Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Michigan

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$50,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,430 – $80,470-33.0%-15.6% nominal
2General Internal Medicine Physicians$149,990
Doctoral or professional degree
$59,440 – $378,470-32.2%-14.6% nominal
3Computer Programmers$65,860
Bachelor's degree
$35,600 – $127,850-28.2%-9.5% nominal
4Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$47,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,900 – $68,370-27.6%-8.8% nominal
5Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$78,870
Doctoral or professional degree
$36,400 – $124,460-22.6%-2.5% nominal
6Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$63,790
Bachelor's degree
$46,530 – $95,370-22.5%-2.4% nominal
7Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$66,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,470 – $92,150-22.4%-2.2% nominal
8Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$65,110
Bachelor's degree
$47,670 – $94,680-21.7%-1.4% nominal
9Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,490
No formal educational credential
$47,440 – $75,280-21.4%-1.1% nominal
10Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$99,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,720 – $169,020-19.8%+1.0% nominal
11Labor Relations Specialists$73,760
Bachelor's degree
$36,200 – $121,500-19.7%+1.2% nominal
12General and Operations Managers$99,530
Bachelor's degree
$49,380 – $222,810-19.3%+1.6% nominal
13Food Service Managers$60,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $93,180-18.9%+2.2% nominal
14Sales Managers$136,870
Bachelor's degree
$69,790 – $230,070-18.7%+2.3% nominal
15Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$57,990
Associate's degree
$44,840 – $85,650-18.5%+2.6% nominal
16Personal Financial Advisors$77,930
Bachelor's degree
$44,780 – $288,860-16.7%+4.9% nominal
17Special Education Teachers, All Other$78,540
Bachelor's degree
$49,500 – $101,330-15.8%+6.1% nominal
18Logisticians$83,200
Bachelor's degree
$52,810 – $132,900-15.4%+6.5% nominal
19Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$60,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,960 – $117,180-15.3%+6.7% nominal
20Construction Managers$103,230
Bachelor's degree
$61,830 – $171,340-15.2%+6.8% nominal
21First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$80,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,900 – $158,050-15.2%+6.8% nominal
22Structural Iron and Steel Workers$62,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,260 – $79,150-15.1%+6.9% nominal
23Family Medicine Physicians$214,070
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,320 – $382,240-15.1%+6.9% nominal
24Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$66,030
Bachelor's degree
$47,830 – $98,720-14.9%+7.1% nominal
25Computer Network Architects$112,040
Bachelor's degree
$71,400 – $167,960-14.9%+7.2% nominal
26Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$63,300
Bachelor's degree
$39,070 – $95,320-14.9%+7.1% nominal
27First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$77,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,550 – $104,580-14.6%+7.6% nominal
28Industrial Production Managers$120,660
Bachelor's degree
$77,110 – $182,060-14.4%+7.8% nominal
29Pest Control Workers$44,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,630 – $61,850-14.3%+7.9% nominal
30Real Estate Sales Agents$57,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,590 – $104,170-14.0%+8.3% nominal
31Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$66,780
Bachelor's degree
$40,930 – $127,190-14.0%+8.3% nominal
32Detectives and Criminal Investigators$90,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$71,590 – $164,670-13.8%+8.5% nominal
33Producers and Directors$65,720
Bachelor's degree
$38,500 – $122,220-13.5%+8.9% nominal
34Brickmasons and Blockmasons$63,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,400 – $90,930-13.2%+9.3% nominal
35Self-Enrichment Teachers$40,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,000 – $74,400-13.2%+9.3% nominal
36Physical Therapist Aides$29,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,070 – $38,300-13.1%+9.4% nominal
37Marketing Managers$138,510
Bachelor's degree
$80,260 – $222,910-13.1%+9.5% nominal
38Health Education Specialists$56,360
Bachelor's degree
$37,750 – $89,050-12.9%+9.7% nominal
39Education Administrators, Postsecondary$108,500
Master's degree
$62,420 – $236,640-12.7%+10.0% nominal
40Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,650 – $85,090-12.7%+9.9% nominal
41Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$104,020
Master's degree
$77,340 – $134,430-12.7%+9.9% nominal
42Computer Network Support Specialists$65,900
Associate's degree
$40,250 – $108,250-12.6%+10.1% nominal
43Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$59,440
Master's degree
$42,380 – $89,280-12.5%+10.2% nominal
44First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,500 – $59,750-12.3%+10.5% nominal
45Pharmacists$137,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$101,740 – $168,540-12.3%+10.5% nominal
46Compliance Officers$77,390
Bachelor's degree
$46,290 – $120,560-11.9%+10.9% nominal
47Data Entry Keyers$38,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,370 – $52,100-11.9%+11.0% nominal
48Correctional Officers and Jailers$64,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,360 – $77,990-11.8%+11.1% nominal
49Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$63,440
