rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents
- Median annual wage: $51,280
- Median hourly wage: $24.65
- Total employment: 40 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Midland, Michigan that require a bachelor's degree
Between rising tuition and a tight job market, getting a bachelor's degree is an increasingly daunting prospect these days. Per a May 2024 Pew Research Center survey, just 1 in 4 adults believe a college degree is necessary to secure a high-paying job.
Many second-guess the value of college because of the cost. For the 2024-2025 school year, annual tuition and fees averaged more than $11,600 at in-state public universities, a nearly 3% increase from the previous year. Tuition at private schools increased by roughly 4% in the same time period.
Besides financial concerns, there are career opportunities to consider. Though the job market in the United States shifts from month to month, the unemployment rate for recent college graduates aged 22 to 27 reached 5.8% in March 2025, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. For context, that's more than double the unemployment rate of all college graduates.
These factors all contribute to the belief that college may not be the answer for everyone. However, research shows that a bachelor's degree still pays off in the long run. As of 2024, the most recent year with available data, the $60,000 median salary for a recent college graduate is $20,000 more than the median earnings for someone with only a high school diploma.
Although high school grads can make a decent salary without taking on student loan debt, lifetime earnings range between $630,000 and $900,000 more for those with a bachelor's degree. Graduate degree holders, meanwhile, may earn $1.1 million to $1.5 million more than high school graduates.
With this in mind, many different jobs make a degree worth the cost of tuition. Stacker ranked the highest-paying jobs that require a bachelor's degree in Midland, using annual compensation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in the Midland, Michigan metro area
VH-studio // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Child, family, and school social workers
- Median annual wage: $53,210
- Median hourly wage: $25.58
- Total employment: 150 people (4.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Fundraisers
- Median annual wage: $61,810
- Median hourly wage: $29.72
- Total employment: 50 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Public relations specialists
- Median annual wage: $62,050
- Median hourly wage: $29.83
- Total employment: 90 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
comzeal images // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Loan officers
- Median annual wage: $62,200
- Median hourly wage: $29.91
- Total employment: 70 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Midland, Michigan?
B Brown // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Median annual wage: $62,280
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (4.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Elementary school teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $62,520
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 350 people (9.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Training and development specialists
- Median annual wage: $70,840
- Median hourly wage: $34.06
- Total employment: 110 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Mongta Studio // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Cost estimators
- Median annual wage: $71,470
- Median hourly wage: $34.36
- Total employment: 60 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
boonchoke // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Business operations specialists, all other
- Median annual wage: $72,780
- Median hourly wage: $34.99
- Total employment: 120 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Midland, Michigan's 2025 housing market year in review
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Compliance officers
- Median annual wage: $74,380
- Median hourly wage: $35.76
- Total employment: 70 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aleksandar Karanov // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Occupational health and safety specialists
- Median annual wage: $75,730
- Median hourly wage: $36.41
- Total employment: 110 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rido // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Human resources specialists
- Median annual wage: $76,450
- Median hourly wage: $36.75
- Total employment: 240 people (6.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Market research analysts and marketing specialists
- Median annual wage: $77,740
- Median hourly wage: $37.38
- Total employment: 220 people (5.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GLRL // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Buyers and purchasing agents
- Median annual wage: $77,930
- Median hourly wage: $37.47
- Total employment: 170 people (4.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Midland, Michigan that require a bachelor's degree
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Social and community service managers
- Median annual wage: $78,290
- Median hourly wage: $37.64
- Total employment: 80 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists
- Median annual wage: $79,190
- Median hourly wage: $38.07
- Total employment: 50 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Labor relations specialists
- Median annual wage: $79,500
- Median hourly wage: $38.22
- Total employment: 40 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Civil engineers
- Median annual wage: $80,960
- Median hourly wage: $38.93
- Total employment: 40 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pakorn Khantiyaporn // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Logisticians
- Median annual wage: $83,110
- Median hourly wage: $39.96
- Total employment: 340 people (9.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Midland, Michigan area by diners
Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Data scientists
- Median annual wage: $85,110
- Median hourly wage: $40.92
- Total employment: 60 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ImageFlow // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Accountants and auditors
- Median annual wage: $86,390
- Median hourly wage: $41.53
- Total employment: 530 people (13.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Undrey // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Financial and investment analysts
- Median annual wage: $90,510
- Median hourly wage: $43.51
- Total employment: 50 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Mechanical engineers
- Median annual wage: $93,190
- Median hourly wage: $44.80
- Total employment: 90 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Network and computer systems administrators
- Median annual wage: $93,960
- Median hourly wage: $45.17
- Total employment: 50 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: What salary do I need to afford a house in Midland, Michigan in 2026?
fizkes // Shutterstock
26 / 50#24. Management analysts (tie)
- Median annual wage: $97,020
- Median hourly wage: $46.64
- Total employment: 160 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N.Z.Photography // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Computer occupations, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $97,020
- Median hourly wage: $46.65
- Total employment: 30 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Industrial engineers
- Median annual wage: $98,290
- Median hourly wage: $47.26
- Total employment: 210 people (5.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. General and operations managers
- Median annual wage: $98,440
- Median hourly wage: $47.33
- Total employment: 620 people (16.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Computer systems analysts
- Median annual wage: $99,730
- Median hourly wage: $47.95
- Total employment: 220 people (5.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated campgrounds in the Midland, Michigan area by visitors
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Project management specialists
- Median annual wage: $101,410
- Median hourly wage: $48.75
- Total employment: 200 people (5.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Electrical engineers
- Median annual wage: $101,840
- Median hourly wage: $48.96
- Total employment: 40 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BalanceFormCreative // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Information security analysts
- Median annual wage: $102,630
- Median hourly wage: $49.34
- Total employment: 60 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $105,980
- Median hourly wage: $50.95
- Total employment: 100 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $105,990
- Median hourly wage: $50.96
- Total employment: 40 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The highest-value homes in Midland, Michigan
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $108,080
- Median hourly wage: $51.96
- Total employment: 200 people (5.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Facilities managers
- Median annual wage: $109,580
- Median hourly wage: $52.69
- Total employment: 50 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
eldar nurkovic // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Chemical engineers
- Median annual wage: $110,610
- Median hourly wage: $53.18
- Total employment: 90 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
creativemarc // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $118,910
- Median hourly wage: $57.17
- Total employment: 60 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $120,390
- Median hourly wage: $57.88
- Total employment: 90 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Midland, Michigan that don't require a college degree
luchschenF // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Chemists
- Median annual wage: $129,700
- Median hourly wage: $62.36
- Total employment: 310 people (8.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $132,610
- Median hourly wage: $63.75
- Total employment: 110 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $139,340
- Median hourly wage: $66.99
- Total employment: 130 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $159,440
- Median hourly wage: $76.65
- Total employment: 80 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $162,840
- Median hourly wage: $78.29
- Total employment: 160 people (4.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Midland, Michigan this year
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $162,900
- Median hourly wage: $78.32
- Total employment: 120 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $169,300
- Median hourly wage: $81.39
- Total employment: 90 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $178,150
- Median hourly wage: $85.65
- Total employment: 310 people (8.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $204,390
- Median hourly wage: $98.26
- Total employment: 60 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Midland, Michigan that require a bachelor's degree
