High paying jobs in Michigan that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Michigan, 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 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
2Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$96,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,900 – $109,2302,240
3Millwrights$89,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,680 – $97,4602,900
4Dental Hygienists$83,790
Associate's degree
$77,230 – $96,9708,640
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,490
Associate's degree
$66,960 – $96,3603,100
6Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$80,650
Associate's degree
$38,990 – $96,5002,070
7Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$80,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,560 – $103,43014,120
8Respiratory Therapists$79,850
Associate's degree
$64,770 – $90,2104,520
9Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,210 – $109,0006,640
10Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,420
Associate's degree
$55,450 – $97,2507,220
11Electricians$76,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,980 – $103,12023,530
12Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$74,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,180 – $118,1003,380
13Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,800
Associate's degree
$46,590 – $100,4202,350
14Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$74,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,440 – $84,4502,780
15Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$73,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,780 – $89,22016,750
16Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$73,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,970 – $135,72027,160
17Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,740 – $136,05040,960
18Mechanical Drafters$72,280
Associate's degree
$47,100 – $112,1702,030
19Massage Therapists$70,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,610 – $89,9502,410
20Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$68,170
Associate's degree
$46,110 – $98,9804,930
21Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$66,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,520 – $70,6605,060
22Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$66,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,320 – $90,5003,860
23Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$66,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,470 – $92,1501,460
24Computer Network Support Specialists$65,900
Associate's degree
$40,250 – $108,2502,470
25Tool and Die Makers$65,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,930 – $92,9109,420
26Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,160 – $77,78010,880
27Advertising Sales Agents$64,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,180 – $134,9502,040
28Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$64,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,070 – $93,9502,300
29Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,510
Associate's degree
$48,550 – $98,4605,410
30Sheet Metal Workers$64,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,940 – $96,3904,000
31Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,080 – $91,27017,310
32Correctional Officers and Jailers$64,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,360 – $77,9908,220
33Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,0302,340
34Brickmasons and Blockmasons$63,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,400 – $90,9302,240
35Surgical Technologists$63,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,690 – $79,5503,840
36Structural Iron and Steel Workers$62,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,260 – $79,1501,750
37Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$62,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,370 – $90,5809,500
38Paralegals and Legal Assistants$62,170
Associate's degree
$46,590 – $96,6107,730
39Insurance Sales Agents$61,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,350 – $131,18012,160
40Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,650 – $85,0903,940
41Carpenters$61,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,550 – $81,86018,590
42Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$61,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,770 – $89,7307,560
43Physical Therapist Assistants$61,670
Associate's degree
$35,700 – $78,6004,520
44Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,240 – $81,0109,020
45Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$60,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,750 – $77,7505,030
46Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,210 – $95,29012,590
47Medical Equipment Repairers$60,680
Associate's degree
$37,320 – $98,4301,820
48Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$60,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,640 – $79,6001,980
49Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,04011,610
50Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$59,860
No formal educational credential
$43,860 – $75,6506,350

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	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,890	$50,900 – $109,230	2,240
3	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,190	$58,680 – $97,460	2,900
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$83,790	$77,230 – $96,970	8,640
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,490	$66,960 – $96,360	3,100
6	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,650	$38,990 – $96,500	2,070
7	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,190	$46,560 – $103,430	14,120
8	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$79,850	$64,770 – $90,210	4,520
9	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,850	$48,210 – $109,000	6,640
10	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,420	$55,450 – $97,250	7,220
11	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,270	$42,980 – $103,120	23,530
12	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,900	$48,180 – $118,100	3,380
13	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,800	$46,590 – $100,420	2,350
14	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,360	$47,440 – $84,450	2,780
15	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,730	$47,780 – $89,220	16,750
16	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,380	$38,970 – $135,720	27,160
17	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,980	$39,740 – $136,050	40,960
18	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$72,280	$47,100 – $112,170	2,030
19	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,960	$32,610 – $89,950	2,410
20	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,170	$46,110 – $98,980	4,930
21	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,830	$47,520 – $70,660	5,060
22	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,680	$49,320 – $90,500	3,860
23	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,140	$43,470 – $92,150	1,460
24	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$65,900	$40,250 – $108,250	2,470
25	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,590	$46,930 – $92,910	9,420
26	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,460	$56,160 – $77,780	10,880
27	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,800	$40,180 – $134,950	2,040
28	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,640	$50,070 – $93,950	2,300
29	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,510	$48,550 – $98,460	5,410
30	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,490	$40,940 – $96,390	4,000
31	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,250	$47,080 – $91,270	17,310
32	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,020	$47,360 – $77,990	8,220
33	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$42,600 – $75,030	2,340
34	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,500	$48,400 – $90,930	2,240
35	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,320	$43,690 – $79,550	3,840
36	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,830	$41,260 – $79,150	1,750
37	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,690	$46,370 – $90,580	9,500
38	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,170	$46,590 – $96,610	7,730
39	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,900	$38,350 – $131,180	12,160
40	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,700	$44,650 – $85,090	3,940
41	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,680	$44,550 – $81,860	18,590
42	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,670	$43,770 – $89,730	7,560
43	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,670	$35,700 – $78,600	4,520
44	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,420	$45,240 – $81,010	9,020
45	Engine and Other Machine AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,950	$36,750 – $77,750	5,030
46	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,850	$40,210 – $95,290	12,590
47	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$60,680	$37,320 – $98,430	1,820
48	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,220	$33,640 – $79,600	1,980
49	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	11,610
50	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$59,860	$43,860 – $75,650	6,350

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 experience

More for Michigan

Metro areas in Michigan

By field in Michigan

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience