Paralegal and Legal Assistant Salary in Detroit, MI
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $63,400 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,678 take-home, or $4,223 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median paralegal and legal assistant salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,428
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,931
- Medicare (1.45%)$919
- Michigan income tax$2,444
- Take-home pay$50,678
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Living in Detroit? City residents also pay Detroit’s city income tax — about $1,522 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $49,157 ($4,096 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 →
Paralegal and Legal Assistant pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,500 | $23.80 | $40,100 | $3,342 |
| 25th percentile | $59,040 | $28.38 | $47,360 | $3,947 |
| Median (50th) | $63,400 | $30.48 | $50,678 | $4,223 |
| 75th percentile | $78,620 | $37.80 | $61,049 | $5,087 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,710 | $46.98 | $73,667 | $6,139 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,400 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 paralegal and legal assistant's $50,678 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,528 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant jobs are about as common in Detroit, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for paralegals and legal assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #26 of 36 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $92,900 | $74,185 | $66,753 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | $80,500 | $62,628 | $59,205 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $81,590 | $62,262 | $57,182 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $79,850 | $61,232 | $56,557 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $78,550 | $59,993 | $56,242 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $76,220 | $58,791 | $56,087 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $66,720 | $55,768 | $55,648 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $63,880 | $51,443 | $55,588 |
| 26 | Detroit, MI | $63,400 | $50,678 | $50,528 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 36 metros →
About the job: paralegals and legal assistants
Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.3% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a paralegal and legal assistant make in Detroit, MI?
The median paralegal and legal assistant salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $63,400 a year, or about $30.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,040 and $78,620.
What is a paralegal and legal assistant’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $63,400 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $50,678 a year ($4,223 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,444 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a paralegal and legal assistant?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $62,890. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,528 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #26 of 36 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a paralegal and legal assistant 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 paralegal and legal assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- Lawyer — $134,980