There are a number of programs across the state of Michigan that help graduating seniors and aspiring college students find the perfect school for them and fund their education. Programs like the Kalamazoo Promise and Bearcat Advantage which pay for tuition at both private and public in-state institutions or private and public in-state institutions along with several HBCU institutions. These programs have made college more accessible which is great.

Although college is now easier to attend and fund for these students doesn't mean that college is the only option. Making college more accessible and affordable should only be for those that have the desire, not something that is forced upon everyone. Yes, going to college is an experience that helps shape the rest of your life, but is not something that everyone needs to do. In fact, there are a large number of high paying jobs in Michigan that don't require any college education.

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Every day of our lives we need help from people who are working trades or other manual labor that quite frankly has nothing to do with college. Many of those individuals that we rely on to fix our plumbing, HVAC, electricity, vehicles, and other important parts of our lives are not college educated. In fact, they may have never gone to college because the hands-on experience and learning is more important than the classroom.

Indeed, makes it easier for employers to find workers and for employees to find the job they are looking for, with that being said they also have plenty of data on the best jobs in every state. For Michigan, they were able to compile a list of the best and highest paying jobs that don't require a college degree.

Read More: How Former Michigan Players NCAA Lawsuit Can Help Future Players

Below are several lists of different types of jobs that require different levels of education but none of them require a college diploma and still pay great salaries:

15 high-paying jobs in Michigan you can get with no college degree

  • Stationery Engineer $80,276 per year
  • Real Estate Broker $81,081 per year
  • Professional Blogger $86,627 per year
  • Nuclear Power Reactor Operater $88,517 per year
  • Construction Superintendent $93,292 per year
  • Power Plant Operater $94,640 per year
  • Air Traffic Controller $96,579 per year
  • Videographer $98,164 per year
  • Solar Sales Consultant $106,318 per year
  • Criminal Investigator $106,491 per year
  • Film Developer $133,097 per year
  • Sound Engineer $143,875 per year
  • Owner-Operator Driver $187,172 per year
  • Mail Carrier $209,309 per year
  • Professional Athlete $219,117 per year

19 high-paying jobs in Michigan you can get with no college degree

  • Commercial pilot: $60,440 per year
  • Landscape designer: $61,012 per year
  • Store owner: $61,374 per year
  • Delivery driver: $61,449 per year
  • Sales representative: $61,531 per year
  • Boilermaker: $63,159 per year
  • HVAC supervisor: $63,342 per year
  • Home inspector: $65,060 per year
  • Repair technician: $65,244 per year
  • Car sales executive: $65,492 per year
  • Aircraft mechanic: $65,536 per year
  • Cargo pilot: $67,000 per year
  • Yoga instructor: $67,425 per year
  • Asset protection specialist: $69,162 per year
  • Travel agent: $70,183 per year
  • Makeup artist: $71,887 per year
  • Truck driver: $75,474 per year
  • Electrical foreperson: $76,306 per year
  • Detective: $76,805 per year

16 high-paying jobs in Michigan you can get with a certificate

  • Physical therapist assistant: $60,970 per year
  • Radiation therapist: $61,139 per year
  • Nuclear technician: $62,119 per year
  • Dental hygienist: $67,551 per year
  • Massage therapist: $68,201 per year
  • Junior data analyst: $68,967 per year
  • Registered nurse: $77,577 per year
  • Surgical technician: $80,692 per year
  • Nuclear medicine technologist: $82,297 per year
  • MRI technologist: $85,340 per year
  • Senior web developer: $89,873 per year
  • Electrical engineer: $91,655 per year
  • User experience (UX) designer: $104,315 per year
  • Respiratory therapist: $107,921 per year
  • Software engineer: $109,899 per year
  • Ultrasonographer: $125,558 per year

If that doesn't make it any simpler than I don't know what would, at the end of the day college can be fun and a great experience that brings about opportunities but at the same time, it's not a must for everyone and you can be successful without it.

The 10 Highest Paying Jobs in Michigan

Looking to make more money in the New Year? If you have the proper degree/training, the following may lead you to your financial dreams. Zippa, ranked the top 100 highest paying jobs, and we've narrowed down the top 10 for you.

Gallery Credit: Nathan Vandenburg

Highest-paying jobs in Kalamazoo that don't require a college degree

Stacker ranked the 50 highest-paying jobs in Kalamazoo that don't require a college degree, using annual compensation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

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They break down their rating scale, like a report card, and give professors, diversity, student life, value, safety, location, and an overall grade to determine who is the number one school.

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