ind)
$25,530 90
$25,990Legal secretaries
(area) (ind)
$25,560 200
$25,920Medical records and health information technicians
(area) (ind)
$22,930 170
$25,910Procurement clerks
(area) (ind)
$22,400n.a.
$25,880Healthcare support workers, all other
(area) (ind)
$22,970 60
$25,850Protective service workers, all other
(area) (ind)
$17,260 30
$25,820Customer service representatives
(area) (ind)
$24,390 510
$25,780Loan interviewers and clerks
(area) (ind)
$24,440 100
$25,740Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks
(area) (ind)
$24,760 340
$25,710Law clerks
(area) (ind)
$22,030n.a.
$25,690Truck drivers, light or delivery services
(area) (ind)
$22,880 570
$25,510Butchers and meat cutters
(area) (ind)
$22,320 50
$25,330Medical transcriptionists
(area) (ind)
$25,350 90
$25,280Medical secretaries
(area) (ind)
$25,770 160
$25,280Sales and related occupations
(area) (ind)
$17,590 8,500
$25,220First-line supervisors/managers of personal service workers
(area) (ind)
$22,610 50
$25,210Office and administrative support occupations
(area) (ind)
$23,450 12,990
$25,120Billing and posting clerks and machine operators
(area) (ind)
$24,450 210
$25,060Transportation and material moving occupations
(area) (ind)
$22,010 6,050
$24,950Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners
(area) (ind)
$22,870n.a.
$24,900Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
(area) (ind)
$24,170 130
$24,590First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers
(area) (ind)
$23,870 590
$24,580Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors
(area) (ind)
$24,810n.a.
$24,340Pipelayers
(area) (ind)
$21,640n.a.
$24,200Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
(area) (ind)
$22,040 120
$24,200Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive
(area) (ind)
$24,350 1,670
$24,170Pest control workers
(area) (ind)
$21,530 100
$24,110Computer-controlled machine tool operators, metal and plastic
(area) (ind)
$23,050 40
$24,030Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
(area) (ind)
$23,970 140
$24,030Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
(area) (ind)
$23,750 100
$24,000Parts salespersons
(area) (ind)
$22,240 160
$23,800Drywall and ceiling tile installers
(area) (ind)
$25,070 60
$23,620Assemblers and fabricators, all other
(area) (ind)
$23,280 50
$23,590Word processors and typists
(area) (ind)
$22,670 60
$23,530Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
(area) (ind)
$23,610 30
$23,480Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters
(area) (ind)
$22,480 140
$23,470Highway maintenance workers
(area) (ind)
$24,070 180
$23,460Order clerks
(area) (ind)
$22,580 60
$23,400Roustabouts, oil and gas
(area) (ind)
$20,950 40
$23,280Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
(area) (ind)
$21,360 40
$23,210Brickmasons and blockmasons
(area) (ind)
$19,650n.a.
$23,100Residential advisors
(area) (ind)
$24,420 40
$22,930Pharmacy technicians
(area) (ind)
$21,670 230
$22,770Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
(area) (ind)
$24,470 130
$22,720Recreation workers
(area) (ind)
$23,330 70
$22,410Photographers
(area) (ind)
$20,480n.a.
$22,280Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other
(area) (ind)
$15,480 70
$22,180Retail salespersons
(area) (ind)
$18,160 2,630
$22,160Medical assistants
(area) (ind)
$21,460 160
$22,160Dental assistants
(area) (ind)
$22,530 140
$22,090Carpet installers
(area) (ind)
$17,300n.a.
$22,000Driver/sales workers
(area) (ind)
$18,900 180
$21,930Construction laborers
(area) (ind)
$20,670 1,370
$21,480Security guards
(area) (ind)
$19,050 320
$21,430Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
(area) (ind)
$21,200 330
$21,310Food cooking machine operators and tenders
(area) (ind)
$22,590 60
$21,240Meter readers, utilities
(area) (ind)
$20,620n.a.
$21,240Bill and account collectors
(area) (ind)
$20,260 350
$21,200Floral designers
(area) (ind)
$21,070 50
