High paying jobs in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Kalamazoo-Portage, 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 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI run 5.2% below the national average (2024), so a Kalamazoo-Portage, 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 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI

OccupationMedian, Kalamazoo-Portage, MI · Employed

1Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$90,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,200 – $111,670870
2Sheet Metal Workers$80,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,370 – $102,990160
3Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$80,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,350 – $103,380100
4Dental Hygienists$79,670
Associate's degree
$75,430 – $99,400250
5Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$78,140
Associate's degree
$59,140 – $97,490210
6Respiratory Therapists$76,220
Associate's degree
$60,430 – $90,680130
7Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$76,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,230 – $80,18060
8Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$74,840
Associate's degree
$35,600 – $102,600130
9Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$74,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,420 – $80,790340
10Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$74,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,750 – $98,93050
11Mechanical Drafters$72,940
Associate's degree
$48,200 – $103,81060
12Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$70,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,790 – $128,7401,260
13Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$70,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,980 – $86,030150
14Computer Network Support Specialists$69,560
Associate's degree
$46,990 – $108,83040
15Industrial Machinery Mechanics$66,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,610 – $95,900610
16Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$66,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,990 – $79,010320
17Surgical Technologists$66,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,360 – $93,800130
18Electricians$65,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,540 – $100,900680
19Chemical Technicians$65,250
Associate's degree
$50,360 – $85,520300
20Information and Record Clerks, All Other$64,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,970 – $81,670100
21Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$63,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,910 – $63,97050
22Physical Therapist Assistants$62,860
Associate's degree
$33,740 – $75,13090
23Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,490
Associate's degree
$49,630 – $84,600260
24Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$62,480
Associate's degree
$45,880 – $79,02040
25Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,300
Associate's degree
$46,280 – $102,05080
26Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,090
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040270
27Tool and Die Makers$61,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,740 – $77,570120
28Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$61,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,020 – $92,07070
29Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,860
Associate's degree
$46,150 – $111,35090
30Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$61,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,980 – $90,990190
31Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,560 – $78,590100
32Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$61,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,740 – $119,990550
33Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$61,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,930 – $97,920430
34Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$61,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,060 – $76,71080
35Mechanical Door Repairers$61,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,280 – $80,22060
36Carpenters$61,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,100 – $78,530410
37Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$60,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,940 – $89,420370
38Insurance Sales Agents$60,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,320 – $130,020240
39Audio and Video Technicians$60,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,510 – $62,03050
40Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$60,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,680 – $78,190230
41Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$60,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,650 – $69,18050
42Advertising Sales Agents$60,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,490 – $129,31040
43Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$59,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,100 – $59,91060
44Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$59,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,400 – $75,80050
45Real Estate Sales Agents$59,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,380 – $120,27090
46Roofers$59,280
No formal educational credential
$46,220 – $77,170110
47Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$58,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,360 – $72,930100
48Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$58,300
Associate's degree
$34,060 – $84,13040
49Computer User Support Specialists$57,920
Some college, no degree
$40,260 – $79,690390
50Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$57,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,790 – $71,80050

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

#	Occupation	MedianKalamazoo-Portage, MI	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,730	$48,200 – $111,670	870
2	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,870	$49,370 – $102,990	160
3	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,380	$46,350 – $103,380	100
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$79,670	$75,430 – $99,400	250
5	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,140	$59,140 – $97,490	210
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$76,220	$60,430 – $90,680	130
7	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,010	$49,230 – $80,180	60
8	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,840	$35,600 – $102,600	130
9	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,810	$48,420 – $80,790	340
10	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,460	$42,750 – $98,930	50
11	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$72,940	$48,200 – $103,810	60
12	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,700	$39,790 – $128,740	1,260
13	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,660	$52,980 – $86,030	150
14	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$69,560	$46,990 – $108,830	40
15	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,340	$47,610 – $95,900	610
16	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,320	$59,990 – $79,010	320
17	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,270	$36,360 – $93,800	130
18	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,690	$39,540 – $100,900	680
19	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,250	$50,360 – $85,520	300
20	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,500	$38,970 – $81,670	100
21	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,970	$37,910 – $63,970	50
22	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,860	$33,740 – $75,130	90
23	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,490	$49,630 – $84,600	260
24	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$62,480	$45,880 – $79,020	40
25	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,300	$46,280 – $102,050	80
26	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,090	$42,390 – $81,040	270
27	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,940	$40,740 – $77,570	120
28	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,870	$47,020 – $92,070	70
29	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,860	$46,150 – $111,350	90
30	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,730	$43,980 – $90,990	190
31	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,670	$48,560 – $78,590	100
32	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,420	$38,740 – $119,990	550
33	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,270	$43,930 – $97,920	430
34	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,270	$46,060 – $76,710	80
35	Mechanical Door RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,190	$47,280 – $80,220	60
36	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,060	$40,100 – $78,530	410
37	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,960	$41,940 – $89,420	370
38	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,950	$38,320 – $130,020	240
39	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,210	$44,510 – $62,030	50
40	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,200	$45,680 – $78,190	230
41	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,200	$38,650 – $69,180	50
42	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,170	$38,490 – $129,310	40
43	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,910	$40,100 – $59,910	60
44	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,880	$48,400 – $75,800	50
45	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,800	$31,380 – $120,270	90
46	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$59,280	$46,220 – $77,170	110
47	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,920	$39,360 – $72,930	100
48	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,300	$34,060 – $84,130	40
49	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$57,920	$40,260 – $79,690	390
50	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,680	$33,790 – $71,800	50

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Kalamazoo-Portage, 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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Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI that need no experience

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