Lawyer Salary in Ann Arbor, MI
Lawyers in the Ann Arbor, MI metro area earn a median $132,920 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $96,718 take-home, or $8,060 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$20,635
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,241
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,927
- Michigan income tax$5,398
- Take-home pay$96,718
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.25% state
Lawyer pay by experience in Ann Arbor, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,450 | $38.20 | $61,597 | $5,133 |
| 25th percentile | $101,190 | $48.65 | $75,967 | $6,331 |
| Median (50th) | $132,920 | $63.90 | $96,718 | $8,060 |
| 75th percentile | $174,060 | $83.68 | $123,089 | $10,257 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $274,160+ | $131.81 | $187,587 | $15,632 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $132,920 buys in Ann Arbor, MI
Prices in Ann Arbor, MI are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lawyer's $96,718 take-home pay has the buying power of $95,875 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lawyer jobs are less concentrated in Ann Arbor, MI than nationally (location quotient 0.60), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for lawyers, adjusted for cost of living
Ann Arbor, MI ranks #104 of 149 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $239,200+ | $188,293 | $170,520 |
| 2 | Birmingham, AL | $170,230 | $119,372 | $130,256 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $208,880 | $144,183 | $128,091 |
| 4 | Peoria, IL | $161,150 | $113,580 | $124,497 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $168,510 | $126,443 | $122,653 |
| 6 | Chattanooga, TN | $147,640 | $112,178 | $122,647 |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $163,380 | $122,936 | $121,702 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $195,190 | $131,718 | $120,971 |
| 104 | Ann Arbor, MI | $132,920 | $96,718 | $95,875 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 149 metros →
Lawyer salaries elsewhere in Michigan
- Lansing, MI — $128,610
- Grand Rapids, MI — $129,360
- Detroit, MI — $134,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Ann Arbor, MI?
The median lawyer salary in the Ann Arbor, MI metro area is $132,920 a year, or about $63.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $101,190 and $174,060.
What is a lawyer’s take-home pay in Ann Arbor, MI?
On the median $132,920 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $96,718 a year ($8,060 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,398 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Ann Arbor, MI a good place to work as a lawyer?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $159,670. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $95,875 would in a typical U.S. city. Ann Arbor, MI ranks #104 of 149 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lawyer afford rent in Ann Arbor, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Ann Arbor, MI is $1,387 a month ($1,656 for two bedrooms) — 17% of a median lawyer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.