How much does a lawyer make in Detroit?
$135,000a year
Median yearly pay for lawyers in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area. That is $64.89 an hour or $11,250 a month.
- Hourly
- $64.89
- Vs. national median
- -15%
- Rank among cities
- 77 of 378
- Jobs in the area
- 10,110
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $78,730Median: $135,000Highest 10%: $246,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $78,730 | $37.85 | |
| 25th | $102,700 | $49.36 | |
| Median | $135,000 | $64.89 | |
| 75th | $178,600 | $85.85 | |
| 90th | $246,400 | $118.47 |
Other cities in Michigan
Median yearly pay for lawyers.
| Ann Arbor, MI | $132,900 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $129,400 |
| Lansing, MI | $128,600 |
| Niles, MI | $123,000 |
| Kalamazoo, MI | $112,400 |
| Flint, MI | $107,800 |
| Traverse City, MI | $107,500 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $104,800 |
| Saginaw, MI | $104,800 |
| Monroe, MI | $104,000 |
| South Bend, IN | $103,100 |
| Bay City, MI | $101,500 |
| Muskegon, MI | $97,300 |
Related jobs in Detroit
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Administrative Law Judge | $127,900 |
| Arbitrator | $87,370 |
| Legal Support Worker | $67,120 |
| Paralegal and Legal Assistant | $63,400 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $62,260 |
| Judge | $55,000 |
| Title Examiner | $51,030 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make an hour in Detroit?
The median hourly pay in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $64.89 ($135,000 a year).
Do lawyers make more in Detroit than the national average?
No: $135,000 against $159,700 nationally, 15% less.
How does Detroit compare with the rest of Michigan?
The median in Michigan is $130,500, so Detroit pays 3% more.
Where does Detroit rank for lawyer pay?
77 of 378 metro areas with data.
How much does a lawyer make starting out in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% make $78,730 or less a year; the top 10% make $246,400 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.