Firefighter Salary in Detroit, MI
Firefighters in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $62,730 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,168 take-home, or $4,181 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,348
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,889
- Medicare (1.45%)$910
- Michigan income tax$2,415
- Take-home pay$50,168
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Living in Detroit? City residents also pay Detroit’s city income tax — about $1,506 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $48,663 ($4,055 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 →
Firefighter pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,120 | $19.77 | $33,723 | $2,810 |
| 25th percentile | $50,800 | $24.42 | $41,090 | $3,424 |
| Median (50th) | $62,730 | $30.16 | $50,168 | $4,181 |
| 75th percentile | $73,430 | $35.30 | $57,618 | $4,801 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,390 | $40.57 | $64,863 | $5,405 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,730 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 firefighter's $50,168 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,019 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Firefighter jobs are about as common in Detroit, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #23 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $101,090 | $79,947 | $71,938 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $113,700 | $80,995 | $70,057 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $106,420 | $78,458 | $69,701 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $94,080 | $69,272 | $64,941 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $87,980 | $67,561 | $63,868 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $98,050 | $71,644 | $63,086 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $82,820 | $63,139 | $60,948 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $78,050 | $61,342 | $59,814 |
| 23 | Detroit, MI | $62,730 | $50,168 | $50,019 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
About the job: firefighters
Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Detroit, MI?
The median firefighter salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $62,730 a year, or about $30.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,800 and $73,430.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $62,730 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $50,168 a year ($4,181 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,415 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,019 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #23 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter 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) — 27% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $78,450
- Security Guard — $37,050