What this means Our calculation
5 of 24 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is electrical lineworkers at $94,690. Prices run 13% below the U.S. average, so a paycheck here is worth more than the same dollars elsewhere. For the wider job market, unemployment is lower than most metros (2.4%) and the population is growing at a typical pace (+2.5% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Decatur Government data
All 24 trades
Vs. U.S. compares with the typical metro for that trade. Jobs are employment estimates, not open positions. Click a column to sort.
| Trade | Median pay | Vs. U.S. | Real pay | Jobs | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Lineworker | $94,690 | -2% | $108,575 | 120 | #143 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $76,990 | +21% | $88,279 | 950 | #32 |
| Construction Supervisor | $74,330 | -4% | $85,229 | 500 | #267 |
| Electrician | $63,930 | +2% | $73,304 | 480 | #174 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $62,670 | -5% | $71,859 | 90 | #146 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $62,230 | -0% | $71,355 | 120 | #161 |
| Plumber | $59,920 | -2% | $68,706 | 210 | #228 |
| Building Inspector | $58,440 | -13% | $67,009 | 40 | #298 |
| Machinist | $58,240 | +2% | $66,780 | 290 | #151 |
| Welder | $56,990 | +9% | $65,347 | 530 | #116 |
| Ironworker | $56,220 | -12% | $64,464 | 70 | #120 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $52,250 | -13% | $59,911 | 150 | #340 |
| Carpenter | $50,950 | -9% | $58,421 | 190 | #237 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $49,470 | -17% | $56,724 | 290 | #287 |
| HVAC Technician | $48,750 | -18% | $55,898 | 330 | #346 |
| Maintenance Technician | $48,520 | +0% | $55,635 | 470 | #192 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $47,360 | -8% | $54,304 | 50 | #297 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $46,940 | -24% | $53,823 | 50 | #243 |
| Roofer | $46,280 | -8% | $53,066 | 30 | #219 |
| Concrete Finisher | $45,790 | -20% | $52,504 | 60 | #291 |
| Auto Mechanic | $45,740 | -6% | $52,447 | 290 | #334 |
| Pest Control Technician | $38,760 | -13% | $44,443 | 70 | #176 |
| Construction Laborer | $37,680 | -20% | $43,205 | 690 | #348 |
| Landscaper | $37,420 | -0% | $42,907 | 260 | #202 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Decatur
The Decatur area has about 70,059 homes. 47% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is about as old as most; 13% were built in 2010 or later. 73% of households own their home, and the median home value is $219,800.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Decatur Government data
In an average year, Decatur has 64 days at 90°F or hotter (more than most metros; typical metro 33), including 2 at 100°F or more, 62 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 75 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more. Summer afternoons average 89°F and winter nights 34°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Decatur Pryor Fld, AL station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
2.4% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Decatur area's population grew 2.5% from 2020 to 2025 (156,406 → 160,326), ranking #194 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +5,144) account for more than all of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Decatur are up 80% from 2021 to 2025 (226 → 406). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Decatur area is 28 minutes each way, longer than the typical metro (24 min). 16% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 82% drive alone, 0% take transit and 8% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Licensing in Alabama Official source
The main state licensing office in Alabama is the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors. Electrical, HVAC and plumbing have their own state boards. It can point you to the right license for skilled trades.
Official Alabama licensing site ↗
Requirements for skilled trades vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 6.3% of wage and salary workers in Alabama were union members, below the U.S. rate of about 10% (#31 of 51 states and D.C.), and 7.2% were covered by a union contract. These figures cover all jobs in the state, not only the trades.
BLS Union Members, 2025 (Current Population Survey), table 5.
Nearby metros
Compare any trade in two cities with city vs. city, or see every metro in Alabama.