Jobs that actually got a raise in Michigan

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Waiters and Waitresses$37,760
No formal educational credential
$25,960 – $64,350+40.4%+76.8% nominal
2Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$74,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,440 – $84,450+40.3%+76.6% nominal
3Bartenders$36,780
No formal educational credential
$25,960 – $76,090+36.2%+71.5% nominal
4Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$49,300
Bachelor's degree
$30,800 – $80,990+29.3%+62.9% nominal
5Helpers--Production Workers$41,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,240 – $50,240+27.6%+60.7% nominal
6Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$40,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,560 – $59,490+26.0%+58.7% nominal
7Driver/Sales Workers$39,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,960 – $58,730+24.6%+56.9% nominal
8Crossing Guards and Flaggers$36,540
No formal educational credential
$26,810 – $46,410+24.2%+56.4% nominal
9Counter and Rental Clerks$39,350
No formal educational credential
$30,020 – $61,740+23.4%+55.3% nominal
10Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$43,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,220 – $57,000+23.3%+55.2% nominal
11Cooks, Short Order$34,510
No formal educational credential
$26,750 – $43,180+23.1%+55.0% nominal
12Massage Therapists$70,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,610 – $89,950+21.6%+53.2% nominal
13Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$73,480
Bachelor's degree
$46,640 – $172,680+19.4%+50.4% nominal
14Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$38,680
No formal educational credential
$30,550 – $44,080+19.1%+50.0% nominal
15Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$47,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,130 – $54,500+18.8%+49.6% nominal
16Parts Salespersons$44,070
No formal educational credential
$30,570 – $73,670+18.2%+48.8% nominal
17Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$39,500
Bachelor's degree
$29,720 – $61,370+17.8%+48.4% nominal
18Computer Occupations, All Other$105,680
Bachelor's degree
$51,440 – $160,830+16.1%+46.2% nominal
19Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$33,990
No formal educational credential
$26,490 – $39,740+15.7%+45.7% nominal
20Sewing Machine Operators$37,490
No formal educational credential
$30,200 – $46,790+15.5%+45.5% nominal
21Parking Attendants$33,690
No formal educational credential
$26,270 – $38,170+15.4%+45.3% nominal
22Home Health and Personal Care Aides$35,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,880 – $42,790+15.4%+45.3% nominal
23Residential Advisors$39,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,540 – $53,830+15.3%+45.2% nominal
24Order Clerks$44,240
Some college, no degree
$34,060 – $61,830+14.8%+44.6% nominal
25Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$45,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,020 – $57,080+14.5%+44.2% nominal
26Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$35,100
No formal educational credential
$28,440 – $43,180+14.5%+44.1% nominal
27Security Guards$37,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,790 – $54,770+14.4%+44.1% nominal
28Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$36,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,830 – $47,140+14.3%+43.9% nominal
29Cooks, Restaurant$36,980
No formal educational credential
$29,570 – $46,030+14.3%+43.9% nominal
30Slaughterers and Meat Packers$45,850
No formal educational credential
$37,230 – $53,120+14.1%+43.7% nominal
31Bakers$35,830
No formal educational credential
$28,860 – $47,130+13.9%+43.4% nominal
32Dishwashers$31,300
No formal educational credential
$25,960 – $37,930+13.5%+42.9% nominal
33Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$33,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,570 – $43,450+13.4%+42.8% nominal
34Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$80,650
Associate's degree
$38,990 – $96,500+13.1%+42.4% nominal
35Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$74,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,180 – $118,100+13.0%+42.3% nominal
36Tree Trimmers and Pruners$57,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,500 – $66,880+13.0%+42.2% nominal
37Surgical Technologists$63,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,690 – $79,550+12.6%+41.8% nominal
38Retail Salespersons$34,640
No formal educational credential
$27,770 – $48,320+12.3%+41.4% nominal
39Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$34,260
No formal educational credential
$28,730 – $38,180+12.3%+41.4% nominal
40Gambling Dealers$29,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,960 – $67,410+12.3%+41.4% nominal
41Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$37,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,410 – $46,730+11.9%+41.0% nominal
42Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$36,050
No formal educational credential
$29,340 – $46,110+11.9%+40.9% nominal
43Recreation Workers$35,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,020 – $47,740+11.8%+40.8% nominal
44Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$34,650
No formal educational credential
$28,740 – $38,440+11.7%+40.6% nominal
45Roofers$59,530
No formal educational credential
$41,910 – $80,270+11.7%+40.6% nominal
46Library Assistants, Clerical$34,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,170 – $44,060+10.9%+39.6% nominal
47Packers and Packagers, Hand$35,340
No formal educational credential
$29,400 – $43,860+10.7%+39.4% nominal
