Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Ann Arbor, MI

Each occupation's median wage in Ann Arbor, MI compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Ann Arbor, MI pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Ann Arbor, MI run 0.9% above the national average (2024), so a Ann Arbor, MI salary is worth about 0.99× 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 high paying jobs in Ann Arbor, MI

OccupationMedian, Ann Arbor, MI · vs. national

1Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary$142,840
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,610 – $230,950+77.8%
2English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$137,400
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,820 – $138,870+74.5%
3Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$137,720
Doctoral or professional degree
$67,670 – $325,900+72.3%
4Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$108,400
Bachelor's degree
$35,550 – $136,460+69.9%
5Psychiatric Technicians$72,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,780 – $72,680+60.8%
6Chief Executives$335,900
Bachelor's degree
$106,630 – $547,090+57.0%
7Economics Teachers, Postsecondary$185,830
Doctoral or professional degree
$100,550 – $368,850+50.0%
8Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary$138,330
Doctoral or professional degree
$82,060 – $226,860+48.3%
9Physics Teachers, Postsecondary$141,400
Doctoral or professional degree
$86,470 – $172,890+41.0%
10Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$136,090
Doctoral or professional degree
$88,470 – $179,100+40.3%
11Education Teachers, Postsecondary$105,640
Doctoral or professional degree
$55,850 – $188,180+40.2%
12Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary$137,430
Doctoral or professional degree
$81,100 – $314,500+40.1%
13Budget Analysts$127,860
Bachelor's degree
$76,720 – $154,110+39.5%
14Education Administrators, Postsecondary$144,340
Master's degree
$85,940 – $370,180+38.0%
15Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$109,080
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,260 – $176,590+35.9%
16Medical Equipment Repairers$83,020
Associate's degree
$57,490 – $104,810+34.6%
17Communications Teachers, Postsecondary$105,440
Doctoral or professional degree
$52,560 – $173,210+34.2%
18Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$61,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,780 – $71,800+33.9%
19Legal Support Workers, All Other$95,890
Associate's degree
$55,690 – $190,240+33.0%
20Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary$105,520
Doctoral or professional degree
$58,600 – $230,500+31.5%
21Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$61,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,570 – $77,780+30.0%
22Electricians$81,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,230 – $106,160+28.9%
23Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$140,450
Doctoral or professional degree
$83,860 – $225,890+28.5%
24Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$133,550
Bachelor's degree
$65,070 – $199,210+27.3%
25Highway Maintenance Workers$63,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,170 – $69,990+26.9%
26Coaches and Scouts$59,890
Bachelor's degree
$28,400 – $181,900+26.6%
27Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$79,400
Bachelor's degree
$38,570 – $98,770+26.2%
28Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$42,330
No formal educational credential
$27,510 – $42,330+26.1%
29Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary$106,140
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,380 – $172,470+24.8%
30Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$105,290
Doctoral or professional degree
$67,990 – $179,090+24.4%
31Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$75,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,620 – $101,310+22.9%
32Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$78,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,610 – $102,590+22.6%
33Information and Record Clerks, All Other$60,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,720 – $71,640+22.4%
34Special Education Teachers, Middle School$81,710
Bachelor's degree
$46,130 – $93,460+22.3%
35Mechanical Engineers$127,310
Bachelor's degree
$76,710 – $160,540+22.3%
36Medical Records Specialists$62,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,660 – $77,080+22.1%
37Sheet Metal Workers$75,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,400 – $101,680+22.1%
38Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$83,200
Master's degree
$48,420 – $106,090+21.9%
39Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$59,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,860 – $96,020+20.6%
40Painters, Construction and Maintenance$59,210
No formal educational credential
$37,810 – $81,270+19.9%
41Pharmacists$166,350
Doctoral or professional degree
$120,630 – $175,870+18.1%
42Parts Salespersons$45,330
No formal educational credential
$35,260 – $80,080+17.3%
43Public Safety Telecommunicators$62,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,530 – $72,720+17.0%
44Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,080
Associate's degree
$52,000 – $100,060+16.6%
45Correctional Officers and Jailers$68,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,210 – $81,370+16.3%
46Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$63,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,260 – $70,660+16.3%
47Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$58,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,960 – $82,830+15.4%
48Social and Community Service Managers$92,240
Bachelor's degree
$56,330 – $136,170+14.7%
49Recreational Therapists$70,960
Bachelor's degree
$39,050 – $72,400+14.5%
50Waiters and Waitresses$40,230
No formal educational credential
$27,420 – $71,790+14.2%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianAnn Arbor, MI	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Psychology Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$142,840	$78,610 – $230,950	+77.8%
2	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$137,400	$66,820 – $138,870	+74.5%
3	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$137,720	$67,670 – $325,900	+72.3%
4	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$108,400	$35,550 – $136,460	+69.9%
5	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,550	$53,780 – $72,680	+60.8%
6	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$335,900	$106,630 – $547,090	+57.0%
7	Economics Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$185,830	$100,550 – $368,850	+50.0%
8	Chemistry Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$138,330	$82,060 – $226,860	+48.3%
9	Physics Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$141,400	$86,470 – $172,890	+41.0%
10	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$136,090	$88,470 – $179,100	+40.3%
11	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$105,640	$55,850 – $188,180	+40.2%
12	Political Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$137,430	$81,100 – $314,500	+40.1%
13	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$127,860	$76,720 – $154,110	+39.5%
14	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$144,340	$85,940 – $370,180	+38.0%
15	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$109,080	$62,260 – $176,590	+35.9%
16	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$83,020	$57,490 – $104,810	+34.6%
17	Communications Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$105,440	$52,560 – $173,210	+34.2%
18	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,160	$38,780 – $71,800	+33.9%
19	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$95,890	$55,690 – $190,240	+33.0%
20	Philosophy and Religion Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$105,520	$58,600 – $230,500	+31.5%
21	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,320	$43,570 – $77,780	+30.0%
22	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,450	$46,230 – $106,160	+28.9%
23	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$140,450	$83,860 – $225,890	+28.5%
24	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$133,550	$65,070 – $199,210	+27.3%
25	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,770	$48,170 – $69,990	+26.9%
26	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$59,890	$28,400 – $181,900	+26.6%
27	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$79,400	$38,570 – $98,770	+26.2%
28	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$42,330	$27,510 – $42,330	+26.1%
29	Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$106,140	$66,380 – $172,470	+24.8%
30	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$105,290	$67,990 – $179,090	+24.4%
31	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,000	$46,620 – $101,310	+22.9%
32	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,210	$47,610 – $102,590	+22.6%
33	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,610	$47,720 – $71,640	+22.4%
34	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$81,710	$46,130 – $93,460	+22.3%
35	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$127,310	$76,710 – $160,540	+22.3%
36	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,420	$40,660 – $77,080	+22.1%
37	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,460	$48,400 – $101,680	+22.1%
38	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$83,200	$48,420 – $106,090	+21.9%
39	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,370	$36,860 – $96,020	+20.6%
40	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$59,210	$37,810 – $81,270	+19.9%
41	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$166,350	$120,630 – $175,870	+18.1%
42	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$45,330	$35,260 – $80,080	+17.3%
43	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,040	$45,530 – $72,720	+17.0%
44	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,080	$52,000 – $100,060	+16.6%
45	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,520	$61,210 – $81,370	+16.3%
46	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,040	$48,260 – $70,660	+16.3%
47	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,420	$36,960 – $82,830	+15.4%
48	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$92,240	$56,330 – $136,170	+14.7%
49	Recreational TherapistsBachelor's degree	$70,960	$39,050 – $72,400	+14.5%
50	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$40,230	$27,420 – $71,790	+14.2%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Ann Arbor, MI

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