SOC 15-1251 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Computer Programmers — Detroit
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI · 6 metro areas compared
In Detroit, MI the median wage is $87,860.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Detroit, MI the median wage is $87,860. That is 12.5% lower than the national median of $100,390. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $74,730 and $107,470. The lowest tenth earn under $59,400, while the highest tenth earn more than $136,640.
Employment stands at 1,380, or 0.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Traverse City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $85,590. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 143rd of 671 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,400 | −40.8% |
| 25th | $74,730 | −25.6% |
| Median (50th) | $87,860 | −12.5% |
| 75th | $107,470 | +7.1% |
| 90th | $136,640 | +36.1% |
| Mean | $94,570 | −5.8% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Traverse City | $85,590 | 30 | |
| 2 | Ann Arbor | $85,580 | 310 | |
| 3 | Grand Rapids | $80,060 | 250 | |
| 4 | Kalamazoo | $78,880 | 50 | |
| 5 | Lansing | $74,110 | 130 | |
| 6 | Flint | $67,300 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Detroit run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $87,860 goes as far as $91,331 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$87,860as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$91,331US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $87,860 a year, 12.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $59,400 to $136,640 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,380 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Traverse City, at $85,590.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Computer Programmers in Detroit, MI?
The median annual wage is $87,860, or $42.24 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 $100,390, so pay in Detroit, MI is 12.5% 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 $136,640 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $59,400 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 Traverse City, at $85,590 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,380 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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