High paying entry level jobs in Michigan

These occupations in Michigan 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 Michigan run 3.8% below the national average (2024), so a Michigan salary is worth about 1.04× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Michigan.

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

Find high paying jobs in Michigan

OccupationMedian, Michigan · Employed

1Nurse Anesthetists$247,010
Master's degree
$220,840 – $299,1202,300
2Dentists, General$169,930
Doctoral or professional degree
$109,960 – $303,9803,620
3Pharmacists$137,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$101,740 – $168,5408,780
4Optometrists$135,650
Doctoral or professional degree
$98,110 – $213,8501,410
5Physician Assistants$131,510
Master's degree
$104,000 – $162,5706,310
6Nurse Practitioners$131,450
Master's degree
$101,640 – $165,8708,290
7Lawyers$130,520
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,180 – $238,37016,620
8Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$127,230
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,580 – $225,8902,120
9Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$127,200
Bachelor's degree
$89,320 – $166,4102,960
10Software Developers$125,570
Bachelor's degree
$78,930 – $166,51043,460
11Veterinarians$125,390
Doctoral or professional degree
$75,900 – $192,8002,030
12Engineers, All Other$121,000
Bachelor's degree
$69,990 – $166,3607,700
13Computer Hardware Engineers$119,670
Bachelor's degree
$78,240 – $176,7001,420
14Business Teachers, Postsecondary$111,190
Doctoral or professional degree
$43,360 – $229,1602,240
15Electrical Engineers$106,070
Bachelor's degree
$75,880 – $159,09010,840
16Computer Occupations, All Other$105,680
Bachelor's degree
$51,440 – $160,8307,440
17Mechanical Engineers$104,890
Bachelor's degree
$76,310 – $159,84034,630
18Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$103,620
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,290 – $173,7501,460
19Computer Systems Analysts$103,410
Bachelor's degree
$66,360 – $155,67014,070
20Commercial and Industrial Designers$102,160
Bachelor's degree
$49,830 – $137,8502,930
21Industrial Engineers$101,680
Bachelor's degree
$74,060 – $140,14030,990
22Project Management Specialists$100,970
Bachelor's degree
$61,980 – $154,26025,330
23Physical Therapists$100,900
Doctoral or professional degree
$79,600 – $123,9808,630
24Data Scientists$100,590
Bachelor's degree
$60,830 – $162,6707,360
25Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$99,330
Doctoral or professional degree
$45,310 – $174,2601,420
26Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$98,720
Bachelor's degree
$52,460 – $135,8303,480
27Web Developers$98,470
Bachelor's degree
$49,930 – $149,6601,580
28Chemists$97,440
Bachelor's degree
$56,260 – $164,2003,490
29Financial and Investment Analysts$95,420
Bachelor's degree
$63,180 – $154,2307,400
30Registered Nurses$94,300
Bachelor's degree
$77,260 – $116,710104,950
31Network and Computer Systems Administrators$92,750
Bachelor's degree
$63,100 – $133,9006,900
32Civil Engineers$92,100
Bachelor's degree
$63,920 – $130,4007,760
33English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$90,240
Doctoral or professional degree
$50,770 – $137,4001,730
34Occupational Therapists$89,910
Master's degree
$66,580 – $105,7205,120
35Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$84,310
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,590 – $144,5302,370
36Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$84,080
Bachelor's degree
$55,610 – $125,3503,350
37Dental Hygienists$83,790
Associate's degree
$77,230 – $96,9708,640
38Logisticians$83,200
Bachelor's degree
$52,810 – $132,90010,270
39Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$82,990
Master's degree
$48,820 – $136,6902,410
40Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,490
Associate's degree
$66,960 – $96,3603,100
41Business Operations Specialists, All Other$81,810
Bachelor's degree
$50,180 – $131,73020,940
42Web and Digital Interface Designers$81,010
Bachelor's degree
$42,660 – $140,8301,750
43Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$80,650
Associate's degree
$38,990 – $96,5002,070
44Respiratory Therapists$79,850
Associate's degree
$64,770 – $90,2104,520
45Accountants and Auditors$78,820
Bachelor's degree
$52,620 – $131,08041,460
46Special Education Teachers, All Other$78,540
Bachelor's degree
$49,500 – $101,3303,320
47Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$78,050
Bachelor's degree
$49,710 – $103,2102,570
48Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,420
Associate's degree
$55,450 – $97,2507,220
49Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$76,080
Bachelor's degree
$52,300 – $111,7703,100
50Special Education Teachers, Middle School$76,040
Bachelor's degree
$46,790 – $93,3501,410

