High paying jobs in Ann Arbor, MI that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Ann Arbor, MI and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Ann Arbor, MI run 0.9% above the national average (2024), so a Ann Arbor, MI salary is worth about 0.99× 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 Ann Arbor, MI

OccupationMedian, Ann Arbor, MI · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$126,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,280 – $178,520530
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$106,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,070 – $182,260270
3Legal Support Workers, All Other$95,890
Associate's degree
$55,690 – $190,24070
4Dental Hygienists$91,900
Associate's degree
$74,000 – $99,700360
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$85,120
Associate's degree
$77,820 – $97,720200
6Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$84,150
Associate's degree
$49,070 – $101,240280
7First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$83,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,140 – $125,370620
8Medical Equipment Repairers$83,020
Associate's degree
$57,490 – $104,810150
9First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$82,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,020 – $116,370430
10Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$81,890
Associate's degree
$38,990 – $96,070310
11Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$81,640
Associate's degree
$45,840 – $101,48070
12Electricians$81,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,230 – $106,160610
13Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,450
Associate's degree
$62,210 – $98,990680
14First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$79,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,630 – $133,170120
15Respiratory Therapists$79,850
Associate's degree
$64,160 – $97,690390
16Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$79,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,070 – $94,48080
17Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$78,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,610 – $102,590420
18Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$77,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,550 – $140,9401,160
19Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,080
Associate's degree
$52,000 – $100,060110
20Sheet Metal Workers$75,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,400 – $101,68090
21Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$75,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,890 – $151,3901,060
22Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$75,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,620 – $101,310460
23Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$74,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,830 – $104,960430
24Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$74,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,210 – $102,600480
25Construction and Building Inspectors$73,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,400 – $105,100110
26First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$73,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,380 – $100,10070
27Psychiatric Technicians$72,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,780 – $72,680580
28Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$71,440
Associate's degree
$48,960 – $96,720170
29Correctional Officers and Jailers$68,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,210 – $81,370370
30Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$68,420
Associate's degree
$40,630 – $100,170100
31Food Service Managers$68,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,350 – $99,920350
32First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$67,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,020 – $101,920650
33Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$67,240
Associate's degree
$43,630 – $87,02070
34Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$66,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,870 – $83,230130
35Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$65,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,800 – $80,980220
36Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$65,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,790 – $65,370280
37Carpenters$65,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,500 – $83,500640
38First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$64,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,190 – $94,2301,330
39Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,860 – $78,260520
40Highway Maintenance Workers$63,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,170 – $69,990130
41Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$63,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,260 – $70,660140
42Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,580 – $90,600390
43Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$62,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,320 – $102,760160
44Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$62,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,490 – $90,550170
45Medical Records Specialists$62,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,660 – $77,080360
46Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$62,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,180 – $100,490550
47Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$62,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,870 – $103,740310
48Public Safety Telecommunicators$62,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,530 – $72,72090
49Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$61,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,870 – $93,940140
50Roofers$61,730
No formal educational credential
$46,250 – $91,87080

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

#	Occupation	MedianAnn Arbor, MI	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$126,400	$58,280 – $178,520	530
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,650	$65,070 – $182,260	270
3	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$95,890	$55,690 – $190,240	70
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$91,900	$74,000 – $99,700	360
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$85,120	$77,820 – $97,720	200
6	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$84,150	$49,070 – $101,240	280
7	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,240	$49,140 – $125,370	620
8	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$83,020	$57,490 – $104,810	150
9	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,000	$59,020 – $116,370	430
10	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,890	$38,990 – $96,070	310
11	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$81,640	$45,840 – $101,480	70
12	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,450	$46,230 – $106,160	610
13	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,450	$62,210 – $98,990	680
14	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,890	$46,630 – $133,170	120
15	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$79,850	$64,160 – $97,690	390
16	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,450	$45,070 – $94,480	80
17	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,210	$47,610 – $102,590	420
18	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,590	$40,550 – $140,940	1,160
19	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,080	$52,000 – $100,060	110
20	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,460	$48,400 – $101,680	90
21	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,310	$39,890 – $151,390	1,060
22	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,000	$46,620 – $101,310	460
23	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,660	$51,830 – $104,960	430
24	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,410	$55,210 – $102,600	480
25	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,910	$33,400 – $105,100	110
26	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,130	$58,380 – $100,100	70
27	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,550	$53,780 – $72,680	580
28	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$71,440	$48,960 – $96,720	170
29	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,520	$61,210 – $81,370	370
30	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,420	$40,630 – $100,170	100
31	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,150	$48,350 – $99,920	350
32	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,470	$48,020 – $101,920	650
33	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,240	$43,630 – $87,020	70
34	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,770	$54,870 – $83,230	130
35	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,770	$50,800 – $80,980	220
36	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,370	$38,790 – $65,370	280
37	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,170	$46,500 – $83,500	640
38	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,880	$48,190 – $94,230	1,330
39	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,670	$51,860 – $78,260	520
40	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,770	$48,170 – $69,990	130
41	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,040	$48,260 – $70,660	140
42	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,790	$49,580 – $90,600	390
43	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,750	$46,320 – $102,760	160
44	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,490	$42,490 – $90,550	170
45	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,420	$40,660 – $77,080	360
46	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,140	$48,180 – $100,490	550
47	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,080	$36,870 – $103,740	310
48	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,040	$45,530 – $72,720	90
49	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,780	$46,870 – $93,940	140
50	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$61,730	$46,250 – $91,870	80

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Ann Arbor, 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 Ann Arbor, MI to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Ann Arbor, MI that need no degree

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