Career Atlas USA

Careers in Michigan

Michigan’s regional price level is below the national average (index 96.217, where 100 = U.S. average, 2024 BEA data).

Unemployment rate: 5.4% · Labor force participation: 59% · 4,606,774 people employed (2026-07, BLS LAUS, not seasonally adjusted).

Highest-Paying Careers

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  1. 1Radiologists$485,920
  2. 2Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$428,570
  3. 3Cardiologists$419,030
  4. 4Emergency Medicine Physicians$417,760
  5. 5Dermatologists$414,910

Largest Occupations

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  1. 1Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators112,310 employed
  2. 2Retail Salespersons111,010 employed
  3. 3Registered Nurses104,950 employed
  4. 4Fast Food and Counter Workers103,130 employed
  5. 5Home Health and Personal Care Aides95,020 employed

Highest Concentration

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  1. 1Model Makers, Metal and Plastic9.64× national avg
  2. 2Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic5.94× national avg
  3. 3Tool and Die Makers5.84× national avg
  4. 4Foundry Mold and Coremakers5.67× national avg
  5. 5Engine and Other Machine Assemblers5.22× national avg

Best Purchasing Power

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cost-of-living adjusted

  1. 1Radiologists$505,025
  2. 2Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$445,420
  3. 3Cardiologists$435,505
  4. 4Emergency Medicine Physicians$434,185
  5. 5Dermatologists$431,223

Strongest Opportunity Score

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  1. 1Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing94.7 / 100
  2. 2Commercial and Industrial Designers94.1 / 100
  3. 3Millwrights92.9 / 100
  4. 4Engine and Other Machine Assemblers89.4 / 100
  5. 5Special Education Teachers, All Other89 / 100

Sources

Wage and employment data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities. Unemployment rate: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Opportunity Score is a Career Atlas USA calculation — see methodology.