Michigan Average Salary 2026
Average pay, top-paying occupations, and cost of living across Michigan.
The average salary in Michigan is $96,947 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS 2024 data aggregated across 1 metropolitan areas (Detroit). The highest-paying tracked occupation in the state is Computer and Information Systems Manager at $166,010 median; 25 occupations pay six-figure ($100K+) medians. Adjusted for the state's average cost-of-living index of 95, the average median equates to $102,049 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Michigan
Computer and Information Systems Manager
Technology · 7,990 jobs in state · top metro: Detroit ($166,010)
Sales Manager
Management · 8,260 jobs in state · top metro: Detroit ($157,900)
Financial Manager
Finance · 10,050 jobs in state · top metro: Detroit ($141,770)
Marketing Manager
Management · 2,950 jobs in state · top metro: Detroit ($139,430)
Pharmacist
Healthcare · 4,820 jobs in state · top metro: Detroit ($136,540)
Physician Assistant
Healthcare · 2,010 jobs in state · top metro: Detroit ($135,300)
Human Resources Manager
Management · 2,790 jobs in state · top metro: Detroit ($133,760)
Computer Network Architect
Technology · 1,510 jobs in state · top metro: Detroit ($128,450)
Lawyer
Legal · 9,460 jobs in state · top metro: Detroit ($128,060)
Nurse Practitioner
Healthcare · 3,850 jobs in state · top metro: Detroit ($126,110)
Cities in Michigan
Frequently Asked Questions
The average salary in Michigan is $96,947 as of 2026, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS 2024 release aggregated across 1 BLS-tracked metros. The figure is employment-weighted, so larger occupations contribute proportionally more to the average. The top-paying role in the state is Computer and Information Systems Manager at $166,010 median.
The top five highest-paying occupations in Michigan, ranked by employment-weighted median across all tracked metros, are Computer and Information Systems Manager ($166,010), Sales Manager ($157,900), Financial Manager ($141,770), Marketing Manager ($139,430), Pharmacist ($136,540). See the full ranking at /ranking/highest-paying-jobs/state/michigan.
25 of the 52 BLS-tracked occupations in Michigan have a state-aggregated median salary of $100,000 or higher. That places this state in the upper tier nationally.
Detroit, MI leads Michigan with an average median salary of $96,947 across 52 BLS-tracked occupations.
The average cost-of-living index across Michigan's tracked metros is 95 (national avg = 100). The state average median of $96,947 translates to $102,049 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro. Low COL means nominal pay translates to better-than-average buying power.
State aggregates are employment-weighted across the BLS-tracked metros in Michigan, using the OEWS 2024 reference period.
52 data points · BLS OEWS 2024 · last refreshed 2026-05-08