High paying jobs in Battle Creek, MI that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Battle Creek, 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 Battle Creek, MI run 9.5% below the national average (2024), so a Battle Creek, MI salary is worth about 1.10× 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 Battle Creek, MI

OccupationMedian, Battle Creek, MI · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$104,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,170 – $188,57090
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$95,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$74,300 – $115,83030
3First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$81,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,020 – $122,440250
4Respiratory Therapists$81,440
Associate's degree
$66,280 – $86,84060
5Detectives and Criminal Investigators$80,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,580 – $96,74030
6Dental Hygienists$79,700
Associate's degree
$78,080 – $88,78080
7Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$78,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,870 – $78,020150
8Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$77,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,470 – $77,30030
9Electricians$76,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,650 – $86,260230
10First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$75,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,000 – $95,590170
11Food Batchmakers$75,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $75,680270
12Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$73,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,480 – $103,370140
13Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$72,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,240 – $83,460250
14Sheet Metal Workers$72,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,270 – $97,350110
15Industrial Machinery Mechanics$71,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,330 – $91,870530
16Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$70,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,640 – $70,66060
17Construction and Building Inspectors$70,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,540 – $108,18040
18Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$68,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,600 – $79,04040
19First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$67,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,080 – $94,200630
20Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,060 – $138,920350
21Physical Therapist Assistants$66,310
Associate's degree
$58,700 – $74,050100
22Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,750 – $76,130360
23Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$64,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,040 – $98,40080
24First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$64,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,020 – $84,680160
25Tool and Die Makers$62,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,680 – $82,73050
26Carpenters$62,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,580 – $77,800130
27First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$61,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,760 – $91,570330
28Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$61,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,800 – $123,260240
29Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$60,940
Associate's degree
$50,170 – $82,58060
30First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$60,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,860 – $88,24030
31Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,290 – $73,900130
32Chefs and Head Cooks$59,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,330 – $78,06080
33Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,510
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040180
34Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$58,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,610 – $73,950130
35First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$58,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,730 – $74,71030
36Food Service Managers$58,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,580 – $87,440120
37Computer User Support Specialists$58,410
Some college, no degree
$40,750 – $77,570170
38Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$57,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,220 – $62,46040
39Insurance Sales Agents$57,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,960 – $100,01090
40Construction Laborers$56,700
No formal educational credential
$39,380 – $65,000220
41Highway Maintenance Workers$56,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,060 – $61,15040
42Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$56,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,610 – $71,870720
43Automotive Body and Related Repairers$55,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,110 – $73,10040
44Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$52,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,380 – $60,730210
45Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$52,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,820 – $71,24050
46Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$52,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,520 – $78,56050
47Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$52,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,300 – $61,24060
48Firefighters$52,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,360 – $81,330120
49Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$52,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,660 – $78,930310
50Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$51,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,540 – $70,42060

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

#	Occupation	MedianBattle Creek, MI	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,240	$58,170 – $188,570	90
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,800	$74,300 – $115,830	30
3	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,680	$46,020 – $122,440	250
4	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$81,440	$66,280 – $86,840	60
5	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,680	$56,580 – $96,740	30
6	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$79,700	$78,080 – $88,780	80
7	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,020	$56,870 – $78,020	150
8	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,290	$64,470 – $77,300	30
9	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,630	$44,650 – $86,260	230
10	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,870	$52,000 – $95,590	170
11	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,370	$31,200 – $75,680	270
12	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,900	$45,480 – $103,370	140
13	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,780	$50,240 – $83,460	250
14	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,370	$42,270 – $97,350	110
15	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,130	$58,330 – $91,870	530
16	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,660	$45,640 – $70,660	60
17	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,660	$42,540 – $108,180	40
18	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,390	$47,600 – $79,040	40
19	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,690	$46,080 – $94,200	630
20	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,710	$40,060 – $138,920	350
21	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$66,310	$58,700 – $74,050	100
22	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,360	$55,750 – $76,130	360
23	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,570	$50,040 – $98,400	80
24	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,510	$43,020 – $84,680	160
25	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,440	$42,680 – $82,730	50
26	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,140	$44,580 – $77,800	130
27	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,880	$42,760 – $91,570	330
28	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,190	$38,800 – $123,260	240
29	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,940	$50,170 – $82,580	60
30	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,610	$38,860 – $88,240	30
31	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,100	$41,290 – $73,900	130
32	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,540	$49,330 – $78,060	80
33	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,510	$42,390 – $81,040	180
34	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,810	$39,610 – $73,950	130
35	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,750	$49,730 – $74,710	30
36	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,500	$39,580 – $87,440	120
37	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$58,410	$40,750 – $77,570	170
38	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,810	$46,220 – $62,460	40
39	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,510	$36,960 – $100,010	90
40	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$56,700	$39,380 – $65,000	220
41	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,200	$38,060 – $61,150	40
42	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,160	$37,610 – $71,870	720
43	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,420	$39,110 – $73,100	40
44	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,970	$46,380 – $60,730	210
45	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,660	$36,820 – $71,240	50
46	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,290	$34,520 – $78,560	50
47	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,230	$46,300 – $61,240	60
48	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,200	$40,360 – $81,330	120
49	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,190	$46,660 – $78,930	310
50	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,770	$40,540 – $70,420	60

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

High paying jobs in Battle Creek, MI that need no degree

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