$20,920Tellers
(area) (ind)
$21,090 450
$20,840Roofers
(area) (ind)
$19,790 50
$20,610Helpers--production workers
(area) (ind)
$18,040 430
$20,560Tire repairers and changers
(area) (ind)
$20,840 120
$20,550Helpers--electricians
(area) (ind)
$20,080n.a.
$20,500Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing
(area) (ind)
$18,250 80
$20,340Stock clerks and order fillers
(area) (ind)
$18,410 1,170
$20,140Office clerks, general
(area) (ind)
$19,600 1,940
$20,010Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
(area) (ind)
$17,950 1,180
$19,930File clerks
(area) (ind)
$18,200 90
$19,770Switchboard operators, including answering service
(area) (ind)
$19,780 130
$19,680Opticians, dispensing
(area) (ind)
$17,610n.a.
$19,540Healthcare support occupations
(area) (ind)
$18,090 2,590
$19,040Helpers--carpenters
(area) (ind)
$18,700n.a.
$18,820Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants
(area) (ind)
$17,290 1,160
$18,710Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood
(area) (ind)
$16,820n.a.
$18,600Receptionists and information clerks
(area) (ind)
$18,830 590
$18,480Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
(area) (ind)
$17,520 470
$18,330Personal care and service occupations
(area) (ind)
$15,100 1,280
$18,100Taxi drivers and chauffeurs
(area) (ind)
$17,030n.a.
$18,070Sewing machine operators
(area) (ind)
$13,790n.a.
$17,910Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations
(area) (ind)
$16,590 2,650
$17,820Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
(area) (ind)
$17,720 80
$17,520Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
(area) (ind)
$16,610 1,420
$17,300Couriers and messengers
(area) (ind)
$13,510 100
$17,220Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service
(area) (ind)
$16,670 30
$17,100Legislators
(area) (ind)
$13,950n.a.
$16,940Service station attendants
(area) (ind)
$16,910n.a.
$16,800Cooks, restaurant
(area) (ind)
$16,700 640
$16,700Psychiatric aides
(area) (ind)
$16,770 280
$16,640Home health aides
(area) (ind)
$16,240 480
$16,450Counter and rental clerks
(area) (ind)
$13,650 450
$16,340Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
(area) (ind)
$15,960 240
$16,010Cooks, institution and cafeteria
(area) (ind)
$15,200 560
$15,560Emergency medical technicians and paramedics
(area) (ind)
$14,600n.a.
$15,480Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
(area) (ind)
$15,720 120
$15,420Food preparation workers
(area) (ind)
$14,720 410
$15,220Bartenders
(area) (ind)
$14,520 230
$15,000Food preparation and serving related occupations
(area) (ind)
$13,760 7,480
$14,830Cashiers
(area) (ind)
$14,480 2,700
$14,700Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
(area) (ind)
$14,960 190
$14,330Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop
(area) (ind)
$13,870 200
$14,240Maids and housekeeping cleaners
(area) (ind)
$14,130 480
$14,120Teacher assistants
(area) (ind)
$13,970 1,060
$14,090Cooks, fast food
(area) (ind)
$14,120 320
$13,990Dishwashers
(area) (ind)
$13,750 250
$13,860Packers and packagers, hand
(area) (ind)
$13,320 370
$13,730Child care workers
(area) (ind)
$13,510 400
$13,610Cooks, short order
(area) (ind)
$13,240n.a.
$13,580Amusement and recreation attendants
(area) (ind)
$13,090n.a.
$13,430Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food
(area) (ind)
$13,120 2,200
$13,160Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
(area) (ind)
$13,100n.a.
$12,570Skin care specialists
(area) (ind)
$12,640n.a.
$12,460Waiters and waitresses
(area) (ind)
$12,730 1,470
$12,450Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
(area) (ind)
$12,700 90
n.a.Preschool teachers, except special education
(area) (ind)
n.a. 430
n.a.Lodging managers
(area) (ind)
n.a. 30
n.a.Funeral directors
(area) (ind)
n.a. 30

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates

The Tuscaloosa, Alabama metropolitan area consists of:

Tuscaloosa County