Computer Programmers Salary
Computer Programmers in Ann Arbor, MI make a median of $85,580 a year, or about $41.14 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $136K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.88), that's roughly $84,833 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,656/month, about 30.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $86K actually covers in Ann Arbor, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Ann Arbor’s Regional Price Parity (100.88). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About computer programmers
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What this looks like in Ann Arbor
Pay for computer programmers in Ann Arbor runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $100K. Rent runs $1,656/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100.88) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer programmers in metros near Ann Arbor, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $88K | $88K |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $80K | $84K |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $74K | $78K |
| Kalamazoo-Portage | $79K | $83K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ann Arbor, MI
Entry-level computer programmers (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $136K or more, a $87K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Programmers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Computer Programmers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $134K | +33% | 1,650 |
| Massachusetts | $128K | +28% | 1,930 |
| Washington | $126K | +25% | 2,540 |
| Maryland | $126K | +25% | 2,490 |
| Virginia | $122K | +21% | 3,070 |
| Hawaii | $118K | +18% | 450 |
| California | $117K | +16% | 11,340 |
| Arkansas | $112K | +11% | 1,050 |
| Minnesota | $107K | +7% | 2,070 |
| New Jersey | $105K | +5% | 3,930 |
| Utah | $105K | +4% | 690 |
| Colorado | $105K | +4% | 930 |
| New York | $104K | +4% | 7,020 |
| Maine | $102K | +1% | 450 |
| Oklahoma | $100K | -1% | 990 |
| South Carolina | $100K | -1% | 790 |
| Oregon | $100K | -1% | 1,370 |
| Texas | $99K | -1% | 7,620 |
| Georgia | $98K | -2% | 1,890 |
| Indiana | $97K | -3% | 1,520 |
| Rhode Island | $96K | -4% | 250 |
| Nebraska | $95K | -5% | 1,090 |
| Kentucky | $95K | -6% | 950 |
| Alabama | $94K | -7% | 890 |
| Nevada | $94K | -7% | 840 |
| Florida | $93K | -7% | 4,760 |
| Kansas | $93K | -7% | 460 |
| North Dakota | $92K | -8% | 190 |
| Alaska | $92K | -9% | 530 |
| Missouri | $90K | -10% | 1,520 |
| Montana | $90K | -10% | N/A |
| Vermont | $90K | -11% | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $89K | -11% | 3,120 |
| Idaho | $89K | -11% | N/A |
| Arizona | $89K | -11% | 1,560 |
| Ohio | $85K | -15% | 2,100 |
| Mississippi | $85K | -15% | 1,170 |
| New Mexico | $84K | -17% | 600 |
| Wyoming | $82K | -19% | 60 |
| North Carolina | $81K | -19% | 4,120 |
| Iowa | $79K | -21% | 950 |
| New Hampshire | $74K | -26% | N/A |
| Illinois | $73K | -28% | 1,280 |
| Michigan | $66K | -34% | 4,400 |
| West Virginia | $65K | -35% | 140 |
| South Dakota | $58K | -42% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track computer programmers salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Ann Arbor numbers change.
Related careers in Technology
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a computer programmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ann Arbor?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 30.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,656/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer programmers in Ann Arbor?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer programmers typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,305/month. At HUD’s $1,656/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer programmer a high-paying job in Ann Arbor?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $86K here vs. $100K nationally.
How does Ann Arbor compare to the national average for computer programmers?
Ann Arbor pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — below the national median.
How much do computer programmers make in Ann Arbor, MI?
The median is $85,580 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,430, and experienced computer programmers can clear $136,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in Ann Arbor?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,413/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,656/month, which eats 30.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a computer programmers salary go in Ann Arbor?
Ann Arbor has a Regional Price Parity of 100.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer programmers salary is worth about $84,833 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer programmers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.