Find a Job You Really Want In
We had that same burning desire to know more about the best blue collar jobs still available in Michigan.
We decided to go directly to the source, The Bureau of Labor Statistics, to identify which jobs don’t require a college degree, pay well, and offer a pretty good work-life balance.
After scrounging through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we discovered that Electrical and Electronics Drafters have the best blue collar gig in Michigan.
How we determined the best blue collar jobs in Michigan
We looked at the BLS’s data set for all 735 job classifications in Michigan in order to identify those that get paid the most, don’t require a college degree, and don’t have years of experience required.
Check out the table below for the whole list of the best blue collar jobs in Michigan.
Detailed List Of The Best Blue Collar Jobs In Michigan
| Rank | Job Title | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $54,810 |
| 2 | Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors | $54,780 |
| 3 | Mechanical Drafters | $54,770 |
| 4 | First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators | $54,580 |
| 5 | Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians | $54,530 |
| 6 | Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Motion Picture | $53,220 |
| 7 | Industrial Engineering Technicians | $53,000 |
| 8 | Legal Support Workers, All Other | $52,850 |
| 9 | Construction and Building Inspectors | $52,840 |
| 10 | Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | $52,320 |
| 11 | Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | $52,100 |
| 12 | Tool and Die Makers | $52,100 |
| 13 | Tapers | $52,080 |
| 14 | Geological and Petroleum Technicians | $52,050 |
| 15 | Surveyors | $51,910 |
| 16 | Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $51,510 |
| 17 | Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | $51,380 |
| 18 | Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers | $51,270 |
| 19 | Industrial Machinery Mechanics | $51,220 |
| 20 | Postal Service Mail Carriers | $51,120 |
| 21 | Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $51,050 |
| 22 | Riggers | $51,000 |
| 23 | Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic | $50,830 |
| 24 | First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $50,620 |
| 25 | Postal Service Clerks | $50,530 |
| 26 | Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $50,390 |
| 27 | Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $50,380 |
| 28 | Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Programmers, Metal and Plastic | $49,580 |
| 29 | Automotive Body and Related Repairers | $49,410 |
| 30 | Computer User Support Specialists | $49,370 |
| 31 | Painters, Transportation Equipment | $49,330 |
| 32 | Sheet Metal Workers | $49,260 |
| 33 | Patternmakers, Wood | $49,210 |
| 34 | Airfield Operations Specialists | $49,080 |
| 35 | Commercial Divers | $49,070 |
| 36 | First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand | $48,750 |
| 37 | Civil Engineering Technicians | $48,680 |
| 38 | Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | $48,600 |
| 39 | Correctional Officers and Jailers | $48,560 |
| 40 | Traffic Technicians | $48,160 |
| 41 | Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers | $48,090 |
| 42 | Architectural and Civil Drafters | $48,050 |
| 43 | Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | $48,020 |
| 44 | Environmental Engineering Technicians | $47,890 |
| 45 | Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | $47,680 |
| 46 | Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $47,620 |
| 47 | Bridge and Lock Tenders | $47,310 |
| 48 | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $47,260 |
| 49 | Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $47,040 |
| 50 | Glaziers | $46,830 |
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
