Data Scientist Salary in Detroit, MI
Data Scientists in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $103,330 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $77,382 take-home, or $6,448 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median data scientist salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,903
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,406
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,498
- Michigan income tax$4,141
- Take-home pay$77,382
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.25% state
Data Scientist pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,400 | $30.00 | $49,917 | $4,160 |
| 25th percentile | $81,080 | $38.98 | $62,675 | $5,223 |
| Median (50th) | $103,330 | $49.68 | $77,382 | $6,448 |
| 75th percentile | $134,720 | $64.77 | $97,872 | $8,156 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,510 | $81.01 | $119,532 | $9,961 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $103,330 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 data scientist's $77,382 take-home pay has the buying power of $77,152 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Data Scientist jobs are about as common in Detroit, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.18).
Best-paying cities for data scientists, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #53 of 72 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $164,740 | $123,866 | $111,457 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $185,080 | $122,415 | $110,860 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $127,360 | $98,317 | $100,256 |
| 4 | Charlotte, NC | $132,460 | $97,026 | $99,669 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $170,110 | $113,734 | $98,375 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $127,750 | $98,583 | $95,628 |
| 7 | Jacksonville, FL | $122,680 | $95,118 | $95,611 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $141,760 | $101,803 | $95,264 |
| 53 | Detroit, MI | $103,330 | $77,382 | $77,152 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 72 metros →
Data Scientist salaries elsewhere in Michigan
- Grand Rapids, MI — $96,880
- Lansing, MI — $87,160
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in Detroit, MI?
The median data scientist salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $103,330 a year, or about $49.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $81,080 and $134,720.
What is a data scientist’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $103,330 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $77,382 a year ($6,448 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,141 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a data scientist?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $120,230. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $77,152 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #53 of 72 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a data scientist 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) — 17% of a median data scientist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- Database Architect — $132,040
- Software Developer — $130,760
- Computer Network Architect — $128,830
- Database Administrator — $110,160
- Information Security Analyst — $108,990
- Web Developer — $108,550
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $107,560
- Computer Systems Analyst — $103,670
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $102,390
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $99,450
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $96,400
- Computer Programmer — $87,860