High paying production jobs in Michigan with no experience

The best paid production occupations in Michigan that require neither a degree nor prior experience in a related job. 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 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 production jobs in Michigan

OccupationMedian, Michigan · Employed

1Tool and Die Makers$65,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,930 – $92,9109,420
2Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$64,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,070 – $93,9502,300
3Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$60,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,750 – $77,7505,030
4Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$59,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,710 – $75,9103,400
5Machinists$52,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,370 – $75,33020,350
6Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,950 – $66,7503,000
7Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$50,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,430 – $80,4705,210
8Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$49,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,090 – $70,20013,330
9Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$49,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,020 – $64,7402,230
10Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$47,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,130 – $54,5005,250
11Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$47,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,190 – $62,8007,330
12Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,630 – $62,4301,540
13Foundry Mold and Coremakers$46,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,180 – $59,5402,050
14Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,130 – $76,72022,060
15Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,040 – $78,2909,350
16Slaughterers and Meat Packers$45,850
No formal educational credential
$37,230 – $53,1202,920
17Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,850 – $60,0904,180
18Printing Press Operators$45,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,190 – $63,2205,110
19Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$45,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,020 – $57,0801,470
20Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,510 – $59,1501,800
21Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,220 – $76,920112,310
22Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$44,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,630 – $67,8007,050
23Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$44,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,240 – $64,01027,980
24Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$44,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,590 – $63,6107,270
25Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$44,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,370 – $64,9903,040
26Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,570 – $63,0201,480
27Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$42,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,480 – $55,8303,150
28Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$41,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,890 – $59,37010,940
29Helpers--Production Workers$41,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,240 – $50,2403,610
30Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$40,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,920 – $50,5501,510
31Food Batchmakers$40,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,930 – $62,1505,130
32Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$39,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,080 – $58,7701,970
33Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$39,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,630 – $59,77013,550
34Butchers and Meat Cutters$39,350
No formal educational credential
$29,900 – $50,7404,230
35Production Workers, All Other$37,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,620 – $49,61014,690
36Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$37,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,400 – $51,8503,330
37Sewing Machine Operators$37,490
No formal educational credential
$30,200 – $46,7903,210
38Bakers$35,830
No formal educational credential
$28,860 – $47,1307,290
39Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$35,100
No formal educational credential
$28,440 – $43,1804,970

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	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,590	$46,930 – $92,910	9,420
2	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,640	$50,070 – $93,950	2,300
3	Engine and Other Machine AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,950	$36,750 – $77,750	5,030
4	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,270	$46,710 – $75,910	3,400
5	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,360	$38,370 – $75,330	20,350
6	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,540	$38,950 – $66,750	3,000
7	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,060	$38,430 – $80,470	5,210
8	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,990	$39,090 – $70,200	13,330
9	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,480	$34,020 – $64,740	2,230
10	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,680	$38,130 – $54,500	5,250
11	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,250	$36,190 – $62,800	7,330
12	Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,680	$36,630 – $62,430	1,540
13	Foundry Mold and CoremakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,150	$38,180 – $59,540	2,050
14	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,120	$36,130 – $76,720	22,060
15	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,920	$36,040 – $78,290	9,350
16	Slaughterers and Meat PackersNo formal educational credential	$45,850	$37,230 – $53,120	2,920
17	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,460	$35,850 – $60,090	4,180
18	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,280	$31,190 – $63,220	5,110
19	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,250	$37,020 – $57,080	1,470
20	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,140	$35,510 – $59,150	1,800
21	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,690	$36,220 – $76,920	112,310
22	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,670	$35,630 – $67,800	7,050
23	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,490	$34,240 – $64,010	27,980
24	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,350	$35,590 – $63,610	7,270
25	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,310	$35,370 – $64,990	3,040
26	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,090	$37,570 – $63,020	1,480
27	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,530	$35,480 – $55,830	3,150
28	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,690	$31,890 – $59,370	10,940
29	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,660	$32,240 – $50,240	3,610
30	Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,260	$34,920 – $50,550	1,510
31	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,160	$31,930 – $62,150	5,130
32	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,790	$32,080 – $58,770	1,970
33	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,490	$34,630 – $59,770	13,550
34	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$39,350	$29,900 – $50,740	4,230
35	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,950	$34,620 – $49,610	14,690
36	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,600	$32,400 – $51,850	3,330
37	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$37,490	$30,200 – $46,790	3,210
38	BakersNo formal educational credential	$35,830	$28,860 – $47,130	7,290
39	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,100	$28,440 – $43,180	4,970

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 production jobs in Michigan with no experience

More for Michigan

Metro areas in Michigan

By field in Michigan

Without a degree

High paying production jobs in each state with no experience