Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician Salary in Detroit, MI
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $69,490 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $55,014 take-home, or $4,584 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineering technologist and technician salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,458
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,308
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,008
- Michigan income tax$2,703
- Take-home pay$55,014
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.25% state
Living in Detroit? City residents also pay Detroit’s city income tax — about $1,668 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $53,346 ($4,445 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 →
Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,770 | $22.97 | $38,784 | $3,232 |
| 25th percentile | $57,570 | $27.68 | $46,242 | $3,853 |
| Median (50th) | $69,490 | $33.41 | $55,014 | $4,584 |
| 75th percentile | $84,310 | $40.53 | $64,810 | $5,401 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,760 | $48.92 | $76,344 | $6,362 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $69,490 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 mechanical engineering technologist and technician's $55,014 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,850 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 7.1× the national concentration of mechanical engineering technologist and technician jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #1 of 1 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit, MI | $69,490 | $55,014 | $54,850 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 1 metros →
About the job: mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
Apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, test, or adjust machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.3% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineering technologist and technician make in Detroit, MI?
The median mechanical engineering technologist and technician salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $69,490 a year, or about $33.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,570 and $84,310.
What is a mechanical engineering technologist and technician’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $69,490 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $55,014 a year ($4,584 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,703 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a mechanical engineering technologist and technician?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $74,510. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,850 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #1 of 1 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical engineering technologist and technician 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) — 25% of a median mechanical engineering technologist and technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- Engineers, All Other — $126,250
- Electrical Engineer — $114,390
- Mechanical Engineer — $109,470
- Industrial Engineer — $104,110
- Civil Engineer — $92,550
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician — $76,190