Pay and jobs by occupation in the Decatur, AL metropolitan area (BLS, May 2025). BLS counts about 61,240 jobs across all occupations here, with a median annual wage of $46,280 for all occupations combined. 241 occupations have a published median wage in this area.

Education and earnings of residents

Who lives in the Decatur, AL area and what they earn, by education, from federal survey data (not a measure of any one employer or college).

21.5% of adults 25 and over in this area have a bachelor’s degree or higher (±1.1), compared with 35.7% nationally.

Prices of goods and services here run at 87.2 when the whole U.S. is 100 (housing 58.1; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024; estimates are revised). A higher number means prices are higher on average, not that the area is better or worse.

About 6,575 residents (4.3% of those 3 and older; U.S. 6.6%) are enrolled in college or graduate school, at any school (±772; ACS 2020-2024, Table B14001).

The unemployment rate in this area averaged 2.4% in 2025, with a labor force of about 78,460 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted annual average; estimates are model-based and revised).

18.3% of adults 25 to 34 have a bachelor’s degree or higher (±2.5), compared with 39.6% nationally (Table B15001).

Median yearly earnings by education, adults 25 and over who have earnings

EducationThis areaUnited States
Less than high school$33,010$32,485
High school graduate$38,383$40,153
Some college or associate's degree$45,804$47,260
Bachelor's degree$66,594$70,044
Graduate or professional degree$75,081$90,720

Poverty rate by education, adults 25 and over

EducationThis areaUnited States
Less than high school27.9% (±3.7)24.2%
High school graduate14.5% (±1.8)14.4%
Some college or associate's degree9.9% (±1.4)9.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher2.8% (±0.8)4.5%

Unemployment rate by education, ages 25 to 64

EducationThis areaUnited States
Less than high school3.3% (±1.7)7.7%
High school graduate3.6% (±1.3)5.9%
Some college or associate's degree2.5% (±1.0)4.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher1.9% (±0.7)2.8%

What residents with a bachelor’s degree studied

Field of first majorThis areaUnited States
Science and engineering30.1%36.1%
Science and engineering related fields9.6%10.0%
Business23.9%20.1%
Education18.3%10.9%
Arts, humanities and other18.1%23.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, Tables B15003, B20004 (earnings shown only when the margin of error is at most 20% of the value), B23006 (unemployment shown only when every margin is at most 3 points), B17003 (margins of error at the 90% level; poverty shown only when every margin is at most 8 points) and C15010 (the Census Bureau’s own field groups, in a fixed order, not ranked). Describes residents of the area, not a prediction for any person; the Census Bureau has not endorsed this presentation. MajorPays does not provide advice.

