Ann Arbor Employment

Employment and Industries in the Ann Arbor, Michigan Area

The largest employment industries in Ann Arbor Michigan are education, healthcare, manufacturing, information technology, automotive and biomedical research. Notable factors of the economy include life sciences, nanotechnologies, computer and data processing, business services, high-speed Internet services and instrument development.

The University of Michigan is the largest employer. The city is also home to research and engineering centers. Ann Arbor is the western anchor of the region's high-technology corridors.

Ann Arbor's software companies provide a notable amount of the computer programming and devices used by the auto industry. The area is also a significant factor in trade and information publishing as well as book printing and manufacturing.

The following is a list of the Ann Arbor region's top employers:

  • University of Michigan
  • University of Michigan Health Centers
  • Visteon
  • General Motors Corp/Powertrain Division
  • St. Joseph Mercy Hospital
  • Pfizer Global Research and Development
  • Eastern Michigan University
  • Borders Group
  • Con-Way Freight, Inc
  • Domino's Pizza Inc
  • Affina Group Inc
  • Kaydon Corporation
  • Prestolite Electric Holding, Inc
  • Voyager Learning Company
  • Washentaw County
  • Arbor Networks
  • Arbortext
  • JSTOR
  • MediaSpan
  • ProQuest
  • Arotech

Some of Ann Harbor's most popular jobs which are filled by college graduates are registered nurses, mechanical engineers, teachers, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, computer programmers, computer systems analysts, managers, network and computer systems administrators, computer software engineers, systems software; industrial engineers, computer software engineers, applications; and sales managers.

The major sectors providing jobs for the labor force include:

  • Government
  • Trade, transportation and utilities
  • Professional and business services
  • Manufacturing
  • Education
  • Healthcare
  • Leisure and hospitality

Some of the helpful business organizations for local companies are:

MLive.com provides Ann Arbor business and industry news.