48Stockers and Order Fillers$35,930
No formal educational credential
$30,070 – $47,900+10.6%+39.3% nominal
49Engineers, All Other$121,000
Bachelor's degree
$69,990 – $166,360+10.5%+39.1% nominal
50Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$33,890
No formal educational credential
$25,960 – $45,140+10.4%+39.1% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$37,760	$25,960 – $64,350	+40.4%+76.8% nominal
2	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,360	$47,440 – $84,450	+40.3%+76.6% nominal
3	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$36,780	$25,960 – $76,090	+36.2%+71.5% nominal
4	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$49,300	$30,800 – $80,990	+29.3%+62.9% nominal
5	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,660	$32,240 – $50,240	+27.6%+60.7% nominal
6	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,280	$31,560 – $59,490	+26.0%+58.7% nominal
7	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,610	$25,960 – $58,730	+24.6%+56.9% nominal
8	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$36,540	$26,810 – $46,410	+24.2%+56.4% nominal
9	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$39,350	$30,020 – $61,740	+23.4%+55.3% nominal
10	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,630	$31,220 – $57,000	+23.3%+55.2% nominal
11	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$34,510	$26,750 – $43,180	+23.1%+55.0% nominal
12	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,960	$32,610 – $89,950	+21.6%+53.2% nominal
13	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$73,480	$46,640 – $172,680	+19.4%+50.4% nominal
14	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$38,680	$30,550 – $44,080	+19.1%+50.0% nominal
15	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,680	$38,130 – $54,500	+18.8%+49.6% nominal
16	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$44,070	$30,570 – $73,670	+18.2%+48.8% nominal
17	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$39,500	$29,720 – $61,370	+17.8%+48.4% nominal
18	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$105,680	$51,440 – $160,830	+16.1%+46.2% nominal
19	Motor Vehicle Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$33,990	$26,490 – $39,740	+15.7%+45.7% nominal
20	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$37,490	$30,200 – $46,790	+15.5%+45.5% nominal
21	Parking AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$33,690	$26,270 – $38,170	+15.4%+45.3% nominal
22	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,000	$27,880 – $42,790	+15.4%+45.3% nominal
23	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,730	$32,540 – $53,830	+15.3%+45.2% nominal
24	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$44,240	$34,060 – $61,830	+14.8%+44.6% nominal
25	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,250	$37,020 – $57,080	+14.5%+44.2% nominal
26	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,100	$28,440 – $43,180	+14.5%+44.1% nominal
27	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,080	$29,790 – $54,770	+14.4%+44.1% nominal
28	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,710	$29,830 – $47,140	+14.3%+43.9% nominal
29	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$36,980	$29,570 – $46,030	+14.3%+43.9% nominal
30	Slaughterers and Meat PackersNo formal educational credential	$45,850	$37,230 – $53,120	+14.1%+43.7% nominal
31	BakersNo formal educational credential	$35,830	$28,860 – $47,130	+13.9%+43.4% nominal
32	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$31,300	$25,960 – $37,930	+13.5%+42.9% nominal
33	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,870	$28,570 – $43,450	+13.4%+42.8% nominal
34	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,650	$38,990 – $96,500	+13.1%+42.4% nominal
35	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,900	$48,180 – $118,100	+13.0%+42.3% nominal
36	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,550	$45,500 – $66,880	+13.0%+42.2% nominal
37	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,320	$43,690 – $79,550	+12.6%+41.8% nominal
38	Retail SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$34,640	$27,770 – $48,320	+12.3%+41.4% nominal
39	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$34,260	$28,730 – $38,180	+12.3%+41.4% nominal
40	Gambling DealersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$29,120	$25,960 – $67,410	+12.3%+41.4% nominal
41	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,960	$30,410 – $46,730	+11.9%+41.0% nominal
42	Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$36,050	$29,340 – $46,110	+11.9%+40.9% nominal
43	Recreation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,090	$29,020 – $47,740	+11.8%+40.8% nominal
44	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$34,650	$28,740 – $38,440	+11.7%+40.6% nominal
45	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$59,530	$41,910 – $80,270	+11.7%+40.6% nominal
46	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,510	$27,170 – $44,060	+10.9%+39.6% nominal
47	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$35,340	$29,400 – $43,860	+10.7%+39.4% nominal
48	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$35,930	$30,070 – $47,900	+10.6%+39.3% nominal
49	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$121,000	$69,990 – $166,360	+10.5%+39.1% nominal
50	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$33,890	$25,960 – $45,140	+10.4%+39.1% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Michigan

More for Michigan

Metro areas in Michigan

By field in Michigan

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state