High paying jobs in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI run 4.5% below the national average (2024), so a Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI salary is worth about 1.05× 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI

OccupationMedian, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI · Employed

1Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$84,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,630 – $107,680190
2Dental Hygienists$84,290
Associate's degree
$82,480 – $94,5901,160
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,890
Associate's degree
$67,270 – $93,320350
4Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$81,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,280 – $103,910790
5Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$80,980
Associate's degree
$39,890 – $94,730210
6Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$80,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,630 – $98,2102,270
7Respiratory Therapists$78,070
Associate's degree
$64,580 – $84,480690
8Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$77,360
Associate's degree
$59,610 – $93,580860
9Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$74,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,170 – $85,1001,440
10Mechanical Drafters$74,490
Associate's degree
$49,910 – $116,220360
11Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,610 – $132,6606,980
12Physical Therapist Assistants$68,700
Associate's degree
$50,470 – $79,280700
13Correctional Officers and Jailers$68,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,390 – $79,3401,210
14Massage Therapists$68,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$27,110 – $82,770350
15Occupational Therapy Assistants$67,290
Associate's degree
$52,030 – $79,310370
16Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$66,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,520 – $70,660490
17Millwrights$66,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,140 – $111,380320
18Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$66,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,030 – $125,3103,210
19Brickmasons and Blockmasons$66,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,220 – $83,200340
20Structural Iron and Steel Workers$65,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,060 – $75,980230
21Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,250 – $78,4101,230
22Computer Network Support Specialists$65,120
Associate's degree
$46,090 – $101,100240
23Tool and Die Makers$64,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,220 – $89,9701,540
24Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,090
Associate's degree
$46,350 – $85,510370
25Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$63,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,060 – $84,860900
26Surgical Technologists$63,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,270 – $94,340600
27Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$63,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,890 – $91,910480
28Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,160 – $79,7103,160
29Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$62,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,320 – $91,790490
30Paralegals and Legal Assistants$62,370
Associate's degree
$46,800 – $94,570870
31Electricians$62,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,490 – $97,7602,880
32Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$62,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,990 – $83,7201,430
33Postal Service Clerks$61,570
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030200
34Insurance Sales Agents$61,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,180 – $131,1602,090
35Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,170 – $84,2801,550
36Architectural and Civil Drafters$61,090
Associate's degree
$46,580 – $95,680300
37Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,010
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,100 – $82,790310
38Postal Service Mail Carriers$60,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0401,120
39Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$60,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,600 – $65,810440
40Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,780 – $81,130350
41Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$60,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,510 – $81,520270
42Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$60,560
Associate's degree
$47,320 – $81,6701,070
43Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,710 – $94,5901,920
44Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$60,010
Associate's degree
$41,810 – $81,250420
45Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$59,540
No formal educational credential
$44,830 – $74,8201,090
46Carpenters$59,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,680 – $75,9002,840
47Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$47,170 – $75,280650
48Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,840 – $73,74010,820
49Computer User Support Specialists$57,980
Some college, no degree
$39,060 – $87,3502,450
50Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$57,980
Associate's degree
$40,460 – $86,100230

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

#	Occupation	MedianGrand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,900	$50,630 – $107,680	190
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$84,290	$82,480 – $94,590	1,160
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,890	$67,270 – $93,320	350
4	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,420	$49,280 – $103,910	790
5	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,980	$39,890 – $94,730	210
6	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,440	$46,630 – $98,210	2,270
7	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$78,070	$64,580 – $84,480	690
8	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,360	$59,610 – $93,580	860
9	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,920	$44,170 – $85,100	1,440
10	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$74,490	$49,910 – $116,220	360
11	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,170	$43,610 – $132,660	6,980
12	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$68,700	$50,470 – $79,280	700
13	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,520	$53,390 – $79,340	1,210
14	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,470	$27,110 – $82,770	350
15	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$67,290	$52,030 – $79,310	370
16	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,750	$49,520 – $70,660	490
17	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,510	$47,140 – $111,380	320
18	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,340	$39,030 – $125,310	3,210
19	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,080	$49,220 – $83,200	340
20	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,250	$47,060 – $75,980	230
21	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,230	$55,250 – $78,410	1,230
22	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$65,120	$46,090 – $101,100	240
23	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,650	$46,220 – $89,970	1,540
24	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,090	$46,350 – $85,510	370
25	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,850	$47,060 – $84,860	900
26	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,680	$38,270 – $94,340	600
27	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,560	$49,890 – $91,910	480
28	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,620	$47,160 – $79,710	3,160
29	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,470	$49,320 – $91,790	490
30	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,370	$46,800 – $94,570	870
31	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,240	$38,490 – $97,760	2,880
32	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,170	$44,990 – $83,720	1,430
33	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,570	$42,600 – $75,030	200
34	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,360	$40,180 – $131,160	2,090
35	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,240	$45,170 – $84,280	1,550
36	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$61,090	$46,580 – $95,680	300
37	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,010	$40,100 – $82,790	310
38	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$60,880	$42,390 – $81,040	1,120
39	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,820	$37,600 – $65,810	440
40	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,770	$45,780 – $81,130	350
41	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,670	$45,510 – $81,520	270
42	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,560	$47,320 – $81,670	1,070
43	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,190	$43,710 – $94,590	1,920
44	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,010	$41,810 – $81,250	420
45	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$59,540	$44,830 – $74,820	1,090
46	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,000	$41,680 – $75,900	2,840
47	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$47,170 – $75,280	650
48	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,270	$42,840 – $73,740	10,820
49	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$57,980	$39,060 – $87,350	2,450
50	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$57,980	$40,460 – $86,100	230

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI that need no experience

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