Bachelor's degree
$46,350 – $121,690-11.6%+11.4% nominal
50Community Health Workers$49,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,720 – $74,610-11.5%+11.4% 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	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,060	$38,430 – $80,470	-33.0%-15.6% nominal
2	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$149,990	$59,440 – $378,470	-32.2%-14.6% nominal
3	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$65,860	$35,600 – $127,850	-28.2%-9.5% nominal
4	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,210	$28,900 – $68,370	-27.6%-8.8% nominal
5	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$78,870	$36,400 – $124,460	-22.6%-2.5% nominal
6	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$63,790	$46,530 – $95,370	-22.5%-2.4% nominal
7	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,140	$43,470 – $92,150	-22.4%-2.2% nominal
8	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$65,110	$47,670 – $94,680	-21.7%-1.4% nominal
9	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$47,440 – $75,280	-21.4%-1.1% nominal
10	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,100	$61,720 – $169,020	-19.8%+1.0% nominal
11	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$73,760	$36,200 – $121,500	-19.7%+1.2% nominal
12	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$99,530	$49,380 – $222,810	-19.3%+1.6% nominal
13	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,790	$41,600 – $93,180	-18.9%+2.2% nominal
14	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$136,870	$69,790 – $230,070	-18.7%+2.3% nominal
15	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$57,990	$44,840 – $85,650	-18.5%+2.6% nominal
16	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$77,930	$44,780 – $288,860	-16.7%+4.9% nominal
17	Special Education Teachers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$78,540	$49,500 – $101,330	-15.8%+6.1% nominal
18	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$83,200	$52,810 – $132,900	-15.4%+6.5% nominal
19	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,350	$36,960 – $117,180	-15.3%+6.7% nominal
20	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$103,230	$61,830 – $171,340	-15.2%+6.8% nominal
21	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,170	$49,900 – $158,050	-15.2%+6.8% nominal
22	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,830	$41,260 – $79,150	-15.1%+6.9% nominal
23	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$214,070	$65,320 – $382,240	-15.1%+6.9% nominal
24	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$66,030	$47,830 – $98,720	-14.9%+7.1% nominal
25	Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$112,040	$71,400 – $167,960	-14.9%+7.2% nominal
26	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$63,300	$39,070 – $95,320	-14.9%+7.1% nominal
27	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,550	$49,550 – $104,580	-14.6%+7.6% nominal
28	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$120,660	$77,110 – $182,060	-14.4%+7.8% nominal
29	Pest Control WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,470	$38,630 – $61,850	-14.3%+7.9% nominal
30	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,880	$31,590 – $104,170	-14.0%+8.3% nominal
31	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$66,780	$40,930 – $127,190	-14.0%+8.3% nominal
32	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,650	$71,590 – $164,670	-13.8%+8.5% nominal
33	Producers and DirectorsBachelor's degree	$65,720	$38,500 – $122,220	-13.5%+8.9% nominal
34	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,500	$48,400 – $90,930	-13.2%+9.3% nominal
35	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,350	$28,000 – $74,400	-13.2%+9.3% nominal
36	Physical Therapist AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$29,350	$27,070 – $38,300	-13.1%+9.4% nominal
37	Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree	$138,510	$80,260 – $222,910	-13.1%+9.5% nominal
38	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$56,360	$37,750 – $89,050	-12.9%+9.7% nominal
39	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$108,500	$62,420 – $236,640	-12.7%+10.0% nominal
40	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,700	$44,650 – $85,090	-12.7%+9.9% nominal
41	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$104,020	$77,340 – $134,430	-12.7%+9.9% nominal
42	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$65,900	$40,250 – $108,250	-12.6%+10.1% nominal
43	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$59,440	$42,380 – $89,280	-12.5%+10.2% nominal
44	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,940	$29,500 – $59,750	-12.3%+10.5% nominal
45	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$137,860	$101,740 – $168,540	-12.3%+10.5% nominal
46	Compliance OfficersBachelor's degree	$77,390	$46,290 – $120,560	-11.9%+10.9% nominal
47	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,080	$33,370 – $52,100	-11.9%+11.0% nominal
48	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,020	$47,360 – $77,990	-11.8%+11.1% nominal
49	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$63,440	$46,350 – $121,690	-11.6%+11.4% nominal
50	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,380	$37,720 – $74,610	-11.5%+11.4% 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 lost the most to inflation in Michigan

More for Michigan

Metro areas in Michigan

By field in Michigan

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state