Detroit Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Detroit, MI: $25.04/hr median hourly wage, $52,080 median annual salary, cost of living index 87, and $12.48/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Michigan taxes.
Detroit Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Detroit, MI is $25.04/hr,and the median annual wage is $52,080. Entry-level pay estimates around $15.52/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $35.56/hr, and the local minimum wage is $12.48/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metropolitan statistical area (1,904,530 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Detroit shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$52,080
$25.04/hr
Cost of Living
87
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$12.48
per hour
Unemployment
5.5%
rate
Detroit, MI Overview
Population
639,111
Median Salary
$52,080
Average Salary
$69,210
Avg Commute
27 min
Median Home Price
$80,000
Median Rent
$1,050/mo
Job Growth
+1%
Sales Tax
6%
Detroit is located in Michigan with a population of 639,111. The median annual wage across all occupations is $52,080 ($25.04/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro), which is $1,100 above the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 27 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1%.
Detroit Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Detroit, MI built around the $52,080 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $32,290 | $15.52/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $52,080 | $25.04/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $73,954 | $35.56/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $92,702 | $44.57/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Detroit Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Detroit, MI, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$40,563
$3,380.25/month · $1,560.11/biweekly · Effective Rate: 22.1%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,560.11 take-home per paycheck after estimated Michigan and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$52,080
Federal Tax
-$4,070
State Tax
-$2,213
Local Tax
-$1,250
FICA
-$3,984
Net Pay
$40,563
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,340.00 | $52,080.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$339.13 | -$4,069.60 |
| Michigan State Tax (4.25% eff.) | -$184.45 | -$2,213.40 |
| Local Tax (2.4%) | -$104.16 | -$1,249.92 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$269.08 | -$3,228.96 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$62.93 | -$755.16 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,380.25 | $40,562.96 |
Salary Comparison: Detroit vs Other Cities
See how Detroit's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | $52,080 | 87 | $59,862 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Warren, MI | $52,080 | 88 | $59,182 |
| Sterling Heights, MI | $52,080 | 92 | $56,609 |
| Dearborn, MI | $52,080 | 90.5 | $57,547 |
| Clinton Township, MI | $52,080 | 96.2 | $54,137 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Detroit
Detroit's cost of living index is 87 (national average = 100). Living in Detroit is 13% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$80,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,050
Annual Rent Cost
$12,600
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $40,563 annual take-home pay in Detroit has the purchasing power of approximately $46,624 in an average-cost US area. Your $52,080 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Detroit
Detroit's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $52,080.
Salary Tips for Detroit Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Detroit has a cost of living 13% below the national average. A salary of $52,080 here has the purchasing power of about $59,862 in an average-cost area.
- Research top industries. Detroit's top industries include Automotive, Healthcare, Technology. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $52,080 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Job Salaries in Detroit, MI
Browse occupation-specific salaries for Detroit. Figures marked BLS are the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for that occupation in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area (77 of 340); the rest are Salario estimates adjusted for Detroit's cost of living. Each page connects the benchmark with local take-home pay and market context.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Detroit salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Detroit indexed at 87.
- Median salary: $52,080 annual, $25.04 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI MSA (1,904,530 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $69,210 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Detroit was $48,000.
- Tax burden reflects Michigan 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 4.25%), plus Detroit local tax of 2.4%, sales tax (6%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Detroit: 5.5%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Automotive, Healthcare, Technology, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Michigan.
- Housing context: median home price $80,000, median rent $1,050/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Detroit, MI:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Detroit unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Detroit QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Michigan, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Detroit's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Michigan labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Detroit, MI?
The median hourly wage in Detroit, MI is $25.04 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $52,080. Entry-level workers are estimated around $15.52/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $35.56/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Detroit, MI?
The median salary in Detroit, MI is $52,080 per year, or $25.04 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area). The BLS mean salary is $69,210. This is $1,100 above the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Detroit, MI?
Detroit's cost of living index is 87 (national average = 100), meaning it is 13% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $80,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,050.
What are the best industries in Detroit?
The top industries in Detroit, MI include Automotive, Healthcare, Technology. The city has a job growth rate of 1% and an unemployment rate of 5.5%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $52,080.
How does Detroit's salary compare to other cities?
Detroit's median salary of $52,080 is 2.2% above the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 87), the real purchasing power is approximately $59,862.
What is the minimum wage in Detroit, MI?
The minimum wage in Detroit, MI is $12.48 per hour. This equals approximately $25,958 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $5.23 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.