Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

Highest paying jobs in Tuscaloosa for high school graduates

The average college graduate in 2020 earned $1,305 a week, while the average high school graduate takes home just $781, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Of course, college isn’t for everyone. There are many reasons high-school graduates may choose to not continue on to college, not the least of which being cost. Average tuition costs continue to rise each year, the exception being the 2020-2021 school year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Average tuition at a public, in-state university coming in at $9,687; tuition for out-of-state students at public schools, and for everyone at private universities, is significantly higher at $21,874 and $35,087, respectively.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest paying jobs for high school graduates in Tuscaloosa, AL using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay the most for high school graduates.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $42,340
– #295 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $44,860
– Employment: 188,450
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($64,510)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($64,140)
— Decatur, IL ($60,740)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

#49. Sheet metal workers

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $42,610
– #317 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $55,320
– Employment: 128,220
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($101,150)
— Kennewick-Richland, WA ($94,930)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($93,840)

Pixabay

#48. Log graders and scalers

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $42,950
– #9 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $38,940
– Employment: 3,390
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Western Washington nonmetropolitan area ($53,500)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($50,010)
— Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area ($48,440)

U.S. Air Force photo // Airman 1st Class Greg Erwin

#47. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $43,170
– #170 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 260

National
– Annual mean salary: $42,140
– Employment: 137,510
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Midland, MI ($60,190)
— Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($58,940)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($58,790)

Canva

#46. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $43,370
– #204 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $44,300
– Employment: 149,120
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($70,030)
— Waco, TX ($63,080)
— Springfield, MA-CT ($57,930)

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Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

#45. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $43,430
– #218 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $47,990
– Employment: 138,820
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,570)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($67,900)
— New Haven, CT ($63,790)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#44. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $43,880
– #282 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

National
– Annual mean salary: $48,290
– Employment: 133,870
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($66,600)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($66,240)
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($60,930)

Canva

#43. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $44,010
– #379 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 560

National
– Annual mean salary: $55,280
– Employment: 402,870
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,910)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($91,860)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,120)

Akimov Igor // Shutterstock

#42. Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $44,430
– #41 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 90

National
– Annual mean salary: $41,910
– Employment: 16,880
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area ($69,090)
— St. Louis, MO-IL ($60,610)
— Longview, WA ($59,140)

New Africa // Shutterstock

#41. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $44,900
– #142 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 120

National
– Annual mean salary: $45,500
– Employment: 141,260
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($60,770)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,250)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($59,160)

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Bigflick // Shutterstock

#40. Correctional officers and jailers

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $44,930
– #188 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 250

National
– Annual mean salary: $52,340
– Employment: 405,870
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($96,580)
— Salinas, CA ($89,100)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($86,260)

Canva

#39. Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $45,110
– #20 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $43,670
– Employment: 6,080
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($77,060)
— Western Washington nonmetropolitan area ($59,390)
— Fort Wayne, IN ($58,460)

Canva

#38. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $45,400
– #142 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $45,350
– Employment: 35,720
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($61,910)
— Bellingham, WA ($61,210)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($60,760)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

#37. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $46,160
– #375 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 220

National
– Annual mean salary: $52,090
– Employment: 253,010
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,900)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($73,400)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($70,480)

Pixabay

#36. Surveying and mapping technicians

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $46,820
– #160 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $49,770
– Employment: 53,370
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($84,710)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($77,840)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,960)

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GolF2532 // Shutterstock

#35. Security and fire alarm systems installers

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $46,850
– #131 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $52,150
– Employment: 68,920
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Eugene, OR ($70,940)
— Salem, OR ($68,640)
— Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($68,520)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

#34. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $47,100
– #281 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 110

National
– Annual mean salary: $51,890
– Employment: 119,380
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,980)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($92,370)
— Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($87,990)

Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock

#33. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $47,150
– #41 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 240

National
– Annual mean salary: $40,960
– Employment: 116,190
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Eastern Utah nonmetropolitan area ($69,070)
— South Illinois nonmetropolitan area ($61,970)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($60,690)

Unsplash

#32. Crane and tower operators

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $47,310
– #189 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $64,010
– Employment: 44,060
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($131,160)
— Syracuse, NY ($103,350)
— Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($99,990)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

#31. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $47,840
– #290 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 100

National
– Annual mean salary: $54,040
– Employment: 103,730
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Madera, CA ($76,040)
— Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($74,800)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($73,360)

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London Metropolitan Archives/Heritage Images // Getty Images

#30. Machinists

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $48,080
– #195 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 150

National
– Annual mean salary: $47,800
– Employment: 360,340
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($76,230)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($71,070)
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($69,300)

Canva

#29. Automotive body and related repairers

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $48,370
– #201 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $49,430
– Employment: 137,120
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Ann Arbor, MI ($71,350)
— Ames, IA ($68,340)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,060)

Pixabay

#28. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $48,610
– #150 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 400