Wages by occupation

OccupationJobsMedian annual wageMean annual wageJobs per 1,000 jobs hereConcentration vs. U.S.
Accountants and Auditors530$72,030$77,6908.650.93
Aerospace Engineers100$138,460$138,1301.653.80
Animal Caretakers90$28,650$31,1301.400.82
Architectural and Engineering Managers160$165,480$164,7402.651.87
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants50$28,880$29,8800.861.32
Automotive Body and Related Repairers50$47,360$52,7000.760.79
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics290$45,740$50,7904.801.06
Bartenders100$30,540$34,3301.620.33
Bill and Account Collectors80$42,180$44,0101.291.27
Billing and Posting Clerks80$45,120$45,3801.320.51
Boilermakers30$64,060$72,3300.558.45
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks580$46,060$48,0009.551.08
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists150$52,250$54,8602.521.35
Bus Drivers, School320$17,720$18,5605.161.99
Business Operations Specialists, All Other80$92,290$98,3601.360.20
Butchers and Meat Cutters50$36,780$38,1500.800.91
Buyers and Purchasing Agents230$67,710$73,8903.811.21
Carpenters190$50,950$53,0703.120.72
Cashiers1,260$28,880$28,19020.561.03
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers60$45,790$44,1201.020.77
Chemical Engineers60$109,160$126,1700.987.25
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders760$82,170$83,73012.3713.77
Chemical Technicians140$64,840$70,6802.296.18
Chemists60$109,110$114,7400.941.78
Child, Family, and School Social Workers100$48,980$53,6401.610.64
Childcare Workers100$22,170$23,7801.680.50
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians50$55,360$53,9200.761.72
Civil Engineers180$103,490$111,3102.901.23
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators30$77,000$77,8900.550.27
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment290$37,680$36,5604.681.91
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians90$47,530$52,3001.400.65
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders190$45,210$45,5903.143.08
Compliance Officers80$72,550$73,6401.360.51
Computer and Information Systems Managers130$135,870$137,8502.040.47
Computer Network Architects60$132,570$129,2300.970.84
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators190$58,270$57,8703.082.82
Computer Systems Analysts80$99,740$109,2601.300.39
Computer User Support Specialists100$59,680$61,9701.710.37
Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers30$39,010$42,2400.521.22
Construction and Building Inspectors40$58,440$59,2300.660.69
Construction Laborers690$37,680$39,66011.251.60
Construction Managers290$96,790$104,0904.761.95
Cooks, Fast Food920$28,480$28,59015.043.65
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria220$23,650$26,0403.561.26
Cooks, Restaurant380$32,410$33,0906.240.69
Correctional Officers and Jailers170$38,770$44,5202.851.17
Cost Estimators110$73,650$75,5901.781.23
Counter and Rental Clerks210$35,190$36,4503.391.31
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks60$39,360$41,3000.980.84
Crane and Tower Operators100$45,640$66,0801.676.07
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders30$59,920$73,8300.553.27
Customer Service Representatives710$41,070$43,06011.540.69
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic320$45,350$46,1505.254.77
Data Entry Keyers40$36,160$36,7600.630.78
Dental Assistants90$40,440$42,7601.490.60
Dental Hygienists80$61,340$61,5701.310.92
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers50$23,290$25,1300.790.23
Dishwashers70$29,620$29,0501.220.40
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance40$52,310$53,9200.610.47
Driver/Sales Workers110$40,220$39,8401.740.66
Education Administrators, All Other—$99,900$90,120——
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary100$97,540$98,6501.630.77
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors80$72,380$71,3901.370.60
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians40$70,310$76,1100.661.08
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment—$62,000$66,030——
Electrical Engineers160$124,440$123,4602.642.07
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers120$94,690$82,4601.952.31
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers360$30,330$32,5605.933.74
Electricians480$63,930$75,0407.791.60
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education—$61,090$61,630——
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs60$54,040$53,5301.011.02
Emergency Medical Technicians50$36,030$37,2100.880.76
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other190$60,220$65,8103.098.02
Environmental Engineers50$129,290$120,4500.873.54
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health40$83,120$81,1100.601.05
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants60$67,870$69,4401.000.34
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders70$43,150$45,2901.092.87
Facilities Managers40$128,880$136,1200.610.60
Family Medicine Physicians40$118,450$124,8900.570.83
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse30$37,570$35,6900.520.31
Fast Food and Counter Workers1,280$25,720$25,75020.890.84
Financial and Investment Analysts40$101,560$113,5100.660.28
Financial Managers150$142,940$157,8902.440.45
Firefighters180$43,650$45,7002.901.30
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers500$74,330$75,0508.121.55
First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services70$50,230$49,3801.131.70
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers540$38,310$41,1708.801.12
First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers80$49,750$49,6801.261.09