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

#	Occupation	MedianMichigan	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$247,010	$220,840 – $299,120	2,300
2	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$169,930	$109,960 – $303,980	3,620
3	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$137,860	$101,740 – $168,540	8,780
4	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$135,650	$98,110 – $213,850	1,410
5	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$131,510	$104,000 – $162,570	6,310
6	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$131,450	$101,640 – $165,870	8,290
7	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$130,520	$77,180 – $238,370	16,620
8	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$127,230	$66,580 – $225,890	2,120
9	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$127,200	$89,320 – $166,410	2,960
10	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$125,570	$78,930 – $166,510	43,460
11	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$125,390	$75,900 – $192,800	2,030
12	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$121,000	$69,990 – $166,360	7,700
13	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$119,670	$78,240 – $176,700	1,420
14	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$111,190	$43,360 – $229,160	2,240
15	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$106,070	$75,880 – $159,090	10,840
16	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$105,680	$51,440 – $160,830	7,440
17	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$104,890	$76,310 – $159,840	34,630
18	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$103,620	$61,290 – $173,750	1,460
19	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$103,410	$66,360 – $155,670	14,070
20	Commercial and Industrial DesignersBachelor's degree	$102,160	$49,830 – $137,850	2,930
21	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$101,680	$74,060 – $140,140	30,990
22	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$100,970	$61,980 – $154,260	25,330
23	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$100,900	$79,600 – $123,980	8,630
24	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$100,590	$60,830 – $162,670	7,360
25	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$99,330	$45,310 – $174,260	1,420
26	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$98,720	$52,460 – $135,830	3,480
27	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$98,470	$49,930 – $149,660	1,580
28	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$97,440	$56,260 – $164,200	3,490
29	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$95,420	$63,180 – $154,230	7,400
30	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$94,300	$77,260 – $116,710	104,950
31	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$92,750	$63,100 – $133,900	6,900
32	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$92,100	$63,920 – $130,400	7,760
33	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$90,240	$50,770 – $137,400	1,730
34	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$89,910	$66,580 – $105,720	5,120
35	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$84,310	$63,590 – $144,530	2,370
36	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$84,080	$55,610 – $125,350	3,350
37	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$83,790	$77,230 – $96,970	8,640
38	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$83,200	$52,810 – $132,900	10,270
39	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$82,990	$48,820 – $136,690	2,410
40	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,490	$66,960 – $96,360	3,100
41	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$81,810	$50,180 – $131,730	20,940
42	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$81,010	$42,660 – $140,830	1,750
43	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,650	$38,990 – $96,500	2,070
44	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$79,850	$64,770 – $90,210	4,520
45	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$78,820	$52,620 – $131,080	41,460
46	Special Education Teachers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$78,540	$49,500 – $101,330	3,320
47	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$78,050	$49,710 – $103,210	2,570
48	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,420	$55,450 – $97,250	7,220
49	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$76,080	$52,300 – $111,770	3,100
50	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$76,040	$46,790 – $93,350	1,410

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Michigan. 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.

More for Michigan

Metro areas in Michigan

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Michigan

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Michigan to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Michigan

More for Michigan

Metro areas in Michigan

By field in Michigan

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state