Physicists pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $71,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $296,760 or more. The middle half of physicists in Detroit earn between $114,250 and $223,630.
- $72K10th
- $114K25th
- $199KMedian
- $224K75th
- $297K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $186,150 | $15,512 | $89.50 |
| Median | $199,170 | $16,598 | $95.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $114,250 | $9,521 | $54.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $223,630 | $18,636 | $107.51 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physicists pay in Detroit vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Physicists in Detroit earn 38% more than the Michigan average ($135,340) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($171,180). At the median the gap is +16% against the U.S. median of $172,250.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $186,150 | $199,170 | $71,670 | $296,760 | 140 |
| Michigan | $135,340 | $94,520 | $64,380 | $248,500 | 510 |
| United States | $171,180 | $172,250 | $82,110 | $274,110 | 20,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physicists salary after taxes in Detroit
On the average salary of $186,150, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $126,609 a year, or $10,551 a month and $4,870 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for physicists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $186,150 buys what about $185,597 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 1.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Physicists salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 1st of 3 Michigan metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
Highest-paying cities for physicists
Miami, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($245,010).
- Miami, FL$245,010
- Tampa, FL$244,380
- Pittsburgh, PA$211,220
- Portland, OR$210,060
- Cleveland, OH$209,480
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Physicists salary in Detroit: questions
How much do physicists make an hour in Detroit?
$89.50 an hour on average, and $95.76 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physicists salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $71,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $114,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physicists take-home pay in Detroit?
About $126,609 a year ($10,551 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $186,150. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do physicists earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more than the U.S. average for this job ($171,180).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2012; area Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.56, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.56).
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