Top Paying Jobs in Michigan
Michigan has 100 tracked occupation categories totaling 445,390 jobs. The highest-paying occupations include Radiologists ($485,920), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($428,570), Cardiologists ($419,030). The cost of living index is 93.89 (national average = 100). Median 2-bedroom rent is $1,272/month.
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State-level averages. Salaries, rent, and cost of living vary significantly between metros. For more accurate data, select a metro area from the list below or browse all metros.
$155K
Avg. median salary
93.89
Cost of living index
$1,272
Median 2BR rent
10,034,113
Population
Highest paying careers in Michigan
| Rank | Occupation | Category | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Medical Dosimetrists | Healthcare | $138K | $66.33/hr |
| 32 | Pharmacists | Healthcare | $138K | $66.28/hr |
| 33 | Sales Managers | Management | $137K | $65.8/hr |
| 34 | Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | Education | $136K | N/A |
| 35 | Optometrists | Healthcare | $136K | $65.21/hr |
| 36 | Managers, All Other | Management | $134K | $64.55/hr |
| 37 | Physician Assistants | Healthcare | $132K | $63.23/hr |
| 38 | Nurse Practitioners | Healthcare | $131K | $63.2/hr |
| 39 | Database Architects | Technology | $131K | $62.98/hr |
| 40 | Lawyers | Legal | $131K | $62.75/hr |
Affordability snapshot: Michigan
These are statewide averages. Costs vary widely between metros, click into a specific city for precise numbers.
Cost of living vs. national average-6.1% less expensive
2-bedroom apartment (FMR)$1,272/mo
Planning a move? Compare costs with other locations:
Metro areas in Michigan
Click a metro for detailed salary, rent, and cost-of-living data specific to that area.
Ann Arbor
$1,656/mo rentRPP 100.9
Battle Creek$1,176/mo rentRPP 90.5
Bay City$1,030/mo rentRPP 91.9
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn$1,106/mo rentRPP 100.3
Flint$1,033/mo rentRPP 93
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood$1,519/mo rentRPP 95.5
Jackson$1,165/mo rentRPP 91.8
Kalamazoo-Portage$1,162/mo rentRPP 94.8
Lansing-East Lansing$1,268/mo rentRPP 95
Midland$1,193/mo rentRPP 91.9
Monroe$1,326/mo rentRPP 93.5
Muskegon-Norton Shores$1,236/mo rentRPP 92.5
Niles$1,184/mo rentRPP 92.4
Saginaw$1,117/mo rentRPP 90.9
Traverse City$1,224/mo rentRPP 93.4
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Monthly budget breakdown with HUD and BLS data