Software Developers Salary in Detroit, MI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI

Median annual salary $124,780 -6.2% vs national
Median hourly $59.99
10th percentile $79,230
90th percentile $164,900
Employed locally 21,670
National median $133,080

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Software Developers
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Detroit, MI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $79,230
    25th
    $98,110
    50th (median)
    $124,780
    75th
    $135,830
    90th
    $164,900

    Detroit economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $75,123 2023 • Census ACS
    Software Developers salary vs area income 166% Median Software Developers salary is 66% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Software Developers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $208,270
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $174,910
    California $170,910
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $169,340
    Washington $166,910
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $163,020

    Nearby metros — Software Developers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area $143,860
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $130,670
    Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $129,840
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $129,430
    Midland, TX $127,160
    Minnesota $124,540

    Related occupations in Detroit, MI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Computer User Support Specialists $59,520
    Computer Systems Analysts $104,360
    Computer Occupations, All Other $104,450
    Network and Computer Systems Administrators $97,470
    Data Scientists $103,710
    Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers $102,080

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Software Developers make per hour in Detroit?

    The median hourly wage for Software Developers in Detroit, MI is $59.99, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $80.53 or more per hour.

    Is Detroit above or below average for Software Developers salaries?

    The median Software Developers salary in Detroit, MI is 6.2% below the national median of $133,080. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Software Developers in Detroit?

    Entry-level Software Developers (10th percentile) earn around $79,230 per year in Detroit, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $98,110.