Prath // Shutterstock

Highest-paying jobs in Birmingham that don’t require a college degree

From the moment they arrive on campus, today’s high school students are inundated with messages about the importance of receiving a college education. They hear it from their guidance counselors, teachers, parents, family members, neighbors, and coaches. While graduation from a four-year college can certainly work wonders for students’ future careers, it’s not necessary for all fields — something admissions officers and guidance counselors sometimes fail to mention.

To find the highest paying jobs that don’t require a college degree, Stacker consulted the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook to compile a list of all jobs that don’t require higher education. All professions that listed a high school diploma, some college education (without a degree conferred), postsecondary nondegree award, or no formal education requirements for entry-level positions were considered. Jobs that didn’t list any entry-level education requirement were excluded, as were job titles that grouped several positions together. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

Keep reading to discover the highest paying jobs in Birmingham-Hoover, AL that don’t require a college degree.

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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

#50. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $50,380
– #9 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 130

National
– Annual mean salary: $45,630
– Employment: 100,860
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Tulsa, OK ($58,060)
— Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($55,720)
— Columbus, OH ($53,800)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

#49. Industrial machinery mechanics

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $51,980
– #431 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 2,530

National
– Annual mean salary: $58,780
– Employment: 373,090
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($85,900)
— Lake Charles, LA ($85,360)
— Anchorage, AK ($82,890)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

#48. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $53,490
– #113 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 430

National
– Annual mean salary: $52,220
– Employment: 367,200
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Idaho Falls, ID ($74,970)
— Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($71,160)
— Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($67,140)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

#47. Computer user support specialists

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $53,500
– #192 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,630

National
– Annual mean salary: $57,650
– Employment: 654,310
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($90,480)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,920)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($76,510)

rlat // Shutterstock

#46. Postal service clerks

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $53,850
– #147 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 300

National
– Annual mean salary: $53,210
– Employment: 79,320
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Houma-Thibodaux, LA ($59,410)
— Florence, SC ($59,360)
— Monroe, MI ($59,320)

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Jat306 // Shutterstock

#45. Millwrights

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $54,130
– #134 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 260

National
– Annual mean salary: $61,260
– Employment: 39,240
– 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)

Canva

#44. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $54,230
– #128 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 90

National
– Annual mean salary: $62,360
– Employment: 25,800
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,600)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($92,910)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($86,660)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#43. Postal service mail carriers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $54,620
– #111 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,430

National
– Annual mean salary: $54,370
– Employment: 335,540
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Modesto, CA ($57,160)
— Bismarck, ND ($57,090)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,820)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

#42. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $54,700
– #112 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $70,510
– Employment: 29,820
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($106,300)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,930)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($99,740)

goodluz // Shutterstock

#41. Real estate sales agents

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $55,910
– #174 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 610

National
– Annual mean salary: $61,480
– Employment: 175,920
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Midland, TX ($100,060)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($99,880)
— Worcester, MA-CT ($93,400)

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LStockStudio // Shutterstock

#40. Brokerage clerks

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $55,930
– #38 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $57,710
– Employment: 39,980
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($74,310)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($69,330)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,970)

Canva

#39. Tool and die makers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $56,250
– #81 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 200

National
– Annual mean salary: $56,150
– Employment: 63,630
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,920)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($72,510)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($71,910)

welcomia // Shutterstock

#38. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $56,530
– #149 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,250

National
– Annual mean salary: $57,280
– Employment: 145,230
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($86,740)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,520)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,470)

Canva

#37. Construction and building inspectors

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $57,580
– #252 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: data not available

National
– Annual mean salary: $68,480
– Employment: 117,830
– 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)

ryanivy308 // Pixabay

#36. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $57,990
– #188 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 180

National
– Annual mean salary: $64,230
– Employment: 50,780
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($87,890)
— Fresno, CA ($86,230)
— Fairbanks, AK ($85,640)

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#35. Advertising sales agents

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $59,410
– #84 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 500

National
– Annual mean salary: $66,540
– Employment: 96,660
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,840)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($97,720)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($83,050)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $59,870
– #214 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 590

National
– Annual mean salary: $70,030
– Employment: 234,680
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
— Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($103,610)

Stealth Communications // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $60,180
– #171 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 800

National
– Annual mean salary: $60,350
– Employment: 172,830
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Anchorage, AK ($88,140)
— Fairbanks, AK ($84,690)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($80,570)

Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

#32. Occupational health and safety technicians

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $60,850
– #55 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $57,560
– Employment: 21,750
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Evansville, IN-KY ($77,880)
— Anchorage, AK ($77,690)
— Oklahoma City, OK ($77,100)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $61,160
– #142 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 5,440

National
– Annual mean salary: $63,380
– Employment: 1,443,630
– 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)

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Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $61,560
– #267 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 3,390

National
– Annual mean salary: $71,110
– Employment: 1,026,390
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,810)
— Boulder, CO ($101,630)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,360)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

