High paying jobs in Traverse City, MI that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Traverse City, 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 Traverse City, MI run 6.6% below the national average (2024), so a Traverse City, MI salary is worth about 1.07× 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 Traverse City, MI

OccupationMedian, Traverse City, MI · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$108,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$83,710 – $127,66060
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$93,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,740 – $128,430100
3First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$82,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,860 – $126,51050
4Dental Hygienists$81,570
Associate's degree
$78,050 – $94,730190
5First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$80,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,770 – $102,86070
6Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$79,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,510 – $121,80090
7Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$77,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,910 – $96,25030
8Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$76,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,040 – $106,330100
9First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$75,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,750 – $100,250460
10First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$75,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,910 – $110,340230
11First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$74,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,150 – $98,56030
12Detectives and Criminal Investigators$73,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$71,520 – $113,21050
13Construction and Building Inspectors$70,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,570 – $93,02050
14Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$70,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,540 – $86,030120
15Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$67,900
Associate's degree
$52,510 – $101,76090
16Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$66,780
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,260 – $105,52040
17Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$66,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,620 – $79,150340
18Sheet Metal Workers$65,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,320 – $85,20070
19First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$65,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,940 – $98,760270
20Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$64,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,470 – $100,57050
21Computer Network Support Specialists$63,720
Associate's degree
$46,070 – $78,82040
22Tool and Die Makers$63,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,270 – $99,27060
23Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$63,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,790 – $77,600150
24Surgical Technologists$63,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,710 – $73,49060
25Insurance Sales Agents$63,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,300 – $152,130300
26Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,940 – $95,400190
27Food Service Managers$62,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,250 – $102,520190
28Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,210 – $120,910490
29Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$62,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,440 – $79,790110
30Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,940 – $78,520140
31Community Health Workers$62,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,770 – $87,01050
32First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,310 – $92,270180
33Postal Service Clerks$62,130
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $71,86060
34Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,890 – $119,120350
35Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,930 – $80,820270
36First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$61,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,970 – $97,070620
37Electricians$61,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,160 – $91,240390
38Physical Therapist Assistants$61,290
Associate's degree
$49,650 – $77,480130
39Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$61,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,130 – $78,550280
40Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$61,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,920 – $87,60070
41Transportation Security Screeners$61,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,640 – $71,28030
42Correctional Officers and Jailers$60,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,920 – $62,76080
43Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$60,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,600 – $77,10060
44Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,010 – $91,450210
45Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$60,570
Associate's degree
$44,600 – $83,72040
46Real Estate Sales Agents$60,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,550 – $169,09050
47Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,770 – $68,30090
48Lodging Managers$60,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,110 – $102,97060
49Carpenters$59,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,700 – $70,720420
50Highway Maintenance Workers$59,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,470 – $61,810180

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

#	Occupation	MedianTraverse City, MI	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,970	$83,710 – $127,660	60
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,260	$57,740 – $128,430	100
3	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,160	$50,860 – $126,510	50
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$81,570	$78,050 – $94,730	190
5	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,990	$58,770 – $102,860	70
6	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,440	$45,510 – $121,800	90
7	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,570	$58,910 – $96,250	30
8	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,540	$60,040 – $106,330	100
9	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,960	$52,750 – $100,250	460
10	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,170	$45,910 – $110,340	230
11	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,850	$51,150 – $98,560	30
12	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,050	$71,520 – $113,210	50
13	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,730	$45,570 – $93,020	50
14	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,660	$47,540 – $86,030	120
15	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$67,900	$52,510 – $101,760	90
16	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,780	$60,260 – $105,520	40
17	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,080	$46,620 – $79,150	340
18	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,940	$42,320 – $85,200	70
19	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,460	$45,940 – $98,760	270
20	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,230	$50,470 – $100,570	50
21	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$63,720	$46,070 – $78,820	40
22	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,260	$46,270 – $99,270	60
23	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,240	$45,790 – $77,600	150
24	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,230	$52,710 – $73,490	60
25	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,150	$38,300 – $152,130	300
26	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,100	$41,940 – $95,400	190
27	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,520	$44,250 – $102,520	190
28	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,470	$38,210 – $120,910	490
29	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,320	$49,440 – $79,790	110
30	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,260	$51,940 – $78,520	140
31	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,160	$45,770 – $87,010	50
32	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,130	$42,310 – $92,270	180
33	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,130	$42,600 – $71,860	60
34	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,110	$38,890 – $119,120	350
35	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,790	$45,930 – $80,820	270
36	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,760	$44,970 – $97,070	620
37	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,650	$37,160 – $91,240	390
38	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,290	$49,650 – $77,480	130
39	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,200	$49,130 – $78,550	280
40	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,190	$44,920 – $87,600	70
41	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,110	$45,640 – $71,280	30
42	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,760	$48,920 – $62,760	80
43	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,690	$46,600 – $77,100	60
44	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,590	$39,010 – $91,450	210
45	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,570	$44,600 – $83,720	40
46	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,470	$31,550 – $169,090	50
47	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,390	$46,770 – $68,300	90
48	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,170	$35,110 – $102,970	60
49	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,230	$43,700 – $70,720	420
50	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,220	$38,470 – $61,810	180

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

High paying jobs in Traverse City, MI that need no degree

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