Software Developer salary in Michigan
Software Developers in Michigan earn a median of $125,570 a year ($60.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 43,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $78,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,510 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $135,980. Michigan ranks 28th of 50 states for software developers pay. There are 9.9 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $122,720, close to the median.
Pay range for software developers in Michigan
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,930 | $37.95 |
| 25th percentile | $97,300 | $46.78 |
| Median | $125,570 | $60.37 |
| 75th percentile | $140,100 | $67.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,510 | $80.05 |
| Average (mean) | $122,720 | $59.00 |
Half of software developers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,464.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,232.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,829.62 |
| Weekly | $2,414.81 |
| Hourly | $60.37 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Software Developer salary in cities in Michigan
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $130,760 | 24,870 |
| Jackson, MI | $130,220 | 390 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $126,830 | 2,740 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $126,050 | 190 |
| Bay City, MI | $124,420 | 90 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $118,100 | 430 |
| Niles, MI | $111,720 | 160 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $107,520 | 4,310 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $101,940 | 90 |
| Flint, MI | $101,750 | 260 |
| Saginaw, MI | $101,430 | 230 |
| Monroe, MI | $98,270 | 100 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $97,120 | 3,020 |
| Traverse City, MI | $95,860 | 140 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $95,500 | 350 |
| Midland, MI | $83,730 | 160 |
Highest-paying states for software developers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $174,410 |
| Washington | $166,540 |
| New York | $166,180 |
| Massachusetts | $165,210 |
| Oregon | $142,720 |
| New Hampshire | $139,720 |
| Maryland | $138,680 |
| Colorado | $138,390 |
| District of Columbia | $136,880 |
| Virginia | $136,460 |
Related jobs in Michigan
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialist | $56,240 | $27.04 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $105,680 | $50.81 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $92,750 | $44.59 |
| Computer Programmer | $65,860 | $31.67 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $98,720 | $47.46 |
| Information Security Analyst | $106,230 | $51.07 |
| Computer Network Architect | $112,040 | $53.87 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $65,900 | $31.68 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $81,010 | $38.95 |
| Web Developer | $98,470 | $47.34 |
| Database Architect | $131,000 | $62.98 |
| Database Administrator | $99,830 | $48.00 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $82,590 | $39.71 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Michigan
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1252. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Michigan?
The median salary for software developers in Michigan is $125,570 a year, or $60.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $78,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Michigan?
The top 10% of software developers in Michigan earn at least $166,510 a year. The top 25% earn $140,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Michigan?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $78,930 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $97,300 or less.
How many software developers work in Michigan?
About 43,460 software developers are employed in Michigan, not counting the self-employed.