#29. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $61,640
– #68 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $80,500
– Employment: 34,230
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($105,090)
— St. Louis, MO-IL ($97,860)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($96,520)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#28. Chefs and head cooks

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $62,340
– #42 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 130

National
– Annual mean salary: $56,920
– Employment: 129,810
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Leominster-Gardner, MA ($81,020)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($79,600)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($79,430)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

#27. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $62,360
– #147 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 270

National
– Annual mean salary: $67,310
– Employment: 44,870
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($98,380)
— Salt Lake City, UT ($94,070)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($92,800)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#26. Real estate brokers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $62,710
– #72 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 110

National
– Annual mean salary: $86,490
– Employment: 48,460
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($152,460)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($133,810)
— Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($132,320)

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Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

#25. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $63,940
– #104 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

National
– Annual mean salary: $69,750
– Employment: 54,470
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($114,400)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,220)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($112,950)

Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

#24. Gas plant operators

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $64,810
– #54 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: data not available

National
– Annual mean salary: $76,970
– Employment: 15,110
– 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)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

#23. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $65,270
– #75 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 300

National
– Annual mean salary: $62,250
– Employment: 101,530
– 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

#22. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $65,380
– #77 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,060

National
– Annual mean salary: $66,870
– Employment: 466,910
– 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)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#21. Lodging managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $65,710
– #86 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 130

National
– Annual mean salary: $67,770
– Employment: 35,920
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($121,090)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($111,410)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)

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Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $68,890
– #129 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 2,690

National
– Annual mean salary: $67,330
– Employment: 629,420
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Baton Rouge, LA ($98,170)
— Lake Charles, LA ($97,910)
— Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($90,410)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#19. Private detectives and investigators

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $69,920
– #24 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: data not available

National
– Annual mean salary: $60,970
– Employment: 28,860
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Jackson, MI ($93,360)
— Bakersfield, CA ($91,080)
— Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($87,760)

sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $70,320
– #210 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 3,460

National
– Annual mean salary: $75,060
– Employment: 665,870
– 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)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#17. Food service managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $70,390
– #51 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 620

National
– Annual mean salary: $63,970
– Employment: 210,680
– 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

#16. Insurance sales agents

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $70,540
– #98 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 3,540

National
– Annual mean salary: $69,340
– Employment: 422,600
– 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)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#15. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $71,660
– #132 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 2,090

National
– Annual mean salary: $70,960
– Employment: 278,140
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kennewick-Richland, WA ($104,350)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($95,200)
— Salinas, CA ($90,800)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $74,320
– #73 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 5,500

National
– Annual mean salary: $72,390
– Employment: 1,242,490
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,280)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($92,660)
— Napa, CA ($92,620)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $74,770
– #123 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 2,880

National
– Annual mean salary: $73,590
– Employment: 526,240
– 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)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $75,170
– #309 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 500

National
– Annual mean salary: $92,320
– Employment: 243,920
– 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)

U.S. Air Force

#11. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $76,890
– #147 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 300

National
– Annual mean salary: $83,270
– Employment: 80,890
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($171,060)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($145,740)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($135,860)

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Canva

#10. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $82,830
– #33 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $91,320
– Employment: 22,510
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($130,290)
— Kansas City, MO-KS ($113,590)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($113,480)

Canva

#9. Transportation inspectors

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $83,890
– #32 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $77,620
– Employment: 25,070
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Portland-South Portland, ME ($112,260)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($111,930)
— Anchorage, AK ($108,140)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#8. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $84,990
– #34 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $81,820
– Employment: 12,750
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($97,930)
— Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($96,450)
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($94,460)

Canva

#7. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $86,460
– #218 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 240

National
– Annual mean salary: $98,760
– Employment: 128,230
– 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)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#6. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $86,630
– #108 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 530

National
– Annual mean salary: $79,060
– Employment: 123,940
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($117,700)
— Salinas, CA ($110,180)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,490)

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Prath // Shutterstock

#5. Detectives and criminal investigators

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $87,870
– #105 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 200

National
– Annual mean salary: $90,370
– Employment: 107,890
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($132,210)
— Anchorage, AK ($127,070)
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($123,460)

Suwin // Shutterstock

#4. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $97,230
– #22 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 370

National
– Annual mean salary: $87,640
– Employment: 22,490
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($120,210)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,510)
— Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($114,280)

Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $109,560
– #55 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 280

National
– Annual mean salary: $105,580
– Employment: 144,640
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
— Trenton, NJ ($144,620)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

#2. Commercial pilots

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $113,870
– #49 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 140

National
– Annual mean salary: $115,080
– Employment: 42,770
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
— Savannah, GA ($177,450)

Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

#1. Power distributors and dispatchers

Birmingham-Hoover, AL
– Annual mean salary: $123,540
– #3 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 180

National
– Annual mean salary: $95,520
– Employment: 9,660
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($131,560)
— Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($129,570)
— Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($123,540)

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