Careers in Alabama
Alabama’s regional price level is below the national average (index 88.823, where 100 = U.S. average, 2024 BEA data).
Unemployment rate: 3.7% · Labor force participation: 56.7% · 2,268,452 people employed (2026-07, BLS LAUS, not seasonally adjusted).
Highest-Paying Careers
See full list →- 1Cardiologists$519,480
- 2Dermatologists$394,550
- 3Anesthesiologists$392,350
- 4Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$324,570
- 5General Internal Medicine Physicians$311,180
Largest Occupations
See full list →- 1Retail Salespersons60,880 employed
- 2Registered Nurses54,340 employed
- 3Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators53,280 employed
- 4Stockers and Order Fillers46,580 employed
- 5Cashiers46,420 employed
Highest Concentration
See full list →- 1Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons7.68× national avg
- 2Logging Equipment Operators6.50× national avg
- 3Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining6.37× national avg
- 4Aerospace Engineers6.32× national avg
- 5Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders5.63× national avg
Best Purchasing Power
See full list →cost-of-living adjusted
- 1Cardiologists$584,849
- 2Dermatologists$444,198
- 3Anesthesiologists$441,721
- 4Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$365,412
- 5General Internal Medicine Physicians$350,337
Strongest Opportunity Score
See full list →- 1Nuclear Power Reactor Operators96.3 / 100
- 2Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic93.8 / 100
- 3Logisticians92.5 / 100
- 4Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders92 / 100
- 5Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers91.5 / 100
Sources
Wage and employment data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities. Unemployment rate: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Opportunity Score is a Career Atlas USA calculation — see methodology.