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers50$51,960$58,0700.740.89
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers460$82,200$88,3907.561.90
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers50$62,040$71,5700.860.62
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers510$60,720$64,2908.370.91
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives50$83,140$83,7000.800.80
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers950$84,270$91,14015.463.57
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers660$47,090$52,62010.731.49
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors420$62,270$67,9606.781.69
Food Batchmakers90$43,340$39,0901.511.35
Food Preparation Workers430$28,180$28,6907.071.23
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant60$29,220$30,1500.940.50
Food Service Managers120$61,830$65,6801.961.28
General and Operations Managers850$117,380$140,28013.840.61
Graphic Designers50$46,170$53,1500.880.69
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists90$28,430$33,1801.490.76
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors90$125,940$125,3301.5110.97
Healthcare Social Workers80$55,310$56,6201.371.14
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers330$48,750$54,6705.462.07
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers1,420$59,390$60,53023.211.75
Helpers--Electricians100$41,430$40,7001.573.84
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers40$37,300$36,9400.661.07
Helpers--Production Workers240$36,170$36,9903.983.73
Highway Maintenance Workers40$40,970$43,1000.580.58
Home Health and Personal Care Aides1,140$27,430$27,82018.670.67
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop150$26,630$26,5102.380.86
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks80$28,720$28,9701.340.80
Human Resources Managers50$123,160$133,3200.810.57
Human Resources Specialists260$63,030$71,0704.220.72
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians80$58,620$66,8201.292.65
Industrial Engineers530$106,230$116,2508.593.65
Industrial Machinery Mechanics950$76,990$77,03015.475.47
Industrial Production Managers240$150,030$152,2503.902.46
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators490$44,020$53,4708.021.61
Information Security Analysts50$130,400$117,7800.840.69
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers490$45,240$51,1108.082.10
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other50$38,940$43,6000.740.65
Insurance Underwriters—$57,850$80,070——
Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan60$36,210$38,6301.041.09
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1,080$30,410$32,77017.701.25
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand1,090$36,160$38,22017.730.93
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers260$37,420$36,3904.200.69
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers50$29,800$29,4000.820.64
Lawyers70$139,010$147,6101.080.22
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants50$38,440$43,8400.810.80
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists50$68,220$66,2500.790.91
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses210$58,010$57,2103.480.83
Light Truck Drivers260$37,860$42,6204.310.68
Loan Interviewers and Clerks80$38,620$42,2601.251.18
Loan Officers120$69,800$88,7001.941.10
Logisticians120$89,500$90,6601.991.23
Machinists290$58,240$62,4704.682.53
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners200$28,150$28,5003.300.60
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General470$48,520$58,8307.610.77
Management Analysts30$101,500$113,3800.490.09
Managers, All Other50$116,730$127,3400.760.19
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists180$56,450$68,6602.970.51
Marketing Managers40$128,500$144,2300.630.25
Materials Engineers50$134,370$129,9200.855.83
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers870$36,760$31,98014.2315.18
Mechanical Engineers310$115,750$119,2405.132.69
Medical and Health Services Managers210$91,450$98,3903.380.88
Medical Assistants250$36,690$38,3204.130.79
Medical Records Specialists50$44,340$44,3900.840.67
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants370$37,610$39,5706.030.97
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers90$39,750$49,6901.431.35
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education360$61,950$61,6405.911.48
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic60$36,500$37,4201.0112.55
Millwrights60$61,670$60,8801.033.98
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators1,830$43,120$42,21029.843.30
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders120$56,160$58,5901.933.16
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines190$66,200$65,1203.062.69
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic220$44,320$60,0903.543.66
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic150$51,810$47,3702.413.01
Network and Computer Systems Administrators120$79,500$82,7601.920.95
Nurse Practitioners120$107,760$111,4701.880.90
Nursing Assistants500$36,280$35,4108.110.87
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists100$78,420$85,5401.611.79
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians30$63,780$70,9200.542.73
Occupational Therapists30$97,460$94,7000.510.48
Office Clerks, General240$29,930$31,5703.870.24
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators290$49,470$53,7904.721.54
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians40$38,820$40,0200.691.51
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders190$37,660$41,7303.111.28
