Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI

Each occupation's median wage in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI run 0.3% above the national average (2024), so a Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI salary is worth about 1.00× 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI

OccupationMedian, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI · vs. national

1Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$72,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,670 – $79,600+64.2%
2Chief Executives$304,110
Bachelor's degree
$112,220 – $604,220+42.1%
3Millwrights$91,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,610 – $94,530+39.8%
4Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$86,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,250 – $107,780+35.4%
5Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$100,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,950 – $105,030+34.6%
6Electricians$81,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,660 – $107,330+29.8%
7Commercial and Industrial Designers$108,180
Bachelor's degree
$55,460 – $152,220+28.9%
8Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$83,180
Bachelor's degree
$62,000 – $83,180+25.5%
9Parts Salespersons$48,160
No formal educational credential
$30,570 – $78,270+24.7%
10Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$66,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,340 – $70,660+23.1%
11Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$129,070
Bachelor's degree
$60,910 – $203,270+23.0%
12Construction Laborers$57,430
No formal educational credential
$38,590 – $72,520+21.9%
13Sheet Metal Workers$75,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,580 – $98,470+21.6%
14Massage Therapists$70,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,820 – $89,510+21.4%
15Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$78,980
Bachelor's degree
$51,440 – $124,370+21.3%
16Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$64,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,920 – $77,750+20.7%
17Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$47,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,850 – $57,000+18.6%
18Web Developers$108,550
Bachelor's degree
$52,140 – $167,360+17.2%
19Real Estate Brokers$85,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,990 – $118,680+16.9%
20Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$64,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $83,620+16.0%
21Correctional Officers and Jailers$67,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,360 – $77,990+15.2%
22Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,190
Associate's degree
$49,580 – $100,950+15.2%
23Tree Trimmers and Pruners$58,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,000 – $68,720+14.5%
24Roofers$63,390
No formal educational credential
$47,880 – $80,480+14.3%
25Tool and Die Makers$73,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,900 – $92,930+14.2%
26Automotive Body and Related Repairers$62,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,240 – $90,140+14.0%
27Painters, Construction and Maintenance$56,330
No formal educational credential
$39,370 – $76,070+14.0%
28Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$68,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,300 – $93,920+13.8%
29Logisticians$93,130
Bachelor's degree
$55,120 – $138,170+13.1%
30Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$70,800
Bachelor's degree
$40,670 – $100,840+13.0%
31Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$53,100
Associate's degree
$37,740 – $61,380+12.1%
32Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$46,680
Bachelor's degree
$31,630 – $65,930+12.0%
33Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$56,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,080 – $81,240+10.6%
34Purchasing Managers$163,660
Bachelor's degree
$103,140 – $221,410+10.5%
35Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$49,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,000 – $77,550+10.3%
36Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$72,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,460 – $91,620+10.2%
37Industrial Machinery Mechanics$71,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,780 – $93,630+10.2%
38Helpers--Production Workers$42,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,140 – $50,890+10.0%
39Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$76,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,990 – $150,360+10.0%
40Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$81,520
Bachelor's degree
$51,650 – $103,440+9.8%
41Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$81,410
Associate's degree
$40,610 – $97,340+9.6%
42Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$104,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,670 – $130,120+9.5%
43Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$62,330
No formal educational credential
$46,460 – $77,540+9.3%
44Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,720 – $79,970+8.9%
45Carpenters$65,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,560 – $82,790+8.6%
46Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$51,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,760 – $78,350+8.5%
47Healthcare Social Workers$73,600
Master's degree
$48,630 – $92,400+8.4%
48Audio and Video Technicians$62,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,800 – $79,240+8.3%
49Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$46,430
Bachelor's degree
$30,950 – $83,310+8.2%
50Real Estate Sales Agents$57,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,740 – $106,410+8.1%

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

#	Occupation	MedianDetroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,880	$33,670 – $79,600	+64.2%
2	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$304,110	$112,220 – $604,220	+42.1%
3	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,850	$77,610 – $94,530	+39.8%
4	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,370	$48,250 – $107,780	+35.4%
5	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,090	$50,950 – $105,030	+34.6%
6	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,990	$46,660 – $107,330	+29.8%
7	Commercial and Industrial DesignersBachelor's degree	$108,180	$55,460 – $152,220	+28.9%
8	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$83,180	$62,000 – $83,180	+25.5%
9	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$48,160	$30,570 – $78,270	+24.7%
10	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,750	$47,340 – $70,660	+23.1%
11	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$129,070	$60,910 – $203,270	+23.0%
12	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$57,430	$38,590 – $72,520	+21.9%
13	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,120	$45,580 – $98,470	+21.6%
14	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,960	$33,820 – $89,510	+21.4%
15	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$78,980	$51,440 – $124,370	+21.3%
16	Engine and Other Machine AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,820	$41,920 – $77,750	+20.7%
17	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,020	$34,850 – $57,000	+18.6%
18	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$108,550	$52,140 – $167,360	+17.2%
19	Real Estate BrokersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,600	$43,990 – $118,680	+16.9%
20	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,480	$37,440 – $83,620	+16.0%
21	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,920	$47,360 – $77,990	+15.2%
22	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,190	$49,580 – $100,950	+15.2%
23	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,350	$47,000 – $68,720	+14.5%
24	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$63,390	$47,880 – $80,480	+14.3%
25	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,120	$47,900 – $92,930	+14.2%
26	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,550	$38,240 – $90,140	+14.0%
27	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$56,330	$39,370 – $76,070	+14.0%
28	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,130	$48,300 – $93,920	+13.8%
29	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$93,130	$55,120 – $138,170	+13.1%
30	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$70,800	$40,670 – $100,840	+13.0%
31	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$53,100	$37,740 – $61,380	+12.1%
32	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$46,680	$31,630 – $65,930	+12.0%
33	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,000	$37,080 – $81,240	+10.6%
34	Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree	$163,660	$103,140 – $221,410	+10.5%
35	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,240	$37,000 – $77,550	+10.3%
36	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,220	$55,460 – $91,620	+10.2%
37	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,100	$48,780 – $93,630	+10.2%
38	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,980	$33,140 – $50,890	+10.0%
39	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,990	$39,990 – $150,360	+10.0%
40	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$81,520	$51,650 – $103,440	+9.8%
41	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,410	$40,610 – $97,340	+9.6%
42	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,360	$63,670 – $130,120	+9.5%
43	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$62,330	$46,460 – $77,540	+9.3%
44	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,460	$36,720 – $79,970	+8.9%
45	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,810	$47,560 – $82,790	+8.6%
46	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,210	$37,760 – $78,350	+8.5%
47	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$73,600	$48,630 – $92,400	+8.4%
48	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,910	$38,800 – $79,240	+8.3%
49	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$46,430	$30,950 – $83,310	+8.2%
50	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,090	$32,740 – $106,410	+8.1%

More for Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI

Other metro areas in MI

By field in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI to rank honestly.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI

More for Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI

Other metro areas in MI

By field in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state