Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Grand Rapids

Written by:
February 17, 2021
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Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Grand Rapids

Anybody who has taken a course in marketing, psychology or sociology is likely familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. First detailed by psychologist Andrew Maslow in his 1943 work “A Theory of Human Motivation,” the hierarchy breaks down the complex network of human thoughts into a categorical triage, placing self-development at the top and security and physical health at the bottom. In setting up this pyramid, Maslow framed self-recognition and creative development as ultimate goals, while also prioritizing personal safety and strong physical health.

As such, it has never been more important to recognize the health care professionals who work tirelessly to keep the population healthy. In 2019, the United States spent 17.7% of its GDP on health. While it’s encouraging to know that the country is investing in those responsible for maintaining the nation’s well-being, not all health care professionals receive equal compensation.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage. Keep reading to see which health care jobs make the most and least in your city.

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#50. Physical therapist aides

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $25,310
- #139 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,180
- Employment: 49,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Savannah, GA ($50,470)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($44,720)
--- Boulder, CO ($41,450)
2 / 50
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#49. Dietetic technicians

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $26,300
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($52,880)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($45,910)
--- Salinas, CA ($44,730)
3 / 50
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#48. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $27,980
- #142 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,690
- Employment: 97,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($48,240)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,890)
--- Port St. Lucie, FL ($43,200)
4 / 50
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#47. Orderlies

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $28,440
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,710
- Employment: 46,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($51,240)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($49,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,730)
5 / 50
Goldsithney // Shutterstock

#46. Psychiatric technicians

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $28,570
- #101 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $37,550
- Employment: 78,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($72,990)
--- Fresno, CA ($66,710)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($66,290)
6 / 50
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#45. Nursing assistants

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $29,470
- #194 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,970

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,720
- Employment: 1,419,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($46,170)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,100)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($44,710)
7 / 50
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

#44. Pharmacy technicians

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $32,720
- #236 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,260

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,250
- Employment: 417,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,090)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($50,790)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($50,070)
8 / 50
Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

#43. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $33,130
- #183 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($76,660)
--- Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA ($57,740)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($50,100)
9 / 50
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#42. Medical equipment preparers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $33,580
- #135 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310

National
- Annual mean salary: $39,530
- Employment: 56,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($63,400)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($61,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,670)
10 / 50
Milkovasa // Shutterstock

#41. Medical assistants

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $34,510
- #149 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,500

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,720
- Employment: 712,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($49,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,920)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,140)
11 / 50
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

#40. Phlebotomists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $34,930
- #116 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,480
- Employment: 128,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($58,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,040)
--- Redding, CA ($52,310)
12 / 50
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#39. Ophthalmic medical technicians

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $34,950
- #148 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $38,760
- Employment: 58,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Duluth, MN-WI ($56,620)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($53,770)
--- New Bedford, MA ($53,250)
13 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#38. Medical transcriptionists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $35,620
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,210
- Employment: 55,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($67,840)
--- Amarillo, TX ($56,970)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($54,080)
14 / 50
Rido // Shutterstock

#37. Opticians, dispensing

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $38,290
- #137 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340

National
- Annual mean salary: $40,730
- Employment: 72,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($70,730)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($68,970)
--- New Haven, CT ($66,020)
15 / 50
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

#36. Surgical technologists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $42,140
- #215 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 720

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,110
- Employment: 109,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($74,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,790)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($69,750)
16 / 50
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

#35. Massage therapists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $42,940
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,180
- Employment: 107,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($76,930)
--- Yakima, WA ($72,870)
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($70,090)
17 / 50
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#34. Recreational therapists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $44,350
- #83 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,130
- Employment: 19,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($83,590)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,800)
--- Fresno, CA ($82,170)
18 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#33. Dental assistants

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $44,600
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,000

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 351,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($56,010)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($54,510)
--- Rochester, MN ($53,010)
19 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#32. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $46,780
- #166 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,780

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 697,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,490)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,160)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($67,990)
20 / 50
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#31. Exercise physiologists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $47,910
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,750
- Employment: 7,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($184,950)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($88,760)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($69,300)
21 / 50
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#30. Athletic trainers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $48,030
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,540
- Employment: 28,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($73,250)
--- Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($66,390)
--- Trenton, NJ ($65,320)
22 / 50
KSai23 // Shutterstock

#29. Chiropractors

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $51,160
- #140 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $85,010
- Employment: 35,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($160,330)
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($149,580)
--- Reno, NV ($140,260)
23 / 50
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#28. Occupational therapy assistants

