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
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 #58 of 133 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $152,100 | $103,333 | $93,580 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $101,090 | $79,947 | $71,938 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $113,700 | $80,995 | $70,057 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $106,420 | $78,458 | $69,701 |
| 5 | Rochester, NY | $89,120 | $67,308 | $69,365 |
| 6 | Spokane, WA | $83,310 | $67,439 | $67,206 |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $81,360 | $66,067 | $65,404 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $94,080 | $69,272 | $64,941 |
| 58 | 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 133 metros →
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 #58 of 133 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
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $98,140
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $95,820
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $86,490
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $78,450
- Transportation Security Screener — $69,640
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $67,920
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $56,570
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $37,840
- Security Guard — $37,050
- School Bus Monitor — $36,240
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $29,540