SOC 51-9124 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Detroit
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Detroit, MI is $44,220 a year, trailing the national median of $48,250 by 8.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Detroit, MI is $44,220 a year, trailing the national median of $48,250 by 8.4%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $38,660 and $51,140. The lowest tenth earn under $36,050, while the highest tenth earn more than $71,560.
The area has 2,590 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.4 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Muskegon records the highest median at $59,430. Of the 671 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 537th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,050 | −25.3% |
| 25th | $38,660 | −19.9% |
| Median (50th) | $44,220 | −8.4% |
| 75th | $51,140 | +6.0% |
| 90th | $71,560 | +48.3% |
| Mean | $49,600 | +2.8% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muskegon | $59,430 | 310 | |
| 2 | Battle Creek | $50,740 | 140 | |
| 3 | Ann Arbor | $49,360 | 110 | |
| 4 | Lansing | $48,340 | 150 | |
| 5 | Saginaw | $45,600 | 70 | |
| 6 | Traverse City | $45,190 | 50 | |
| 7 | Monroe | $44,340 | 50 | |
| 8 | Jackson | $43,680 | 40 | |
| 9 | Grand Rapids | $43,140 | 1,440 | |
| 10 | Kalamazoo | $42,410 | 180 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Detroit run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $44,220 goes as far as $45,967 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,220as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$45,967US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,220 a year, 8.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,050 to $71,560 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,590 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Muskegon, at $59,430.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Detroit, MI?
The median annual wage is $44,220, or $21.26 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $48,250, so pay in Detroit, MI is 8.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Detroit, MI earns more than $71,560 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,050 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Muskegon, at $59,430 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,590 jobs in this occupation in Detroit, MI. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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