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $51,290
- #169 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($92,580)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($83,690)
--- Reno, NV ($81,800)
24 / 50
Halfpoint // Shutterstock

#27. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $52,940
- #115 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salem, OR ($106,620)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($103,050)
--- Medford, OR ($82,780)
25 / 50
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#26. Physical therapist assistants

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $53,230
- #237 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($78,530)
--- Victoria, TX ($78,070)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($75,470)
26 / 50
lenetstan // Shutterstock

#25. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $53,910
- #247 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 850

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($109,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,670)
27 / 50
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#24. Dietitians and nutritionists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $56,380
- #192 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,330
- Employment: 67,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($88,350)
--- Salinas, CA ($87,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,890)
28 / 50
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#23. Respiratory therapists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- #142 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 730

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($101,520)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($98,810)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,950)
29 / 50
SofikoS // Shutterstock

#22. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $60,960
- #221 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($126,850)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($115,280)
30 / 50
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#21. Orthotists and prosthetists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $62,800
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $72,810
- Employment: 9,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($129,500)
--- Jackson, MS ($122,740)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($103,700)
31 / 50
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#20. Dental hygienists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $63,180
- #290 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,070

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($140,150)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($120,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,940)
32 / 50
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#19. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $66,990
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($124,950)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,870)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($99,920)
33 / 50
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#18. Registered nurses

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $68,220
- #188 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 12,820

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,460
- Employment: 2,982,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($138,000)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($134,000)
34 / 50
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#17. Nuclear medicine technologists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $71,580
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,660)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,340)
35 / 50
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock

#16. Occupational therapists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $72,080
- #311 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 570

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,210
- Employment: 133,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- The Villages, FL ($115,090)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($108,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($107,450)
36 / 50
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#15. Speech-language pathologists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $74,340
- #226 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,000
- Employment: 154,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($117,710)
--- Corvallis, OR ($105,380)
--- Chico, CA ($104,640)
37 / 50
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#14. Audiologists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $76,430
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,900
- Employment: 13,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Reno, NV ($146,950)
--- Fresno, CA ($131,270)
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($120,440)
38 / 50
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#13. Radiation therapists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $79,520
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($142,300)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($126,260)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,720)
39 / 50
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock

#12. Physical therapists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $86,830
- #223 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 980

National
- Annual mean salary: $90,170
- Employment: 233,350
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yuba City, CA ($116,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($116,120)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($113,950)
40 / 50
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#11. Podiatrists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $90,640
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $142,680
- Employment: 9,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($222,760)
--- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI ($206,190)
--- Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA ($200,200)
41 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#10. Nurse practitioners

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $102,790
- #261 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,840
- Employment: 200,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($175,060)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($160,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,150)
42 / 50
Ohiodominican // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Physician assistants

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $107,710
- #181 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680

National
- Annual mean salary: $112,410
- Employment: 120,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($161,370)
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($156,250)
--- Waterbury, CT ($154,550)
43 / 50
Austin Community College // Flickr

#8. Veterinarians

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $119,950
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $104,820
- Employment: 74,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sherman-Denison, TX ($210,960)
--- Lubbock, TX ($176,730)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($161,230)
44 / 50
Grace Nichols // U.S. Air Force

#7. Pharmacists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $121,700
- #262 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 850

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,510
- Employment: 311,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tyler, TX ($161,790)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($158,250)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($157,850)
45 / 50
Kzenon // Shutterstock

#6. Optometrists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $152,230
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $122,980
- Employment: 39,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($238,460)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($210,490)
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($183,380)
46 / 50
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#5. Nurse anesthetists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $154,410
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $181,040
- Employment: 43,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($266,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($254,860)
--- Columbus, GA-AL ($247,540)
47 / 50
LightField Studios // Shutterstock

#4. Psychiatrists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $224,870
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $220,430
- Employment: 25,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($282,400)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($280,270)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($280,200)
48 / 50
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#3. Family medicine physicians

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $236,790
- #80 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $213,270
- Employment: 109,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Racine, WI ($286,030)
--- Jacksonville, NC ($282,580)
--- Gadsden, AL ($281,430)
49 / 50
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#2. Dentists, general

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $238,540
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380

National
- Annual mean salary: $178,260
- Employment: 110,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Burlington, NC ($278,360)
--- Burlington-South Burlington, VT ($275,430)
--- Longview, TX ($272,440)
50 / 50
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#1. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $255,360
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $237,570
- Employment: 4,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI ($255,360)
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($254,900)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($237,850)

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