What the numbers say
Michigan's median Accountant or Auditor wage was $77,720 in 2024, about 8% below the US median of $84,407. That gap is real, but it is not the whole picture.
The average wage here was $85,460, well above the median. A smaller group of senior accountants and auditors pulls that figure up. The spread confirms it: a worker near the bottom of the range earned $50,240, while one near the top earned $130,320. Top earners made roughly 2.6 times what bottom earners made. Where you land on that range depends heavily on experience, credentials, and the type of employer.
Michigan's cost of living is meaningfully below the national average. BEA data puts the state's price level at 92.9, about 7% cheaper than the US baseline. Adjusted for that, the $77,720 median buys closer to $83,600 in national-baseline dollars. That narrows the gap with the national median to less than 1%.
BLS projects employment for this occupation to grow 4.6% between 2024 and 2034, which it classifies as average growth. Michigan's base of 43,910 employed accountants and auditors is large enough that even average growth produces a steady flow of openings.
Salary distribution
Where Michigan accountants and auditors fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $62,260 and $100,020, with a median of $77,720.
Accountants and Auditors in Michigan: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 125 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $85,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 29 | $62,976 |
| Level II — qualified | 51 | $80,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 12 | $111,139 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 17 | $130,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Accountants and Auditors in Michigan. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG220852-8 | 34 | $91,998 |
| Deloitte Tax LLP | Tax Senior | 10 | $72,030 |
| Ally Bank | Senior Accountant | 6 | $79,893 |
| Deloitte & Touche LLP | Audit & Assurance Senior | 6 | $79,665 |
| UHY Advisors Great Lakes, Inc. | Audit Senior Accountant | 3 | $85,000 |
| DM Talent Holdings, LLC | Senior Audit Associate | 3 | $75,000 |
| KPMG LLP | Manager | 3 | $99,900 |
| Dare Auto, Inc. | Finance Accountant | 2 | $89,004 |
| PwC US Tax LLP | Senior Associate | 2 | $97,000 |
| Dicastal North America, Inc. | Financial Reporting Accountant | 2 | $52,166 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Staff Accountant at ALAN C. YOUNG & ASSOCIATES, P.C.$74,880DetroitDecided Dec 23, 2025I-200-25350-488881
- Finance Vice Manager at Fuyao Automotive North America, Inc.$94,760PlymouthDecided Dec 17, 2025I-200-25344-472949
- Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG218464-10 at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP$88,977DetroitDecided Dec 11, 2025I-200-25338-456554
- Accountant at Haosen Automation North America, Inc.$82,080Auburn HillsDecided Dec 11, 2025I-200-25338-456428
- Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG95816-14 at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP$187,976FerndaleDecided Dec 11, 2025I-200-25338-456677
- Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG218464-10 at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP$88,977SouthgateDecided Dec 11, 2025I-200-25338-456556
- Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG95816-14 at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP$187,976DetroitDecided Dec 11, 2025I-200-25338-456674
- Audit Senior Accountant at UHY Advisors Great Lakes, Inc.$110,000Farmington HillsDecided Dec 11, 2025I-200-25338-456923
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Accountants and Auditors pay by experience level in Michigan
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Accountants and Auditors specialties in Michigan
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 78 certified offers. The most common variant is Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG220852-8 at a median of $91,998.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG220852-8 | Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 34 | $91,998 |
| Accountant | Ally Bank | 31 | $73,000 |
| Senior Audit Associate | DM Talent Holdings, LLC | 6 | $75,000 |
| Tax Consultant | Deloitte Tax LLP | 4 | $57,211 |
| Accounting Manager | Clark Hill PLC | 3 | $120,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Accountants and Auditors in Michigan, by industry
Median offered wage across 125 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $83,914.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 87 | $83,914 |
| Manufacturing | Dare Auto, Inc. | 20 | $93,348 |
| Finance and insurance | Ally Bank | 7 | $72,030 |
| Nonprofit and civic | GENERAL CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS | 3 | $75,964 |
| Retail and wholesale | PREMIER FOOD SUPPLIES, LLC | 3 | $78,978 |
| Healthcare | Ciena Healthcare Management Inc. | 2 | $82,500 |
| Energy and utilities | BlueWave Public Benefit Corp. | 1 | $130,000 |
| Technology and software | Lyve Tech LLC | 1 | $73,000 |
| Real estate | Monarch Investment & Management Group LLC | 1 | $92,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Michigan over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Economics and Accounting
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 3.9 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 3.9 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 3.9 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Mathematical Reasoning
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.
- 02
Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes in operations and financial activities.
- 03
Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.
- 04
Supervise auditing of establishments, and determine scope of investigation required.
- 05
Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
- 06
Examine and evaluate financial and information systems, recommending controls to ensure system reliability and data integrity.
- 07
Confer with company officials about financial and regulatory matters.
- 08
Inspect cash on hand, notes receivable and payable, negotiable securities, and canceled checks to confirm records are accurate.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.6%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for accountants and auditors in major Michigan metropolitan areas.
- Detroit$80,320
Compare Accountants and Auditors pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Accountants and Auditors in Michigan?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Accountants and Auditors in Michigan is $77,720.
- How does Michigan compare to the national median for Accountants and Auditors?
- The Michigan median is -7.9% versus the BLS national figure of $84,407.
- What is the salary range for Accountants and Auditors in Michigan?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $50,240 and the 90th-percentile at $130,320, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Accountants and Auditors a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.6% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Accountants and Auditors?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.