Jobs in Ann Arbor

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations223970$56,370$27.1100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations27020$39,400$18.9413.75
3Educational Instruction and Library Occupations25000$58,110$27.946
4Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations23870$86,210$41.455.85
5Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations19130$26,410$12.78.7
6Sales and Related Occupations14630$46,010$22.129.5
7Production Occupations12980$39,810$19.145.6
8Business and Financial Operations Occupations11770$73,690$35.435.35
9Management Occupations11580$126,860$60.996.35
10Healthcare Support Occupations10470$33,210$15.972.85
11Transportation and Material Moving Occupations10410$36,450$17.536.7
12Registered Nurses9340$79,340$38.141.95
13Computer and Mathematical Occupations8810$76,360$36.713
14Fast Food and Counter Workers8050$24,040$11.562.45
15Architecture and Engineering Occupations6680$87,780$42.21.7
16Office Clerks, General6440$33,280$161.9
17Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations6290$51,070$24.553.75
18Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations6260$32,700$15.723.6
19Personal Care and Service Occupations6060$28,430$13.674.65
20Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations5450$61,900$29.760.8
21Construction and Extraction Occupations5290$59,390$28.554.6
22Retail Salespersons4690$29,320$14.12.7
23Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations4600$53,150$25.551.8
24Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners3550$32,200$15.481.5
25Waiters and Waitresses3500$25,950$12.471.65
26Nursing Assistants3410$34,500$16.590.95
27Home Health and Personal Care Aides3320$25,730$12.370
28Community and Social Service Occupations3300$52,070$25.031.75
29Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers3280$93,020$44.720.65
30General and Operations Managers3250$137,380$66.051.5
31Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive3110$44,170$21.231.4
32Customer Service Representatives3090$37,180$17.881.75
33Protective Service Occupations3070$46,600$22.42.2
34Cashiers2860$24,670$11.862.2
35Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other2700$76,380$36.720.7
36Mechanical Engineers2460$97,490$46.870.2
37Stockers and Order Fillers2460$31,090$14.951.25
38Recreation Workers2190$25,530$12.270.3
39Maintenance and Repair Workers, General2150$37,550$18.050.9
40Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand2050$32,260$15.511.8
41Computer User Support Specialists2040$48,260$23.20.4
42Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators2010$35,210$16.930.8
43Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products1940$67,060$32.240.85
44Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic1840$36,690$17.640.1
45Medical Assistants1800$35,110$16.880.45
46Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants1690$37,110$17.840.4
47Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric1630$185,890$89.370.3
48Accountants and Auditors1580$73,530$35.350.9
49Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers1450$32,890$15.810.75
50Receptionists and Information Clerks1400$32,900$15.820.7
51First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers1390$60,530$29.10.95
52Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1360$42,100$20.241.05
53Library Assistants, Clerical1350$26,790$12.880.1
54Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists1300$73,210$35.20.45
55Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel1260$75,620$36.360.7
56First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers1200$37,810$18.180.6
57Legal Occupations1150$80,680$38.790.8
58Cooks, Restaurant1070$30,120$14.480.9
59Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors1060$36,350$17.470.2
60Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other1040$43,560$20.940
61Management Analysts1020$90,420$43.470.55
62Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians1000$53,590$25.760.2
63Computer and Information Systems Managers990$136,720$65.730.3
64First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers990$50,630$24.340.95
65Security Guards950$28,990$13.940.7
66Medical and Health Services Managers930$128,250$61.660.3
67Dishwashers920$25,810$12.410.3
68Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education920$34,700$16.680.3
69Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks920$39,700$19.090.4
70Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators820$36,720$17.650.4
71Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop810$22,990$11.050.3
72Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners810$26,230$12.610.9
73Construction Laborers800$45,110$21.690.9
74Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers780$47,900$23.031.2
75Food Preparation Workers770$26,920$12.940.5
76Physician Assistants770$111,360$53.540.1
77Financial Managers760$132,400$63.650.4
78First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers760$73,550$35.360.4
79Medical Dosimetrists, Medical Records Specialists, and Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other760$52,420$25.20
80Pharmacy Technicians750$37,500$18.030.3
81Education Administrators, Postsecondary730$152,480$73.310.1
82Biological Technicians700$40,730$19.580.1
83First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers680$77,960$37.480.3
84Buyers and Purchasing Agents670$62,270$29.940.25
85Computer Occupations, All Other670$70,070$33.690.3
86Correctional Officers and Jailers670$53,570$25.760.25
87Computer Systems Analysts660$81,680$39.270.4
88Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors650$53,000$25.480.2
89Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan650$43,480$20.910.1
90Machinists650$46,520$22.370.2
91Bartenders630$25,480$12.250.4
92Industrial Machinery Mechanics620$52,260$25.130.2
93Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic600$40,430$19.440.1
94Radiologic Technologists and Technicians600$60,870$29.260.1
95Billing and Posting Clerks590$42,340$20.360.3
96Electrical Engineers590$87,250$41.950.1
97First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers590$73,070$35.130.4
98Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses590$53,290$25.620.5
99Electricians580$68,120$32.750.45
100Nurse Practitioners570$111,410$53.560.1
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Ann Arbor Colleges
Ann Arbor colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Ann Arbor Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$56,370223,970
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$39,40027,020
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$58,11025,000
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$86,21023,870
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$26,41019,130
Sales and Related Occupations$46,01014,630
Production Occupations$39,81012,980
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$73,69011,770
Management Occupations$126,86011,580
Healthcare Support Occupations$33,21010,470
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$36,45010,410
Registered Nurses$79,3409,340
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$76,3608,810
Fast Food and Counter Workers$24,0408,050
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$87,7806,680
Office Clerks, General$33,2806,440
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$51,0706,290
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$32,7006,260
Personal Care and Service Occupations$28,4306,060
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$61,9005,450
Construction and Extraction Occupations$59,3905,290
Retail Salespersons$29,3204,690
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$53,1504,600
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$32,2003,550
Waiters and Waitresses$25,9503,500
Nursing Assistants$34,5003,410
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$25,7303,320
Community and Social Service Occupations$52,0703,300
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$93,0203,280
General and Operations Managers$137,3803,250
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$44,1703,110
Customer Service Representatives$37,1803,090
Protective Service Occupations$46,6003,070
Cashiers$24,6702,860
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$76,3802,700
Mechanical Engineers$97,4902,460
Stockers and Order Fillers$31,0902,460
Recreation Workers$25,5302,190
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$37,5502,150
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$32,2602,050
Computer User Support Specialists$48,2602,040
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$35,2102,010
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$67,0601,940
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$36,6901,840
Medical Assistants$35,1101,800
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$37,1101,690
Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$185,8901,630
Accountants and Auditors$73,5301,580
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$32,8901,450
Receptionists and Information Clerks$32,9001,400

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Ann Arbor, Michigan Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$56,370223,970
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$39,40027,020
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$58,11025,000
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$86,21023,870
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$26,41019,130
Sales and Related Occupations$46,01014,630
Production Occupations$39,81012,980
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$73,69011,770
Management Occupations$126,86011,580
Healthcare Support Occupations$33,21010,470
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$36,45010,410
Registered Nurses$79,3409,340
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$76,3608,810
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$87,7806,680
Office Clerks, General$33,2806,440
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$51,0706,290
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$32,7006,260
Personal Care and Service Occupations$28,4306,060
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$61,9005,450
Construction and Extraction Occupations$59,3905,290
Retail Salespersons$29,3204,690
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$53,1504,600
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$32,2003,550
Waiters and Waitresses$25,9503,500
Nursing Assistants$34,5003,410
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$25,7303,320
Community and Social Service Occupations$52,0703,300
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$93,0203,280
General and Operations Managers$137,3803,250
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$44,1703,110
Customer Service Representatives$37,1803,090
Protective Service Occupations$46,6003,070
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$76,3802,700
Mechanical Engineers$97,4902,460
Stockers and Order Fillers$31,0902,460
Recreation Workers$25,5302,190
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$37,5502,150
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$32,2602,050
Computer User Support Specialists$48,2602,040
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$35,2102,010
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$67,0601,940
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$36,6901,840
Medical Assistants$35,1101,800
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$37,1101,690
Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$185,8901,630
Accountants and Auditors$73,5301,580
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$32,8901,450
Receptionists and Information Clerks$32,9001,400
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,5301,390
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$42,1001,360

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