National
– Annual mean salary: $46,690
– Employment: 397,550
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($72,500)
— Anchorage, AK ($71,840)
— West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($71,250)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#27. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $48,930
– #383 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 390

National
– Annual mean salary: $61,100
– Employment: 417,440
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,580)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,500)
— Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($89,190)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $51,000
– #356 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 200

National
– Annual mean salary: $73,210
– Employment: 219,800
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
— Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
— Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area ($105,220)

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rlat // Shutterstock

#25. Postal service clerks

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $51,320
– #317 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $51,200
– Employment: 86,950
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Houma-Thibodaux, LA ($59,410)
— Florence, SC ($59,360)
— Monroe, MI ($59,320)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

#24. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $52,730
– #133 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 130

National
– Annual mean salary: $52,000
– Employment: 362,090
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Idaho Falls, ID ($74,970)
— Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($71,160)
— West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($67,770)

Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#23. Electricians

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $52,950
– #330 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 460

National
– Annual mean salary: $61,550
– Employment: 656,510
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,900)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,090)
— Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($86,600)

welcomia // Shutterstock

#22. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $53,050
– #268 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 230

National
– Annual mean salary: $57,000
– Employment: 147,680
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($86,740)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,520)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,470)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

#21. Millwrights

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $53,130
– #143 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 90

National
– Annual mean salary: $59,080
– Employment: 44,400
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kennewick-Richland, WA ($91,590)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,580)
— Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($80,780)

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Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $53,390
– #450 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 390

National
– Annual mean salary: $70,490
– Employment: 977,070
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,810)
— Boulder, CO ($101,630)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,360)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#19. Postal service mail carriers

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $53,770
– #237 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 270

National
– Annual mean salary: $53,180
– Employment: 333,570
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Modesto, CA ($57,160)
— Bismarck, ND ($57,090)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,820)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $54,850
– #320 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 970

National
– Annual mean salary: $62,010
– Employment: 1,427,260
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,050)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($79,520)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,430)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

#17. Industrial machinery mechanics

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $55,440
– #307 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,020

National
– Annual mean salary: $57,350
– Employment: 385,980
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($85,900)
— Lake Charles, LA ($85,360)
— Anchorage, AK ($82,890)

Canva

#16. Construction and building inspectors

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $58,050
– #236 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $66,470
– Employment: 113,770
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New Haven, CT ($121,510)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,330)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,190)

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goodluz // Shutterstock

#15. Real estate sales agents

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $58,660
– #139 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

National
– Annual mean salary: $62,990
– Employment: 168,740
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Midland, TX ($100,060)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($99,880)
— Worcester, MA-CT ($93,400)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

#14. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $59,030
– #104 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $61,860
– Employment: 122,480
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,680)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($90,370)
— Salinas, CA ($88,050)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#13. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $59,070
– #198 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 110

National
– Annual mean salary: $65,230
– Employment: 503,390
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,590)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($87,760)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,420)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#12. Chefs and head cooks

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $61,440
– #49 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $58,740
– Employment: 101,490
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Leominster-Gardner, MA ($81,020)
— Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area ($79,820)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($79,600)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $61,860
– #475 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $90,120
– Employment: 240,290
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Portland-South Portland, ME ($129,860)
— Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($121,360)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($121,250)

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Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $65,700
– #290 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 540

National
– Annual mean salary: $73,500
– Employment: 1,278,670
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,280)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($92,660)
— Napa, CA ($92,620)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#9. Food service managers

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $67,540
– #74 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 170

National
– Annual mean salary: $61,000
– Employment: 197,010
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Trenton, NJ ($91,320)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($89,860)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,750)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#8. Insurance sales agents

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $68,930
– #121 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 210

National
– Annual mean salary: $69,100
– Employment: 409,950
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,230)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,470)
— Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($95,620)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $69,830
– #109 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,340

National
– Annual mean salary: $66,800
– Employment: 599,900
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Baton Rouge, LA ($98,170)
— Lake Charles, LA ($97,910)
— West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($96,900)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $71,180
– #224 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 570

National
– Annual mean salary: $73,100
– Employment: 475,000
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,830)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,030)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,870)

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Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

#5. Gas plant operators

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $72,670
– #37 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

National
– Annual mean salary: $73,290
– Employment: 14,990
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($98,750)
— Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($97,080)

sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $73,060
– #155 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 780

National
– Annual mean salary: $72,990
– Employment: 614,080
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,020)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,820)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($101,210)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $86,290
– #112 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $74,410
– Employment: 114,930
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($117,700)
— Salinas, CA ($110,180)
— North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area ($109,740)

Canva

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $90,020
– #182 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

National
– Annual mean salary: $97,180
– Employment: 122,310
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($182,700)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($170,740)
— Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($164,600)

Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Tuscaloosa, AL
– Annual mean salary: $94,020
– #232 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $105,100
– Employment: 132,210
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
— Trenton, NJ ($144,620)

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