What is the average salary in Michigan?

1 min readLast updated December 19, 2023by Kate Morgan

Discover what the average salary in Michigan is and find out more about earnings by age, education level, gender, and other factors.

If you are considering living or working in the Great Lakes State, it can be helpful to know what the average salary in Michigan is and to understand the financial landscape of the state.

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Summary

  • The average salary in Michigan by hour is $31.99.

  • Median income in Michigan is $57,697.

  • The average salary by city in Michigan doesn’t reflect your earning potential.

  • The average salary in Michigan by county includes urban and rural areas.

  • Average salaries for sectors and jobs vary massively across Michigan.

How much money do I need to live in Michigan?

While the cost of living in Michigan is generally lower than in other states, such as California, the average salaries still vary depending on the location. For instance, cities like Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids tend to have higher salaries than cities like Detroit or Flint.

Overall, the average salary in Michigan is $31.99 per hour. Based on a 40 workweek and a 50-week work-year, this works out to $1,240 per week and $62,000 per year.

Let’s explore how average salaries vary by city, county, job type, age, and other factors.

What is the average salary in Michigan by city?

Average earnings by city — or any other geographical metric — is just one way of calculating wealth and certainly shouldn’t be the only way you look at your own earning potential in a given place. However, it is certainly one way of establishing which area offers good earning opportunities.

The US Census Bureau’s latest American Community Survey has calculated the average earnings for the largest cities in Michigan, which you can find ranked below. 

What is the average salary in Michigan by county?

It is also a good idea to weigh these figures up against the average salary in Michigan by county, as this will take areas outside the main cities into account and provide a much broader idea of salary ranges.

The US Census Bureau’s latest American Community Survey calculates the average household income for each county in Michigan, the largest of which you can find below.

What are the highest-paying jobs in Michigan?

Your job type is another weighty factor that will influence how much you earn if you live in Michigan.

Average salaries for various sectors and job roles can vary massively across the state, so it’s absolutely something to consider when looking at salaries by location. 

Zippia has calculated a comprehensive list of annual salaries by job title. You can also find the top 10 highest-paying jobs in Michigan below. 

What is the average salary in Michigan by age?

Alongside location and occupation, salaries in Michigan are also dependent on age since workers with greater seniority will be paid more. Then, when they retire, their income will dip again as they will rely on pensions and other forms of set income. You can also check out the complete guide to retirement in Michigan here.

Knowing the median salary rather than the average salary in Michigan by age may be more helpful, as this is the middle-spot salary within the relevant age group.

The Census Bureau data finds that householders under 25 have a median household income of $37,026; householders aged 24 to 44 years old have a median income of $64,181; those aged 45 to 64 years old have a median income of $71,855; and those 65 and older have a median income of $46,125.

What is the average salary in Michigan by hour?

If Americans work an average of 1,801 hours per year — at 37.5 hours a week — then the average salary in Michigan by hour is $31.99.

What is a ‘good’ salary in Michigan?

The median income in Michigan is $57,697.

Defining ‘good’ relies on all sorts of variable factors, and these should be taken into account when considering salaries.

What is the upper-class salary in Michigan?

The average upper-class salary in Michigan is $57,220 per year, although you should keep in mind that pay-range variance can be as much as $25,467. This breaks down to approximately $27.51 per hour, $1,100 per week, or $4,768 per month.

What is the average salary in Michigan by education level?

As with the average salary by age, the average salary in Michigan by education level may be less helpful than the median salary by education level. According to the Census Bureau, the median salary of people can be broken down as follows:

  • Those who didn’t graduate high school: $30,404

  • A high school graduate or equivalent:  $35,865

  • A college or associate’s degree: $41,762

  • A Bachelor's degree: $63,077

  • A Graduate or professional degree: $78,984

What is the average salary in Michigan by gender?

According to the Census Bureau, the average salary in Michigan for female workers is $41,560, and the average salary for male workers is $53,435. This makes for an $11,875 wage gap between male and female workers, which is higher than the $10,150 national average.

What is a good starting salary in Michigan?

What counts as a good starting salary for you depends on your ideas and expectations. The average entry-level salary is $30,225 per year.

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Content writer

Kate Morgan

Kate has written for leading publications and blue chip companies over the last 20 years.

Want to make your salary go further?

A financial advisor can help you develop a financial plan to meet your goals.