For role-by-role compensation benchmarking and career income strategy, see the Profession Salary Guides hub.
For conversion formulas, overtime scenarios, and annual-pay planning, see the Hourly to Annual hub.
A good salary in Michigan is $50,000-$65,000 for a single person. Most of Michigan is very affordable with low housing costs.
Quick Answer by City
| City | Good Salary | Comfortable | Thriving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $70,000 | $90,000 | $125,000 |
| Grand Rapids | $55,000 | $70,000 | $100,000 |
| Detroit | $50,000 | $62,000 | $90,000 |
| Lansing | $50,000 | $62,000 | $90,000 |
| Kalamazoo | $48,000 | $60,000 | $85,000 |
Michigan Cost of Living
| Category | Michigan | National Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 100 | -10% |
| Housing | 80 | 100 | -20% |
| Transportation | 95 | 100 | -5% |
| Healthcare | 95 | 100 | -5% |
| Utilities | 98 | 100 | -2% |
Ann Arbor is an exception at 10-15% above average.
Michigan Income Tax
Michigan has a flat 4.25% income tax on all wages.
| Gross Salary | State Tax |
|---|---|
| $50,000 | $2,125 |
| $75,000 | $3,188 |
| $100,000 | $4,250 |
| $150,000 | $6,375 |
Simple calculation: multiply income by 0.0425.
Take-Home Pay in Michigan
| Gross Salary | Federal Tax | State Tax | FICA | Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $4,000 | $2,125 | $3,825 | $40,050 |
| $60,000 | $5,500 | $2,550 | $4,590 | $47,360 |
| $75,000 | $8,000 | $3,188 | $5,738 | $58,074 |
| $100,000 | $12,500 | $4,250 | $7,650 | $75,600 |
Housing Costs by City
| City | Median Home Price | Median Rent (1BR) |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $480,000 | $1,600 |
| Grand Rapids | $300,000 | $1,200 |
| Detroit | $200,000 | $1,000 |
| Lansing | $200,000 | $950 |
| Kalamazoo | $220,000 | $1,000 |
Auto Industry Salaries
| Position | Entry Level | Mid-Career | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | $45,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 |
| Engineering | $70,000 | $95,000 | $140,000 |
| IT/Software | $65,000 | $90,000 | $130,000 |
| Management | $80,000 | $110,000 | $160,000 |
Michigan’s auto industry provides strong middle-class wages with benefits.
Home Affordability by Salary
| Salary | Affordable Home | Monthly Payment | Available In |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $175,000 | $1,170 | Detroit suburbs |
| $65,000 | $230,000 | $1,520 | Lansing, Kalamazoo |
| $80,000 | $280,000 | $1,870 | Grand Rapids |
| $120,000 | $420,000 | $2,800 | Ann Arbor |
Related Guides
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024.” bls.gov/oes
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