Childcare Worker Salary in Detroit, MI
Childcare Workers in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $31,060 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,067 take-home, or $2,172 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median childcare worker salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,547
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,926
- Medicare (1.45%)$450
- Michigan income tax$1,069
- Take-home pay$26,067
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Living in Detroit? City residents also pay Detroit’s city income tax — about $745 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $25,322 ($2,110 a month). Choose “Detroit” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Childcare Worker pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,210 | $13.08 | $23,112 | $1,926 |
| 25th percentile | $29,560 | $14.21 | $24,926 | $2,077 |
| Median (50th) | $31,060 | $14.93 | $26,067 | $2,172 |
| 75th percentile | $36,470 | $17.53 | $30,184 | $2,515 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,320 | $21.31 | $36,158 | $3,013 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,060 buys in Detroit, MI
Prices in Detroit, MI are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median childcare worker's $26,067 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,990 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Childcare Worker jobs are about as common in Detroit, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for childcare workers, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #41 of 46 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver, CO | $44,320 | $36,549 | $34,552 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $45,720 | $37,504 | $33,964 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $43,710 | $37,301 | $33,564 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $44,540 | $36,618 | $31,673 |
| 5 | Riverside, CA | $40,210 | $33,368 | $31,349 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $41,590 | $33,738 | $31,162 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $34,450 | $29,861 | $30,996 |
| 8 | Providence, RI | $37,230 | $31,315 | $30,770 |
| 41 | Detroit, MI | $31,060 | $26,067 | $25,990 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 46 metros →
About the job: childcare workers
Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -2.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make in Detroit, MI?
The median childcare worker salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $31,060 a year, or about $14.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,560 and $36,470.
What is a childcare worker’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $31,060 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $26,067 a year ($2,172 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,069 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a childcare worker?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $34,980. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,990 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #41 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a childcare worker afford rent in Detroit, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Detroit, MI is $1,128 a month ($1,413 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median childcare worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $46,880
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $34,960
- Recreation Worker — $34,400
- Animal Caretaker — $31,040
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $29,320