Highest-paying jobs in Grand Rapids
The rich are getting richer, and have been for some time.
Across the nation, wages have continued to rise this year despite the Federal Reserve's efforts to temper inflation. In June, average weekly earnings grew at a higher rate than the Consumer Price Index, the nation's primary inflation indicator.
While pay is increasing across income levels, the historical growth for high-income jobs has been most profound. High-income jobs have grown 69% over the past 50 years—more than both middle- and lower-income jobs, a Pew Trusts analysis shows.
The highest earners in the U.S. are what you'd expect: doctors and other medical professionals, engineers, tech workers, executives, and corporate leaders. Nationally, the 50 top-paying jobs all require at least a bachelor's degree, and many require a master's, doctorate, or another professional degree. Indeed, Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that higher degree holders earn more in a typical week and face lower rates of unemployment.
Still, the exact positions that pay the most vary depending on where in the country you are located. Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Grand Rapids. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2022, so jobs without annual compensation estimates available were excluded from this analysis.
#50. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $96,240
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#49. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $96,830
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#48. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $96,950
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 970 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#47. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $97,180
- Median hourly wage: $46.72
- Total employment: 460 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#46. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $97,530
- Median hourly wage: $46.89
- Total employment: 900 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#45. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $98,180
- Median hourly wage: $47.20
- Total employment: 60 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#44. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,740
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#43. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $99,710
- Median hourly wage: $47.94
- Total employment: 740 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#42. Compensation and benefits managers
- Median annual wage: $100,080
- Median hourly wage: $48.12
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#41. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $100,160
- Median hourly wage: $48.15
- Total employment: 1,580 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#40. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $100,650
- Median hourly wage: $48.39
- Total employment: 1,120 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#39. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Median annual wage: $102,290
- Median hourly wage: $49.18
- Total employment: 60 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#38. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $102,550
- Median hourly wage: $49.30
- Total employment: 160 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#37. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $102,700
- Median hourly wage: $49.37
- Total employment: 210 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#36. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $103,190
- Median hourly wage: $49.61
- Total employment: 2,240 people (4.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#35. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $103,230
- Median hourly wage: $49.63
- Total employment: 210 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#34. Chemical engineers
- Median annual wage: $104,540
- Median hourly wage: $50.26
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#33. Computer hardware engineers
- Median annual wage: $104,750
- Median hourly wage: $50.36
- Total employment: 40 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#32. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $105,150
- Median hourly wage: $50.55
- Total employment: 650 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#31. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $105,750
- Median hourly wage: $50.84
- Total employment: 840 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#30. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $108,310
- Median hourly wage: $52.07
- Total employment: 110 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#29. Advertising and promotions managers
- Median annual wage: $109,140
- Median hourly wage: $52.47
- Total employment: 30 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#28. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $111,630
- Median hourly wage: $53.67
- Total employment: 730 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#27. Plant and system operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $115,140
- Median hourly wage: $55.36
- Total employment: 40 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#26. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $118,610
- Median hourly wage: $57.02
- Total employment: 340 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#25. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $122,680
- Median hourly wage: $58.98
- Total employment: 1,420 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#24. Physical scientists, all other
- Median annual wage: $123,210
- Median hourly wage: $59.24
- Total employment: 40 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#23. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $123,440
- Median hourly wage: $59.34
- Total employment: 2,380 people (4.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#22. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $123,850
- Median hourly wage: $59.54
- Total employment: 1,760 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#21. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $126,830
- Median hourly wage: $60.98
- Total employment: 760 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#20. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $127,630
- Median hourly wage: $61.36
- Total employment: 110 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#19. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $128,850
- Median hourly wage: $61.95
- Total employment: 1,400 people (2.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#18. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $129,820
- Median hourly wage: $62.41
- Total employment: 1,170 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#17. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $130,920
- Median hourly wage: $62.94
- Total employment: 1,070 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#16. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $131,950
- Median hourly wage: $63.44
- Total employment: 50 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#15. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $144,660
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#14. Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Median annual wage: $147,280
- Median hourly wage: $70.81
- Total employment: 100 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#13. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $157,610
- Median hourly wage: $75.77
- Total employment: 390 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#12. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $167,190
- Median hourly wage: $80.38
- Total employment: 220 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#11. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $172,080
- Median hourly wage: $82.73
- Total employment: 140 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#10. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric
- Median annual wage: $180,500
- Median hourly wage: $86.78
- Total employment: 70 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#9. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $186,790
- Median hourly wage: $89.80
- Total employment: 510 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#8. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $212,170
- Median hourly wage: $102.01
- Total employment: 1,170 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#7. General internal medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $213,000
- Median hourly wage: $102.40
- Total employment: 310 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#6. Radiologists
- Median annual wage: $221,920
- Median hourly wage: $106.69
- Total employment: Not available
#1. Chief executives (tie)
- Median annual wage: Exact median salary unknown; at least $239,200 per year or $115 per hour
- Total employment: 400 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: Exact median salary unknown; at least $239,200 per year or $115 per hour
- Total employment: 300 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#1. Dermatologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: Exact median salary unknown; at least $239,200 per year or $115 per hour
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#1. Neurologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: Exact median salary unknown; at least $239,200 per year or $115 per hour
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: Exact median salary unknown; at least $239,200 per year or $115 per hour
- Total employment: 110 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
