Tax Preparers pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $81,740 or more. The middle half of tax preparers in Detroit earn between $40,580 and $64,410.
- $30K10th
- $41K25th
- $46KMedian
- $64K75th
- $82K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,770 | $4,648 | $26.81 |
| Median | $46,450 | $3,871 | $22.33 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,580 | $3,382 | $19.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,410 | $5,368 | $30.97 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Tax Preparers pay in Detroit vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Tax preparers in Detroit earn about the same as the Michigan average ($54,160) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($60,930). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $54,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $55,770 | $46,450 | $30,000 | $81,740 | 830 |
| Michigan | $54,160 | $46,400 | $29,600 | $77,950 | 1,660 |
| United States | $60,930 | $54,920 | $33,760 | $99,270 | 76,480 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Tax Preparers salary after taxes in Detroit
On the average salary of $55,770, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $43,668 a year, or $3,639 a month and $1,680 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 tax preparers? 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 $55,770 buys what about $55,604 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Tax Preparers salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 3rd of 3 Michigan metro areas for this job; Lansing pays the most ($59,390).
- Lansing$59,390
- Grand Rapids$58,340
- Detroit$55,770
Highest-paying cities for tax preparers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($84,300).
- San Francisco, CA$84,300
- San Jose, CA$83,550
- Kansas City, MO$82,540
- Anchorage, AK$77,620
- Jefferson City, MO$77,180
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Tax Preparers salary in Detroit: questions
How much do tax preparers make an hour in Detroit?
$26.81 an hour on average, and $22.33 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tax preparers salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tax preparers take-home pay in Detroit?
About $43,668 a year ($3,639 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,770. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do tax preparers earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($60,930).
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 13-2082; area Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.9%.
- 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 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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