Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Michigan

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

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 · vs. national

1Millwrights$89,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,680 – $97,460+35.8%
2Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$60,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,640 – $79,600+35.7%
3Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$96,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,900 – $109,230+30.3%
4Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$80,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,560 – $103,430+25.7%
5Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$99,330
Doctoral or professional degree
$45,310 – $174,260+24.3%
6Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$66,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,520 – $70,660+23.3%
7Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$103,620
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,290 – $173,750+22.5%
8Commercial and Industrial Designers$102,160
Bachelor's degree
$49,830 – $137,850+21.7%
9Massage Therapists$70,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,610 – $89,950+21.4%
10Electricians$76,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,980 – $103,120+20.7%
11Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$79,760
Bachelor's degree
$55,900 – $83,180+20.4%
12Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$125,650
Bachelor's degree
$60,070 – $194,520+19.8%
13Chief Executives$255,560
Bachelor's degree
$104,010 – $547,090+19.4%
14Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$77,400
Bachelor's degree
$48,370 – $96,040+16.8%
15Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$127,230
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,580 – $225,890+16.4%
16English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$90,240
Doctoral or professional degree
$50,770 – $137,400+14.6%
17Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$74,600
Bachelor's degree
$48,720 – $100,370+14.6%
18Slaughterers and Meat Packers$45,850
No formal educational credential
$37,230 – $53,120+14.3%
19Parts Salespersons$44,070
No formal educational credential
$30,570 – $73,670+14.1%
20Special Education Teachers, Middle School$76,040
Bachelor's degree
$46,790 – $93,350+13.8%
21Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$60,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,750 – $77,750+13.5%
22Tree Trimmers and Pruners$57,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,500 – $66,880+12.9%
23Business Teachers, Postsecondary$111,190
Doctoral or professional degree
$43,360 – $229,160+12.2%
24Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$106,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,480 – $131,570+12.1%
25Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$43,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,220 – $57,000+10.1%
26Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$47,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,130 – $54,500+9.9%
27Real Estate Sales Agents$57,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,590 – $104,170+9.6%
28Correctional Officers and Jailers$64,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,360 – $77,990+8.6%
29Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$80,650
Associate's degree
$38,990 – $96,500+8.5%
30Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$38,680
No formal educational credential
$30,550 – $44,080+8.5%
31Roofers$59,530
No formal educational credential
$41,910 – $80,270+7.4%
32Waiters and Waitresses$37,760
No formal educational credential
$25,960 – $64,350+7.2%
33Bartenders$36,780
No formal educational credential
$25,960 – $76,090+7.1%
34Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$54,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,110 – $79,060+6.9%
35Highway Maintenance Workers$53,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,830 – $63,460+6.9%
36Chemists$97,440
Bachelor's degree
$56,260 – $164,200+6.8%
37Helpers--Production Workers$41,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,240 – $50,240+6.6%
38Social and Community Service Managers$85,500
Bachelor's degree
$53,100 – $127,910+6.4%
39Web Developers$98,470
Bachelor's degree
$49,930 – $149,660+6.3%
40Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$82,990
Master's degree
$48,820 – $136,690+5.6%
41Construction Laborers$49,590
No formal educational credential
$37,220 – $69,890+5.2%
42Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$78,050
Bachelor's degree
$49,710 – $103,210+5.1%
43Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$59,860
No formal educational credential
$43,860 – $75,650+5.0%
44Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$49,710
Associate's degree
$37,410 – $63,020+4.9%
45Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$73,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,970 – $135,720+4.8%
46Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$62,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,370 – $90,580+4.7%
47Nurse Anesthetists$247,010
Master's degree
$220,840 – $299,120+4.4%
48Sheet Metal Workers$64,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,940 – $96,390+4.4%
49Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$61,690
Master's degree
$38,490 – $94,400+3.9%
50Education Administrators, Postsecondary$108,500
Master's degree
$62,420 – $236,640+3.7%

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	vs. national
1	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,190	$58,680 – $97,460	+35.8%
2	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,220	$33,640 – $79,600	+35.7%
3	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,890	$50,900 – $109,230	+30.3%
4	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,190	$46,560 – $103,430	+25.7%
5	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$99,330	$45,310 – $174,260	+24.3%
6	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,830	$47,520 – $70,660	+23.3%
7	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$103,620	$61,290 – $173,750	+22.5%
8	Commercial and Industrial DesignersBachelor's degree	$102,160	$49,830 – $137,850	+21.7%
9	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,960	$32,610 – $89,950	+21.4%
10	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,270	$42,980 – $103,120	+20.7%
11	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$79,760	$55,900 – $83,180	+20.4%
12	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$125,650	$60,070 – $194,520	+19.8%
13	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$255,560	$104,010 – $547,090	+19.4%
14	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$77,400	$48,370 – $96,040	+16.8%
15	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$127,230	$66,580 – $225,890	+16.4%
16	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$90,240	$50,770 – $137,400	+14.6%
17	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$74,600	$48,720 – $100,370	+14.6%
18	Slaughterers and Meat PackersNo formal educational credential	$45,850	$37,230 – $53,120	+14.3%
19	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$44,070	$30,570 – $73,670	+14.1%
20	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$76,040	$46,790 – $93,350	+13.8%
21	Engine and Other Machine AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,950	$36,750 – $77,750	+13.5%
22	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,550	$45,500 – $66,880	+12.9%
23	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$111,190	$43,360 – $229,160	+12.2%
24	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,890	$65,480 – $131,570	+12.1%
25	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,630	$31,220 – $57,000	+10.1%
26	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,680	$38,130 – $54,500	+9.9%
27	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,880	$31,590 – $104,170	+9.6%
28	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,020	$47,360 – $77,990	+8.6%
29	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,650	$38,990 – $96,500	+8.5%
30	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$38,680	$30,550 – $44,080	+8.5%
31	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$59,530	$41,910 – $80,270	+7.4%
32	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$37,760	$25,960 – $64,350	+7.2%
33	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$36,780	$25,960 – $76,090	+7.1%
34	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,120	$36,110 – $79,060	+6.9%
35	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,750	$34,830 – $63,460	+6.9%
36	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$97,440	$56,260 – $164,200	+6.8%
37	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,660	$32,240 – $50,240	+6.6%
38	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$85,500	$53,100 – $127,910	+6.4%
39	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$98,470	$49,930 – $149,660	+6.3%
40	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$82,990	$48,820 – $136,690	+5.6%
41	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$49,590	$37,220 – $69,890	+5.2%
42	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$78,050	$49,710 – $103,210	+5.1%
43	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$59,860	$43,860 – $75,650	+5.0%
44	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$49,710	$37,410 – $63,020	+4.9%
45	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,380	$38,970 – $135,720	+4.8%
46	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,690	$46,370 – $90,580	+4.7%
47	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$247,010	$220,840 – $299,120	+4.4%
48	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,490	$40,940 – $96,390	+4.4%
49	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$61,690	$38,490 – $94,400	+3.9%
50	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$108,500	$62,420 – $236,640	+3.7%

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 pay the biggest premium in Michigan

More for Michigan

Metro areas in Michigan

By field in Michigan

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state