Electrical Engineer Salary in Detroit, MI
Electrical Engineers in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $114,390 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $84,693 take-home, or $7,058 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrical engineer salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$16,336
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,092
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,659
- Michigan income tax$4,611
- Take-home pay$84,693
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.25% state
Living in Detroit? City residents also pay Detroit’s city income tax — about $2,745 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $81,947 ($6,829 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 →
Electrical Engineer pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,610 | $38.75 | $62,364 | $5,197 |
| 25th percentile | $97,750 | $47.00 | $73,694 | $6,141 |
| Median (50th) | $114,390 | $55.00 | $84,693 | $7,058 |
| 75th percentile | $134,210 | $64.52 | $97,545 | $8,129 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,110 | $76.98 | $114,147 | $9,512 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $114,390 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 electrical engineer's $84,693 take-home pay has the buying power of $84,441 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Detroit, MI has 2.5× the national concentration of electrical engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for electrical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #10 of 18 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $145,360 | $110,620 | $112,801 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $187,060 | $123,681 | $112,007 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $131,070 | $100,852 | $102,254 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $140,210 | $107,100 | $96,371 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $166,030 | $111,378 | $96,337 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $124,390 | $96,287 | $93,400 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $127,730 | $94,648 | $92,291 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $128,610 | $92,960 | $85,863 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $114,390 | $84,693 | $84,441 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 18 metros →
About the job: electrical engineers
Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +9.9% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical engineer make in Detroit, MI?
The median electrical engineer salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $114,390 a year, or about $55.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $97,750 and $134,210.
What is a electrical engineer’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $114,390 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $84,693 a year ($7,058 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,611 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a electrical engineer?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $120,630. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $84,441 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #10 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrical engineer 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) — 16% of a median electrical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- Engineers, All Other — $126,250
- Mechanical Engineer — $109,470
- Industrial Engineer — $104,110
- Civil Engineer — $92,550
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician — $76,190
- Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician — $69,490