Packers and Packagers, Hand250$36,000$38,2904.011.11
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders70$45,050$44,7001.181.91
Paralegals and Legal Assistants60$42,510$48,7700.910.36
Paramedics60$48,540$52,9400.901.40
Parts Salespersons150$32,160$36,2602.371.36
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks40$46,810$51,3100.640.65
Pest Control Workers70$38,760$40,3101.171.77
Pharmacists120$133,410$126,7202.010.97
Pharmacy Technicians230$43,420$41,8503.831.26
Phlebotomists50$35,720$38,0500.780.84
Physical Therapist Assistants60$62,810$65,6000.991.37
Physical Therapists50$97,600$103,5600.860.50
Physicians, All Other50$351,790$305,9900.750.34
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters210$59,920$66,2503.461.16
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers360$57,120$57,9205.801.35
Postal Service Clerks30$63,210$61,9200.511.07
Postal Service Mail Carriers170$59,010$60,7602.741.30
Power Plant Operators30$115,920$105,5100.512.70
Printing Press Operators80$39,580$40,4201.271.37
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks140$57,240$60,5102.210.88
Project Management Specialists100$106,140$114,8001.660.24
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers70$51,080$61,0401.150.57
Psychiatric Technicians180$36,560$37,1702.912.88
Public Relations Specialists40$63,780$75,6800.590.33
Public Safety Telecommunicators40$36,200$43,4300.640.97
Purchasing Managers40$132,320$136,2400.701.30
Receptionists and Information Clerks250$33,280$32,9004.130.71
Recreation Workers50$29,380$30,3700.780.36
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors80$44,020$44,0801.341.41
Registered Nurses960$68,320$70,53015.700.72
Residential Advisors120$30,240$30,3401.903.48
Retail Salespersons1,580$31,550$34,40025.771.03
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic70$114,470$88,8801.187.27
Roofers30$46,280$49,0800.500.58
Sales Managers110$133,480$149,2001.870.46
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel260$49,780$62,4704.200.52
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products620$71,110$82,80010.051.26
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood120$44,360$45,6601.907.22
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education420$63,350$65,2606.901.01
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive1,260$43,900$44,23020.521.87
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents160$48,430$63,8602.590.82
Security Guards450$38,500$45,6807.390.90
Sewing Machine Operators—$32,770$32,710——
Sheet Metal Workers50$46,940$47,4800.781.02
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks360$44,980$48,2305.901.12
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs60$31,920$33,4800.960.60
Social and Community Service Managers60$72,970$80,0901.050.78
Social and Human Service Assistants120$36,450$37,4301.940.69
Software Developers160$107,740$115,6302.610.24
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School50$59,650$62,1500.790.47
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School40$63,390$62,7600.620.58
Speech-Language Pathologists60$67,350$73,1201.050.89
Stockers and Order Fillers1,200$32,120$34,37019.561.07
Structural Iron and Steel Workers70$56,220$55,8201.182.67
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters100$50,040$50,7301.634.83
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors200$49,360$59,8103.261.03
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term310$17,680$21,7704.981.48
Surgical Technologists50$46,060$47,8700.791.05
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary310$23,210$25,4104.990.55
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers120$62,230$67,7301.992.19
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers90$62,670$65,2801.492.37
Tellers210$37,120$38,4003.481.64
Tool and Die Makers30$60,410$61,2100.511.38
Training and Development Specialists110$93,230$100,1901.740.59
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers30$23,960$24,4400.530.67
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians60$35,980$35,4601.041.26
Waiters and Waitresses670$27,010$26,24010.970.75
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators90$58,270$62,5201.481.79
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers530$56,990$56,8908.643.23
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders70$48,620$46,5201.115.46

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, metropolitan area estimates (cross-industry, all ownerships). Wages are pay for all workers in an occupation in this area, not any one person or employer; a dash means BLS does not publish the figure (often to protect privacy or because the estimate is unreliable), and “or more” marks a wage at or above BLS’s top reporting limit. Concentration is the BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of jobs in this area divided by its share nationally (1.00 = the same share as the U.S.; above 1.00 = a larger share); it says nothing about pay or openings. Jobs per 1,000 is the occupation's jobs per 1,000 jobs of all kinds in this area. Occupations that BLS reports only as hourly wages are not listed, and BLS shows some wages above its top limit as plain numbers while others read “or more”. Occupations are listed alphabetically; click a heading to sort. MajorPays does not rank places or occupations. MajorPays selected and reorganized these figures; the Bureau of Labor Statistics has not approved or endorsed this presentation. MajorPays does not provide advice. See Data sources.

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