Lighting Technicians Salary
Lighting Technicians in Michigan make a median of $60,210 a year, or about $28.95 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $64,128 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,272/month, about 32.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Michigan. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $60K get you in Michigan?
About lighting technicians
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What this looks like in Michigan
Pay for lighting technicians in Michigan runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,272/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan
Entry-level lighting technicians (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $10K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track lighting technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lighting technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 31.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for lighting technicians in Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lighting technicians typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,004/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is lighting technician a high-paying job in Michigan?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $60K here vs. $68K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for lighting technicians?
Michigan pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — below the national median.
How much do lighting technicians make in Michigan?
The median is $60,210 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,070, and experienced lighting technicians can clear $60,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,988/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 31.9% 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 lighting technicians salary go in Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median lighting technicians salary is worth about $64,128 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do lighting technicians 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.