Alabama has a state income tax rate of up to 5.0%. The highest paying profession in Alabama is Surgeon at $306,450/year. Select any profession below for a full city, experience and take-home pay breakdown.
The table below shows median annual salaries for 50+ professions in Alabama, ranked from highest to lowest. All figures are sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024 release, refreshed for 2026. Click any profession for a full breakdown including city-level data, experience levels and a take-home pay calculator.
| Profession | Category | Annual Median | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | Healthcare | $306,450 | $147.33 |
| Pilot | Transport | $173,700 | $83.51 |
| Software Developer | Technology | $115,050 | $55.31 |
| Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $113,100 | $54.38 |
| Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $107,900 | $51.88 |
| Financial Advisor | Finance | $86,650 | $41.66 |
| Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $85,000 | $40.87 |
| Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $83,850 | $40.31 |
| Network Administrator | Technology | $80,750 | $38.82 |
| Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $70,800 | $34.04 |
| Accountant | Finance | $69,500 | $33.41 |
| Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $67,500 | $32.45 |
| Respiratory Therapist | Healthcare | $60,650 | $29.16 |
| Police Officer | Public Safety | $60,150 | $28.92 |
| Radiologic Technologist | Healthcare | $59,950 | $28.82 |
| Plumber | Trades | $55,300 | $26.59 |
| School Counselor | Education | $55,150 | $26.51 |
| Teacher | Education | $53,800 | $25.87 |
| Electrician | Trades | $53,600 | $25.77 |
| Librarian | Education | $53,250 | $25.60 |
| Court Reporter | Legal | $53,100 | $25.53 |
| Paralegal | Legal | $51,500 | $24.76 |
| HVAC Technician | Trades | $49,850 | $23.97 |
| Real Estate Agent | Business | $49,250 | $23.68 |
| Firefighter | Public Safety | $49,000 | $23.56 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | Trades | $48,950 | $23.53 |
| Truck Driver | Transport | $47,250 | $22.72 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Healthcare | $47,150 | $22.67 |
| Carpenter | Trades | $46,500 | $22.36 |
| Correctional Officer | Public Safety | $46,000 | $22.12 |
| Social Worker | Social Services | $45,050 | $21.66 |
| Mason | Trades | $43,850 | $21.08 |
| Roofer | Trades | $43,550 | $20.94 |
| Paramedic | Public Safety | $43,400 | $20.87 |
| Solar Installer | Trades | $41,650 | $20.02 |
| Bookkeeper | Business | $41,150 | $19.78 |
| Welder | Trades | $40,900 | $19.66 |
| Dispatcher | Transport | $40,800 | $19.62 |
| Painter | Trades | $40,750 | $19.59 |
| Bus Driver | Transport | $39,800 | $19.13 |
| Delivery Driver | Transport | $37,250 | $17.91 |
| Dental Assistant | Healthcare | $37,250 | $17.91 |
| Medical Assistant | Healthcare | $35,400 | $17.02 |
| Pharmacy Technician | Healthcare | $35,050 | $16.85 |
| Veterinary Technician | Healthcare | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| EMT | Public Safety | $33,750 | $16.23 |
| Cosmetologist | Personal Services | $29,100 | $13.99 |
| Teaching Assistant | Education | $27,350 | $13.15 |