Elementary school teacher pay in Detroit, MI
Elementary school teachers in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a typical $65,210 a year. The middle half earn $60,440 to $82,780, and the top 10% earn more than $99,460. About 18,390 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, SOC 25-2021).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $48,750 |
| 25th percentile | $60,440 |
| Median (typical) | $65,210 |
| 75th percentile | $82,780 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $99,460 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 25 of 50 large metros for elementary school teachers before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $65,210, a single filer keeps about $50,500 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and Michigan state and local (about $1,565) income tax. Prices in Detroit are about the US average, so that take-home buys what $50,300 would in a typical US city. That ranks Detroit No. 41 of 50 large metros for elementary school teachers after cost of living.
Where elementary school teachers’ pay goes furthest
- Seattle, WA$102,920 typical · worth $73.1k
- Sacramento, CA$103,390 typical · worth $71.4k
- Riverside, CA$98,520 typical · worth $68.8k
- San Jose, CA$102,860 typical · worth $68.7k
All 50 metros for elementary school teachers →
Where does your salary land?
Add your salary and experience to see your percentile among elementary school teachers in Detroit. Free and private. (Different city? Use the main checker.)
Common questions
How much does a elementary school teacher make in Detroit, MI?
The typical (median) elementary school teacher in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earns $65,210 a year. The middle half earn between $60,440 and $82,780, and the top 10% earn more than $99,460. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a elementary school teacher in Detroit?
Anything above $65,210 pays more than half of elementary school teachers in Detroit. $82,780 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $99,460 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a elementary school teacher in Detroit take home after taxes?
At the typical $65,210, a single filer keeps about $50,500 a year ($4,210 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, Michigan state, and local income tax. With local prices about the US average, that buys what $50,300 would in a typical US city.
Where do elementary school teachers get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 50 largest US metros, typical elementary school teacher pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in Seattle, WA, Sacramento, CA, Riverside, CA. Detroit, MI ranks No. 41.
More: Elementary school teacher pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in Detroit, MI
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.