Highest-Paying Jobs Without a College Degree in Ann Arbor (2025 BLS Data)
- The median wage for all jobs in Ann Arbor was $55,380 in May 2025, above the U.S. median of $50,980.
- The best-paid job here that typically needs only a high school diploma or less was first-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers, at a median of $83,240.
- Short training programs and associate’s degrees open another tier, led by commercial pilots at $126,400.
You don’t need a four-year degree to earn well in Ann Arbor. Using the federal government’s most recent occupational wage survey (BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Ann Arbor, MI)) and the education level BLS lists as typical for entry into each job (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35), here are the best-paying jobs in the metro area that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. Ann Arbor, MI had about 219,730 wage and salary jobs in the survey.
Top-paying jobs that need a high school diploma or less
Jobs with at least 300 positions in the metro area, ranked by median annual wage. The last column shows the national median for comparison.
| Occupation | Ann Arbor median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $83,240 | 620 | $79,860 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $82,000 | 430 | $79,920 |
| Electricians | $81,450 | 610 | $63,190 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $78,210 | 420 | $63,800 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $77,590 | 1,160 | $72,080 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $75,310 | 1,060 | $69,990 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $74,660 | 430 | $76,590 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $74,410 | 480 | $76,210 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $68,520 | 370 | $58,940 |
| Food Service Managers | $68,150 | 350 | $69,390 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $67,470 | 650 | $74,450 |
| Carpenters | $65,170 | 640 | $60,580 |
Many of these jobs pay well because they come with long on-the-job training, licensing, physical risk or irregular hours. Several are skilled trades that train through paid apprenticeships.
Top-paying jobs that need a certificate or associate’s degree
Jobs where BLS lists a postsecondary certificate, some college or an associate’s degree as the typical entry credential:
| Occupation | Ann Arbor median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Pilots | $126,400 | 530 | $123,220 |
| Dental Hygienists | $91,900 | 360 | $98,100 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $81,890 | 310 | $74,310 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $80,450 | 680 | $80,110 |
| Respiratory Therapists | $79,850 | 390 | $82,280 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $75,000 | 460 | $61,010 |
| Psychiatric Technicians | $72,550 | 580 | $45,130 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $64,670 | 520 | $64,400 |
The most common jobs in Ann Arbor, for context
The largest occupations by employment, and what they pay locally:
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $38,990 | 12,860 |
| Registered Nurses | $103,450 | 10,980 |
| Office Clerks, General | $38,350 | 5,460 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,220 | 4,800 |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,040 | 4,570 |
| Cashiers | $32,370 | 4,510 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,480 | 3,440 |
| Nursing Assistants | $44,570 | 3,430 |
How to use these numbers
- Medians are midpoints. Half of workers in each job earn more and half earn less; new workers usually start well below the median.
- Overtime is not included. BLS wage estimates exclude overtime pay and shift differentials, so jobs with heavy overtime often pay more in practice (see the OEWS technical notes).
- Check the training path. “Typical entry education” is what most new workers have; licenses and apprenticeships may still be required.
Published November 9, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original chart by JobPayRaise.com using BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
Comments (1)
One more data point from the same survey: the occupation most concentrated in Ann Arbor relative to the nation is teaching assistants, postsecondary, with a location quotient of 55.45. That means those jobs make up about 55.45 times as large a share of local employment as they do nationally. There are about 12,860 of them locally, at a median of $38,990. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Ann Arbor, MI). Location quotients compare each job’s share of local employment with its share nationally (see BLS OEWS overview).
— JobPayRaise Data Desk