High paying entry level jobs in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI

These occupations in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI run 4.5% below the national average (2024), so a Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI salary is worth about 1.05× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI

OccupationMedian, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI · Employed

1Dentists, General$173,160
Doctoral or professional degree
$96,910 – $314,650490
2Pharmacists$140,710
Doctoral or professional degree
$119,850 – $161,890820
3Physician Assistants$131,930
Master's degree
$102,680 – $157,890940
4Lawyers$129,360
Doctoral or professional degree
$79,090 – $308,1901,430
5Veterinarians$126,140
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,440 – $200,550270
6Nurse Practitioners$125,660
Master's degree
$91,440 – $151,820970
7Software Developers$107,520
Bachelor's degree
$75,670 – $161,8404,310
8Engineers, All Other$102,920
Bachelor's degree
$62,090 – $156,230470
9Computer Occupations, All Other$100,220
Bachelor's degree
$51,300 – $138,730720
10Electrical Engineers$100,080
Bachelor's degree
$71,180 – $141,3701,160
11Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$99,910
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,930 – $206,480200
12Physical Therapists$99,100
Doctoral or professional degree
$79,690 – $108,8601,460
13Industrial Engineers$98,940
Bachelor's degree
$66,110 – $133,6804,170
14Computer Systems Analysts$97,210
Bachelor's degree
$63,550 – $144,1501,140
15Data Scientists$96,880
Bachelor's degree
$60,350 – $152,300850
16Mechanical Engineers$96,610
Bachelor's degree
$61,870 – $129,0603,170
17Project Management Specialists$95,020
Bachelor's degree
$59,530 – $135,2503,010
18Occupational Therapists$94,450
Master's degree
$74,870 – $103,400990
19Network and Computer Systems Administrators$93,440
Bachelor's degree
$63,800 – $120,020890
20Civil Engineers$92,600
Bachelor's degree
$63,130 – $130,550710
21Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$88,780
Bachelor's degree
$59,570 – $127,220260
22Financial and Investment Analysts$88,210
Bachelor's degree
$65,730 – $131,480940
23Dental Hygienists$84,290
Associate's degree
$82,480 – $94,5901,160
24Business Teachers, Postsecondary$84,170
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,260 – $172,720250
25Registered Nurses$83,920
Bachelor's degree
$78,840 – $101,82013,740
26Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,890
Associate's degree
$67,270 – $93,320350
27Chemists$82,110
Bachelor's degree
$58,170 – $126,000290
28Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$80,980
Associate's degree
$39,890 – $94,730210
29Computer Programmers$80,060
Bachelor's degree
$57,100 – $120,160250
30Commercial and Industrial Designers$79,410
Bachelor's degree
$46,440 – $122,910340
31Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$79,060
Bachelor's degree
$50,610 – $103,350280
32Web and Digital Interface Designers$78,430
Bachelor's degree
$47,570 – $135,880190
33Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$78,370
Bachelor's degree
$58,850 – $117,380450
34English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$78,260
Doctoral or professional degree
$49,010 – $105,270220
35Business Operations Specialists, All Other$78,100
Bachelor's degree
$47,550 – $122,9301,750
36Respiratory Therapists$78,070
Associate's degree
$64,580 – $84,480690
37Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$77,360
Associate's degree
$59,610 – $93,580860
38Logisticians$77,050
Bachelor's degree
$52,790 – $106,2501,130
39Accountants and Auditors$76,270
Bachelor's degree
$51,870 – $130,5205,670
40Special Education Teachers, All Other$74,740
Bachelor's degree
$49,250 – $95,990510
41Mechanical Drafters$74,490
Associate's degree
$49,910 – $116,220360
42Physical Therapist Assistants$68,700
Associate's degree
$50,470 – $79,280700
43Massage Therapists$68,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$27,110 – $82,770350
44Occupational Therapy Assistants$67,290
Associate's degree
$52,030 – $79,310370
45Human Resources Specialists$65,760
Bachelor's degree
$46,010 – $104,6003,490
46Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$65,470
Master's degree
$39,220 – $108,350310
47Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,250 – $78,4101,230
48Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$65,060
Bachelor's degree
$48,530 – $99,250280
49Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$64,880
Bachelor's degree
$40,720 – $108,7502,980
50Special Education Teachers, Middle School$64,210
Bachelor's degree
$46,840 – $98,170220

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianGrand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$173,160	$96,910 – $314,650	490
2	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$140,710	$119,850 – $161,890	820
3	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$131,930	$102,680 – $157,890	940
4	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$129,360	$79,090 – $308,190	1,430
5	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$126,140	$78,440 – $200,550	270
6	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$125,660	$91,440 – $151,820	970
7	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$107,520	$75,670 – $161,840	4,310
8	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$102,920	$62,090 – $156,230	470
9	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$100,220	$51,300 – $138,730	720
10	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$100,080	$71,180 – $141,370	1,160
11	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$99,910	$51,930 – $206,480	200
12	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$99,100	$79,690 – $108,860	1,460
13	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$98,940	$66,110 – $133,680	4,170
14	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$97,210	$63,550 – $144,150	1,140
15	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$96,880	$60,350 – $152,300	850
16	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$96,610	$61,870 – $129,060	3,170
17	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$95,020	$59,530 – $135,250	3,010
18	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$94,450	$74,870 – $103,400	990
19	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$93,440	$63,800 – $120,020	890
20	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$92,600	$63,130 – $130,550	710
21	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$88,780	$59,570 – $127,220	260
22	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$88,210	$65,730 – $131,480	940
23	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$84,290	$82,480 – $94,590	1,160
24	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$84,170	$47,260 – $172,720	250
25	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$83,920	$78,840 – $101,820	13,740
26	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,890	$67,270 – $93,320	350
27	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$82,110	$58,170 – $126,000	290
28	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,980	$39,890 – $94,730	210
29	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$80,060	$57,100 – $120,160	250
30	Commercial and Industrial DesignersBachelor's degree	$79,410	$46,440 – $122,910	340
31	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$79,060	$50,610 – $103,350	280
32	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$78,430	$47,570 – $135,880	190
33	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$78,370	$58,850 – $117,380	450
34	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$78,260	$49,010 – $105,270	220
35	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$78,100	$47,550 – $122,930	1,750
36	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$78,070	$64,580 – $84,480	690
37	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,360	$59,610 – $93,580	860
38	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$77,050	$52,790 – $106,250	1,130
39	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$76,270	$51,870 – $130,520	5,670
40	Special Education Teachers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$74,740	$49,250 – $95,990	510
41	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$74,490	$49,910 – $116,220	360
42	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$68,700	$50,470 – $79,280	700
43	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,470	$27,110 – $82,770	350
44	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$67,290	$52,030 – $79,310	370
45	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$65,760	$46,010 – $104,600	3,490
46	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$65,470	$39,220 – $108,350	310
47	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,230	$55,250 – $78,410	1,230
48	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$65,060	$48,530 – $99,250	280
49	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$64,880	$40,720 – $108,750	2,980
50	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$64,210	$46,840 – $98,170	220

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI

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