High paying jobs in Michigan that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Michigan 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 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

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$106,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,480 – $131,5702,800
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$99,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,720 – $169,0208,180
3First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$98,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,680 – $122,2003,290
4Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$96,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,900 – $109,2302,240
5Detectives and Criminal Investigators$90,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$71,590 – $164,6702,220
6Millwrights$89,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,680 – $97,4602,900
7Dental Hygienists$83,790
Associate's degree
$77,230 – $96,9708,640
8Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,490
Associate's degree
$66,960 – $96,3603,100
9Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$80,650
Associate's degree
$38,990 – $96,5002,070
10Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$80,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,560 – $103,43014,120
11First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$80,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,900 – $158,0503,490
12Respiratory Therapists$79,850
Associate's degree
$64,770 – $90,2104,520
13Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,210 – $109,0006,640
14First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$78,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,140 – $119,99016,660
15First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$77,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,490 – $121,84015,740
16First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$77,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,550 – $104,5801,830
17Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,420
Associate's degree
$55,450 – $97,2507,220
18Electricians$76,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,980 – $103,12023,530
19Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$74,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,180 – $118,1003,380
20Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,800
Associate's degree
$46,590 – $100,4202,350
21Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$74,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,440 – $84,4502,780
22Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$73,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,780 – $89,22016,750
23Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$73,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,970 – $135,72027,160
24Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,740 – $136,05040,960
25Mechanical Drafters$72,280
Associate's degree
$47,100 – $112,1702,030
26First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$72,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,330 – $101,77026,650
27Construction and Building Inspectors$71,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,100 – $95,9803,090
28Massage Therapists$70,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,610 – $89,9502,410
29Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$68,170
Associate's degree
$46,110 – $98,9804,930
30Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$66,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,810 – $99,4009,030
31Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$66,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,520 – $70,6605,060
32Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$66,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,320 – $90,5003,860
33Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$66,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,470 – $92,1501,460
34Computer Network Support Specialists$65,900
Associate's degree
$40,250 – $108,2502,470
35Tool and Die Makers$65,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,930 – $92,9109,420
36Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,160 – $77,78010,880
37Advertising Sales Agents$64,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,180 – $134,9502,040
38First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$64,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,830 – $98,77030,690
39Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$64,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,070 – $93,9502,300
40Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,510
Associate's degree
$48,550 – $98,4605,410
41Sheet Metal Workers$64,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,940 – $96,3904,000
42Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,080 – $91,27017,310
43Correctional Officers and Jailers$64,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,360 – $77,9908,220
44Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,0302,340
45Brickmasons and Blockmasons$63,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,400 – $90,9302,240
46Surgical Technologists$63,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,690 – $79,5503,840
47Structural Iron and Steel Workers$62,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,260 – $79,1501,750
48Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$62,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,370 – $90,5809,500
49Paralegals and Legal Assistants$62,170
Associate's degree
$46,590 – $96,6107,730
50Insurance Sales Agents$61,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,350 – $131,18012,160

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	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,890	$65,480 – $131,570	2,800
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,100	$61,720 – $169,020	8,180
3	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,140	$69,680 – $122,200	3,290
4	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,890	$50,900 – $109,230	2,240
5	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,650	$71,590 – $164,670	2,220
6	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,190	$58,680 – $97,460	2,900
7	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$83,790	$77,230 – $96,970	8,640
8	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,490	$66,960 – $96,360	3,100
9	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,650	$38,990 – $96,500	2,070
10	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,190	$46,560 – $103,430	14,120
11	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,170	$49,900 – $158,050	3,490
12	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$79,850	$64,770 – $90,210	4,520
13	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,850	$48,210 – $109,000	6,640
14	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,180	$57,140 – $119,990	16,660
15	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,810	$46,490 – $121,840	15,740
16	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,550	$49,550 – $104,580	1,830
17	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,420	$55,450 – $97,250	7,220
18	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,270	$42,980 – $103,120	23,530
19	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,900	$48,180 – $118,100	3,380
20	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,800	$46,590 – $100,420	2,350
21	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,360	$47,440 – $84,450	2,780
22	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,730	$47,780 – $89,220	16,750
23	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,380	$38,970 – $135,720	27,160
24	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,980	$39,740 – $136,050	40,960
25	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$72,280	$47,100 – $112,170	2,030
26	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,170	$47,330 – $101,770	26,650
27	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,040	$47,100 – $95,980	3,090
28	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,960	$32,610 – $89,950	2,410
29	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,170	$46,110 – $98,980	4,930
30	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,840	$47,810 – $99,400	9,030
31	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,830	$47,520 – $70,660	5,060
32	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,680	$49,320 – $90,500	3,860
33	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,140	$43,470 – $92,150	1,460
34	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$65,900	$40,250 – $108,250	2,470
35	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,590	$46,930 – $92,910	9,420
36	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,460	$56,160 – $77,780	10,880
37	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,800	$40,180 – $134,950	2,040
38	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,720	$44,830 – $98,770	30,690
39	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,640	$50,070 – $93,950	2,300
40	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,510	$48,550 – $98,460	5,410
41	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,490	$40,940 – $96,390	4,000
42	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,250	$47,080 – $91,270	17,310
43	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,020	$47,360 – $77,990	8,220
44	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$42,600 – $75,030	2,340
45	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,500	$48,400 – $90,930	2,240
46	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,320	$43,690 – $79,550	3,840
47	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,830	$41,260 – $79,150	1,750
48	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,690	$46,370 – $90,580	9,500
49	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,170	$46,590 – $96,610	7,730
50	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,900	$38,350 – $131,180	12,160

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 jobs in Michigan that need no degree

More for Michigan

Metro areas in Michigan

By field in Michigan

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree