StateRates

Tuscaloosa salaries

The median worker in the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area earned $45,440 a year in 2024, about $21.84 an hour. That ranks #242 of the 391 metro areas published here, 8.2% below the national median.

Alabama

Median pay $45,440 $21.84 per hour
Vs national -8.2% U.S. $49,500
Workers 108,360 wage and salary
Metro rank #242 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Tuscaloosa pays 3.7% more than Alabama as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Psychiatric Aides 22.36× 550 $32,620
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 9.08× 990 $36,560
Industrial Machinery Mechanics 5.55× 1,650 $63,540
Cooks, Fast Food 2.85× 1,340 $26,560
Industrial Engineers 2.67× 660 $105,530
Bus Drivers, School 2.15× 590 $19,390
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 2.02× 970 $69,830
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators 2× 660 $48,900
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 1.98× 820 $42,190
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators 1.83× 1,040 $45,570
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses 1.76× 780 $49,110
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria 1.7× 540 $29,940

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Tuscaloosa
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Physicians, All Other $201,020 $96.64 200
Pharmacists $130,890 $62.93 340
Financial Managers $126,820 $60.97 220
Industrial Production Managers $123,850 $59.54 250
Nurse Practitioners $109,610 $52.70 260
Industrial Engineers $105,530 $50.73 660
Lawyers $102,840 $49.44 210
General and Operations Managers $99,170 $47.68 1,250
Software Developers $98,790 $47.49 240
Medical and Health Services Managers $89,110 $42.84 440
Civil Engineers $88,290 $42.45 240
Construction Managers $87,540 $42.09 420
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors $87,340 $41.99 380
Logisticians $82,820 $39.82 290
Accountants and Auditors $73,390 $35.29 990
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $73,280 $35.23 690
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $73,180 $35.19 850
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $69,830 $33.57 970
Registered Nurses $68,790 $33.07 2,460
Firefighters $66,890 $32.16 420
Coaches and Scouts $66,530 n/a 210
Human Resources Specialists $66,420 $31.93 430
Buyers and Purchasing Agents $65,100 $31.30 300
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $63,540 $30.55 1,650
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines $63,490 $30.53 230
Computer User Support Specialists $62,810 $30.20 490
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $62,810 $30.20 620
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $61,940 $29.78 870
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $61,780 $29.70 710
Loan Officers $61,240 $29.44 270
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $59,960 n/a 720
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $59,450 $28.58 500
Electricians $59,280 $28.50 470
Postal Service Mail Carriers $58,390 $28.07 260
Food Service Managers $58,150 $27.96 350
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $55,660 $26.76 440
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary $55,570 n/a 240
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists $53,190 $25.57 210
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors $51,980 $24.99 240
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $51,910 $24.96 350
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $51,490 $24.76 230
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers $51,240 $24.63 440
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $51,060 $24.55 410
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $50,550 $24.30 1,510
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators $50,240 $24.15 200
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $50,080 n/a 1,200
Healthcare Social Workers $49,640 $23.87 210
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $49,320 $23.71 350
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $49,110 $23.61 780
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $48,900 $23.51 660
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers $48,880 $23.50 290
Carpenters $48,620 $23.38 310
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks $47,680 $22.92 650
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians $47,060 $22.62 250
Correctional Officers and Jailers $46,680 $22.44 290
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $45,570 $21.91 1,040
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $43,980 $21.15 590
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $43,940 $21.12 1,190
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $42,190 $20.29 820
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $41,870 $20.13 890

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Tuscaloosa by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Retail Salespersons 2,980 $29,170 $14.02
Cashiers 2,610 $27,450 $13.20
Registered Nurses 2,460 $68,790 $33.07
Fast Food and Counter Workers 2,160 $23,850 $11.47
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 1,850 $41,300 $19.85
Waiters and Waitresses 1,810 $22,740 $10.93
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,700 $31,410 $15.10
Industrial Machinery Mechanics 1,650 $63,540 $30.55
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1,650 $35,330 $16.99
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1,510 $50,550 $24.30
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1,450 $31,220 $15.01
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 1,410 $28,050 $13.49
Nursing Assistants 1,370 $31,920 $15.35
Cooks, Fast Food 1,340 $26,560 $12.77
General and Operations Managers 1,250 $99,170 $47.68
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 1,200 $50,080 n/a
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers 1,190 $35,600 $17.12
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers 1,190 $43,940 $21.12
Office Clerks, General 1,060 $31,520 $15.16
Cooks, Restaurant 1,040 $30,340 $14.59

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Alabama metro areas

Tuscaloosa pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Tuscaloosa?

The median across all occupations is $45,440, or $21.84 an hour, covering 108,360 wage and salary workers. The mean is $53,580, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Tuscaloosa pay more than the rest of Alabama?

Yes. The metro median of $45,440 is 3.7% above the Alabama median of $43,830. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Tuscaloosa?

Physicians, All Other ($201,020), Pharmacists ($130,890), Financial Managers ($126,820). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Tuscaloosa unusually full of?

Psychiatric Aides, at 22.36× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.