Highway Maintenance Worker Salary in Detroit, MI
Highway Maintenance Workers in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $49,280 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,933 take-home, or $3,328 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median highway maintenance worker salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,734
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,055
- Medicare (1.45%)$715
- Michigan income tax$1,844
- Take-home pay$39,933
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Highway Maintenance Worker pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,080 | $16.38 | $28,366 | $2,364 |
| 25th percentile | $36,740 | $17.66 | $30,390 | $2,532 |
| Median (50th) | $49,280 | $23.69 | $39,933 | $3,328 |
| 75th percentile | $61,160 | $29.40 | $48,974 | $4,081 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,120 | $30.83 | $51,226 | $4,269 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,280 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 highway maintenance worker's $39,933 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,814 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Highway Maintenance Worker jobs are about as common in Detroit, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for highway maintenance workers, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #41 of 49 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $76,220 | $58,823 | $56,781 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $75,030 | $61,614 | $55,441 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $60,900 | $49,451 | $53,926 |
| 4 | Madison, WI | $63,530 | $51,212 | $52,640 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $66,310 | $53,388 | $51,961 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $60,660 | $49,032 | $50,582 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $63,650 | $50,518 | $48,194 |
| 8 | Rochester, NY | $58,470 | $46,600 | $48,024 |
| 41 | Detroit, MI | $49,280 | $39,933 | $39,814 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 49 metros →
Highway Maintenance Worker salaries elsewhere in Michigan
- Grand Rapids, MI — $56,860
Frequently asked questions
How much does a highway maintenance worker make in Detroit, MI?
The median highway maintenance worker salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $49,280 a year, or about $23.69 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,740 and $61,160.
What is a highway maintenance worker’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $49,280 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $39,933 a year ($3,328 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,844 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a highway maintenance worker?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $50,260. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,814 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #41 of 49 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a highway maintenance worker 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) — 34% of a median highway maintenance worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $86,370
- Electrician — $81,990
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $80,610
- Construction and Building Inspector — $76,980
- Sheet Metal Worker — $75,120
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $68,130
- Carpenter — $65,810
- Roofer — $63,390
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $62,870
- Brickmason and Blockmason — $62,830
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $62,330
- Construction Laborer — $57,430