High paying production jobs in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI with no degree

The best paid production occupations in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI that require no bachelor's degree — a high school diploma, a certificate, or an associate's degree is the typical entry. This is the narrowest cut on the site, so it is also the shortest list: where a field has only two or three such occupations, there is no page at all rather than a page pretending otherwise.

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 production jobs in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI

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

1First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$66,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,860 – $96,4804,810
2Tool and Die Makers$64,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,220 – $89,9701,540
3Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$63,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,890 – $91,910480
4Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,780 – $81,130350
5Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$53,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,220 – $64,720460
6Machinists$50,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,160 – $71,7403,460
7Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders$49,970
No formal educational credential
$35,940 – $68,000190
8Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$49,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,140 – $61,430430
9Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$49,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,290 – $74,090600
10Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$48,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,540 – $63,0302,520
11Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,340 – $59,710520
12Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$48,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,510 – $66,480290
13Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,830 – $67,740660
14Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$47,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,390 – $49,9502,780
15Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$47,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,980 – $62,7801,210
16Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders$47,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,770 – $52,660190
17Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$47,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,320 – $62,580260
18Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders$45,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,280 – $51,930240
19Furniture Finishers$45,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,700 – $58,690230
20Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,300 – $51,620200
21Food Batchmakers$44,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,660 – $61,8901,870
22Printing Press Operators$44,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,280 – $61,860850
23Slaughterers and Meat Packers$43,680
No formal educational credential
$36,420 – $45,630610
24Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$43,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,690 – $58,5101,440
25Helpers--Production Workers$42,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,910 – $50,590950
26Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$42,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,320 – $74,5004,270
27Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$41,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,910 – $57,740350
28Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$41,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,890 – $63,1903,980
29Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$41,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,470 – $49,790330
30Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$41,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,480 – $50,160730
31Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$41,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,060 – $56,620810
32Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$40,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,740 – $56,810250
33Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$40,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,580 – $54,0601,340
34Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$40,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,460 – $59,1407,020
35Butchers and Meat Cutters$39,750
No formal educational credential
$30,130 – $52,180440
36Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$39,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,010 – $56,91019,540
37Sewing Machine Operators$38,480
No formal educational credential
$31,590 – $46,830480
38Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$37,940
No formal educational credential
$37,940 – $49,790370
39Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$37,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,420 – $58,4003,150
40Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$37,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,950 – $59,7201,960
41Print Binding and Finishing Workers$37,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,450 – $50,380310
42Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$36,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,330 – $51,440780
43Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$36,620
No formal educational credential
$28,910 – $42,850780
44Bakers$36,000
No formal educational credential
$29,290 – $47,050940

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	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,330	$47,860 – $96,480	4,810
2	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,650	$46,220 – $89,970	1,540
3	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,560	$49,890 – $91,910	480
4	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,770	$45,780 – $81,130	350
5	Engine and Other Machine AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,570	$42,220 – $64,720	460
6	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,110	$38,160 – $71,740	3,460
7	Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and TendersNo formal educational credential	$49,970	$35,940 – $68,000	190
8	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,830	$34,140 – $61,430	430
9	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,780	$37,290 – $74,090	600
10	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,920	$39,540 – $63,030	2,520
11	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,910	$38,340 – $59,710	520
12	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,550	$40,510 – $66,480	290
13	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,080	$36,830 – $67,740	660
14	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,720	$39,390 – $49,950	2,780
15	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,670	$35,980 – $62,780	1,210
16	Food Cooking Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,260	$42,770 – $52,660	190
17	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,060	$35,320 – $62,580	260
18	Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,980	$34,280 – $51,930	240
19	Furniture FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,700	$36,700 – $58,690	230
20	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,270	$37,300 – $51,620	200
21	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,650	$33,660 – $61,890	1,870
22	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,650	$33,280 – $61,860	850
23	Slaughterers and Meat PackersNo formal educational credential	$43,680	$36,420 – $45,630	610
24	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,140	$35,690 – $58,510	1,440
25	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,390	$34,910 – $50,590	950
26	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,050	$36,320 – $74,500	4,270
27	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,970	$34,910 – $57,740	350
28	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,890	$31,890 – $63,190	3,980
29	Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,850	$36,470 – $49,790	330
30	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,760	$35,480 – $50,160	730
31	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,150	$36,060 – $56,620	810
32	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,820	$37,740 – $56,810	250
33	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,760	$31,580 – $54,060	1,340
34	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,430	$34,460 – $59,140	7,020
35	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$39,750	$30,130 – $52,180	440
36	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,120	$36,010 – $56,910	19,540
37	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$38,480	$31,590 – $46,830	480
38	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$37,940	$37,940 – $49,790	370
39	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,760	$35,420 – $58,400	3,150
40	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,640	$35,950 – $59,720	1,960
41	Print Binding and Finishing WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,420	$33,450 – $50,380	310
42	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,960	$33,330 – $51,440	780
43	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$36,620	$28,910 – $42,850	780
44	BakersNo formal educational credential	$36,000	$29,290 – $47,050	940

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 production jobs in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI with no degree

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