Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Lansing-East Lansing, MI

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

Cost of living: prices in Lansing-East Lansing, MI run 5.0% below the national average (2024), so a Lansing-East Lansing, 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 Lansing-East Lansing, MI

OccupationMedian, Lansing-East Lansing, MI · vs. national

1Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$104,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,120 – $118,120+58.6%
2Education Administrators, Postsecondary$158,720
Master's degree
$78,460 – $356,170+51.8%
3Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$64,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,080 – $71,800+41.1%
4Business Teachers, Postsecondary$139,380
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,410 – $315,100+40.7%
5Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$109,000
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,000 – $178,570+36.4%
6Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$100,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,730 – $110,250+35.4%
7Communications Teachers, Postsecondary$105,210
Doctoral or professional degree
$72,630 – $176,850+33.9%
8Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$127,880
Doctoral or professional degree
$68,250 – $176,100+31.9%
9Agricultural Technicians$64,790
Associate's degree
$40,680 – $64,790+30.5%
10Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary$104,480
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,280 – $177,490+30.0%
11Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$139,470
Doctoral or professional degree
$67,750 – $222,020+30.0%
12Millwrights$84,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,810 – $92,760+28.8%
13Massage Therapists$74,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,150 – $90,810+28.1%
14Electricians$80,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,550 – $95,630+27.4%
15Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$83,180
Bachelor's degree
$60,730 – $90,790+25.5%
16Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$55,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,890 – $77,380+23.4%
17Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$66,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,530 – $77,460+23.1%
18Forensic Science Technicians$88,670
Bachelor's degree
$47,550 – $113,210+23.1%
19Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers$144,660
Doctoral or professional degree
$113,550 – $165,460+22.7%
20Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$78,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,190 – $97,740+22.6%
21Construction Laborers$57,570
No formal educational credential
$37,430 – $69,040+22.2%
22Brickmasons and Blockmasons$75,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,390 – $92,740+21.8%
23Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$50,820
Bachelor's degree
$31,340 – $81,610+18.4%
24Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary$94,510
Doctoral or professional degree
$58,170 – $138,270+17.8%
25Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,130
Associate's degree
$47,330 – $92,060+17.2%
26Bartenders$40,230
No formal educational credential
$27,200 – $76,730+17.2%
27Dental Assistants$56,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,350 – $57,520+16.8%
28Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$77,410
Bachelor's degree
$47,780 – $98,770+16.8%
29Sheet Metal Workers$71,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,150 – $97,070+15.6%
30Physicians, All Other$307,290
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,060 – $471,600+15.6%
31Special Education Teachers, Middle School$77,140
Bachelor's degree
$40,660 – $90,300+15.5%
32Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$75,080
Bachelor's degree
$50,210 – $98,000+15.3%
33Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$47,880
Bachelor's degree
$30,000 – $55,140+14.9%
34Education Teachers, Postsecondary$86,290
Doctoral or professional degree
$54,020 – $136,340+14.5%
35Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$72,930
Bachelor's degree
$47,380 – $86,140+14.0%
36Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$67,510
Master's degree
$45,950 – $109,190+13.7%
37Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$55,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,970 – $86,860+13.2%
38Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$53,450
Associate's degree
$39,080 – $63,690+12.8%
39Rehabilitation Counselors$52,790
Master's degree
$35,730 – $71,260+12.7%
40Real Estate Brokers$82,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,340 – $119,590+12.7%
41General and Operations Managers$119,140
Bachelor's degree
$50,030 – $215,050+12.6%
42Parts Salespersons$43,410
No formal educational credential
$29,690 – $68,990+12.4%
43Highway Maintenance Workers$56,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,010 – $62,580+12.1%
44Property Appraisers and Assessors$75,860
Bachelor's degree
$50,010 – $94,190+11.6%
45Psychiatric Technicians$50,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,140 – $50,140+11.1%
46Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$56,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,210 – $79,040+10.9%
47Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,740 – $57,500+10.6%
48Public Safety Telecommunicators$58,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,320 – $65,020+10.4%
49Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$72,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,650 – $95,070+10.2%
50Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$43,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,770 – $75,910+10.0%

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

#	Occupation	MedianLansing-East Lansing, MI	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$104,330	$54,120 – $118,120	+58.6%
2	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$158,720	$78,460 – $356,170	+51.8%
3	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,440	$45,080 – $71,800	+41.1%
4	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$139,380	$65,410 – $315,100	+40.7%
5	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$109,000	$66,000 – $178,570	+36.4%
6	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,670	$39,730 – $110,250	+35.4%
7	Communications Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$105,210	$72,630 – $176,850	+33.9%
8	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$127,880	$68,250 – $176,100	+31.9%
9	Agricultural TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,790	$40,680 – $64,790	+30.5%
10	Psychology Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$104,480	$65,280 – $177,490	+30.0%
11	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$139,470	$67,750 – $222,020	+30.0%
12	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,590	$59,810 – $92,760	+28.8%
13	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,880	$44,150 – $90,810	+28.1%
14	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,480	$44,550 – $95,630	+27.4%
15	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$83,180	$60,730 – $90,790	+25.5%
16	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,120	$35,890 – $77,380	+23.4%
17	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,750	$48,530 – $77,460	+23.1%
18	Forensic Science TechniciansBachelor's degree	$88,670	$47,550 – $113,210	+23.1%
19	Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersDoctoral or professional degree	$144,660	$113,550 – $165,460	+22.7%
20	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,190	$44,190 – $97,740	+22.6%
21	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$57,570	$37,430 – $69,040	+22.2%
22	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,650	$47,390 – $92,740	+21.8%
23	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$50,820	$31,340 – $81,610	+18.4%
24	Philosophy and Religion Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$94,510	$58,170 – $138,270	+17.8%
25	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,130	$47,330 – $92,060	+17.2%
26	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$40,230	$27,200 – $76,730	+17.2%
27	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,150	$36,350 – $57,520	+16.8%
28	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$77,410	$47,780 – $98,770	+16.8%
29	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,420	$45,150 – $97,070	+15.6%
30	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$307,290	$65,060 – $471,600	+15.6%
31	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$77,140	$40,660 – $90,300	+15.5%
32	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$75,080	$50,210 – $98,000	+15.3%
33	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$47,880	$30,000 – $55,140	+14.9%
34	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$86,290	$54,020 – $136,340	+14.5%
35	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$72,930	$47,380 – $86,140	+14.0%
36	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$67,510	$45,950 – $109,190	+13.7%
37	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,710	$31,970 – $86,860	+13.2%
38	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$53,450	$39,080 – $63,690	+12.8%
39	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$52,790	$35,730 – $71,260	+12.7%
40	Real Estate BrokersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,490	$62,340 – $119,590	+12.7%
41	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$119,140	$50,030 – $215,050	+12.6%
42	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$43,410	$29,690 – $68,990	+12.4%
43	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,320	$35,010 – $62,580	+12.1%
44	Property Appraisers and AssessorsBachelor's degree	$75,860	$50,010 – $94,190	+11.6%
45	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,140	$43,140 – $50,140	+11.1%
46	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,130	$36,210 – $79,040	+10.9%
47	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,040	$36,740 – $57,500	+10.6%
48	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,560	$43,320 – $65,020	+10.4%
49	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,190	$49,650 – $95,070	+10.2%
50	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,580	$32,770 – $75,910	+10.0%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Lansing-East Lansing, MI

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