Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI

Each occupation's median wage in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI run 4.5% below the national average (2024), so a Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI salary is worth about 1.05× 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI

OccupationMedian, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI · vs. national

1Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$80,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,630 – $98,210+26.1%
2Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$66,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,520 – $70,660+23.1%
3Waiters and Waitresses$42,930
No formal educational credential
$27,140 – $73,590+21.9%
4Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$79,760
Bachelor's degree
$55,860 – $83,180+20.4%
5Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$42,290
No formal educational credential
$33,090 – $42,290+18.6%
6Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$99,910
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,930 – $206,480+18.1%
7Massage Therapists$68,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$27,110 – $82,770+17.1%
8Correctional Officers and Jailers$68,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,390 – $79,340+16.3%
9Chief Executives$248,660
Bachelor's degree
$113,910 – $518,790+16.2%
10Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$84,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,630 – $107,680+14.2%
11Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders$47,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,770 – $52,660+13.6%
12Highway Maintenance Workers$56,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,560 – $67,800+13.1%
13Driver/Sales Workers$43,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,960 – $60,510+11.9%
14Bartenders$38,430
No formal educational credential
$27,380 – $79,360+11.9%
15Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders$49,970
No formal educational credential
$35,940 – $68,000+11.5%
16Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$52,420
Associate's degree
$38,230 – $74,710+10.6%
17Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$47,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,390 – $49,950+10.0%
18Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$43,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,280 – $57,690+9.3%
19Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$80,980
Associate's degree
$39,890 – $94,730+9.0%
20Slaughterers and Meat Packers$43,680
No formal educational credential
$36,420 – $45,630+8.8%
21Helpers--Production Workers$42,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,910 – $50,590+8.5%
22Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$113,590
Bachelor's degree
$57,270 – $174,690+8.3%
23Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$38,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$25,960 – $96,060+8.2%
24Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$64,100
Master's degree
$42,860 – $99,020+8.0%
25Security Guards$40,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,690 – $56,070+7.3%
26Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$63,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,060 – $84,860+6.7%
27Brickmasons and Blockmasons$66,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,220 – $83,200+6.4%
28Food Batchmakers$44,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,660 – $61,890+5.6%
29Real Estate Sales Agents$55,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,020 – $104,380+5.6%
30Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders$45,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,280 – $51,930+5.6%
31Dental Assistants$50,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,130 – $85,280+5.0%
32Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$36,620
No formal educational credential
$28,910 – $42,850+5.0%
33Sewing Machine Operators$38,480
No formal educational credential
$31,590 – $46,830+4.9%
34Social and Community Service Managers$84,280
Bachelor's degree
$53,920 – $119,820+4.8%
35Instructional Coordinators$81,010
Master's degree
$48,760 – $103,390+4.6%
36Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$59,540
No formal educational credential
$44,830 – $74,820+4.4%
37Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$81,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,280 – $103,910+4.4%
38Bill and Account Collectors$49,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,470 – $63,590+4.3%
39Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$62,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,990 – $83,720+4.2%
40Mechanical Drafters$74,490
Associate's degree
$49,910 – $116,220+4.1%
41Pharmacy Technicians$47,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,280 – $56,710+4.0%
42Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$48,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,510 – $66,480+4.0%
43Structural Iron and Steel Workers$65,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,060 – $75,980+3.9%
44Automotive Body and Related Repairers$56,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,950 – $78,940+3.4%
45Parts Salespersons$39,890
No formal educational credential
$30,340 – $71,170+3.3%
46Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$50,980
No formal educational credential
$34,850 – $76,850+2.6%
47Furniture Finishers$45,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,700 – $58,690+2.6%
48Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$48,860
Some college, no degree
$36,640 – $61,990+2.2%
49Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$38,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,870 – $46,610+2.1%
50Order Clerks$46,990
Some college, no degree
$35,350 – $71,330+1.8%

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

#	Occupation	MedianGrand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,440	$46,630 – $98,210	+26.1%
2	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,750	$49,520 – $70,660	+23.1%
3	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$42,930	$27,140 – $73,590	+21.9%
4	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$79,760	$55,860 – $83,180	+20.4%
5	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$42,290	$33,090 – $42,290	+18.6%
6	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$99,910	$51,930 – $206,480	+18.1%
7	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,470	$27,110 – $82,770	+17.1%
8	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,520	$53,390 – $79,340	+16.3%
9	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$248,660	$113,910 – $518,790	+16.2%
10	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,900	$50,630 – $107,680	+14.2%
11	Food Cooking Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,260	$42,770 – $52,660	+13.6%
12	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,860	$45,560 – $67,800	+13.1%
13	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,400	$25,960 – $60,510	+11.9%
14	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$38,430	$27,380 – $79,360	+11.9%
15	Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and TendersNo formal educational credential	$49,970	$35,940 – $68,000	+11.5%
16	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$52,420	$38,230 – $74,710	+10.6%
17	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,720	$39,390 – $49,950	+10.0%
18	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,320	$34,280 – $57,690	+9.3%
19	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,980	$39,890 – $94,730	+9.0%
20	Slaughterers and Meat PackersNo formal educational credential	$43,680	$36,420 – $45,630	+8.8%
21	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,390	$34,910 – $50,590	+8.5%
22	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$113,590	$57,270 – $174,690	+8.3%
23	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,740	$25,960 – $96,060	+8.2%
24	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$64,100	$42,860 – $99,020	+8.0%
25	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,810	$30,690 – $56,070	+7.3%
26	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,850	$47,060 – $84,860	+6.7%
27	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,080	$49,220 – $83,200	+6.4%
28	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,650	$33,660 – $61,890	+5.6%
29	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,800	$35,020 – $104,380	+5.6%
30	Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,980	$34,280 – $51,930	+5.6%
31	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,490	$39,130 – $85,280	+5.0%
32	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$36,620	$28,910 – $42,850	+5.0%
33	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$38,480	$31,590 – $46,830	+4.9%
34	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$84,280	$53,920 – $119,820	+4.8%
35	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$81,010	$48,760 – $103,390	+4.6%
36	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$59,540	$44,830 – $74,820	+4.4%
37	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,420	$49,280 – $103,910	+4.4%
38	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,040	$36,470 – $63,590	+4.3%
39	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,170	$44,990 – $83,720	+4.2%
40	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$74,490	$49,910 – $116,220	+4.1%
41	Pharmacy TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,600	$36,280 – $56,710	+4.0%
42	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,550	$40,510 – $66,480	+4.0%
43	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,250	$47,060 – $75,980	+3.9%
44	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,770	$36,950 – $78,940	+3.4%
45	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$39,890	$30,340 – $71,170	+3.3%
46	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$50,980	$34,850 – $76,850	+2.6%
47	Furniture FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,700	$36,700 – $58,690	+2.6%
48	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$48,860	$36,640 – $61,990	+2.2%
49	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,970	$34,870 – $46,610	+2.1%
50	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$46,990	$35,350 – $71,330	+1.8%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI

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