Customer Support Specialist salary in Detroit-Warren, MI
For this job Detroit-Warren sits right at the US figure, with a median of $44,730 a year1. That is about level with the US median of $44,770, and 1.8% above the Michigan statewide median of $43,950. Nationally it ranks #147 of 520 areas. It is the largest market for the job in Michigan: about 31,310 people, 44% of the Michigan total.
BLS occupation 43-4051, area Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Detroit-Warren against Michigan and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren, MI | $31,040 | $44,730 | $63,730 | |
| Michigan | $30,670 | $43,950 | $63,830 | |
| United States | $31,750 | $44,770 | $63,590 |
Customer support specialists at the 90th percentile earn $63,730, 2.1 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of customer support specialists in Detroit-Warren earns $36,680–$51,100. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $14,420 wide, between the figure for Michigan ($13,910) and the US figure ($14,910).
What to budget for a customer support specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,040 | $2,587 | $14.92 | $40,052 |
| 25th percentile | $36,680 | $3,057 | $17.63 | $47,329 |
| Median | $44,730 | $3,728 | $21.50 | $57,716 |
| 75th percentile | $51,100 | $4,258 | $24.57 | $65,935 |
| 90th percentile | $63,730 | $5,311 | $30.64 | $82,232 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $8,050 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $6,370, or about $8,219 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $44,770 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Detroit-Warren, and the Michigan statewide median of $43,950 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Detroit-Warren
At the $44,730 median, a local hire costs about $57,716 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $12,986 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
Our open customer support specialist roles pay $700–$1,000 a month under a direct contract. The one-time fee is $2,5003 with a 180-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month4. Change any number below to match your plan.
A local hire here costs about 4.3 times as much as a remote hire in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two, when the fee drops out, it is 5.4 times the remote figure of $10,788. About the candidates: most apply through our assessment platform with a written and a spoken English task; each profile shows the English level (B1–C2); Silkstaff interviews every shortlisted candidate live, in English, before you meet them.
Other roles in Detroit-Warren
Of the 17 roles we track in Detroit-Warren, this one ranks #14 by median pay, between e-commerce order specialists ($45,080) and medical administrative assistants ($42,320). Project Coordinator is the highest at $105,350.
| Role | Median | vs customer support specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +5.8% | 16,970 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +0.8% | 940 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | this role | 31,310 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -5.4% | 11,620 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -10.1% | 1,120 |
Measured against the US median, customer support specialists rank #7 of the 17 roles we track in Detroit-Warren (-0.1%), between virtual receptionists (+0.6%) and recruiters (-0.1%). The typical role here is at -0.4%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Customer support specialists hold 17.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Detroit-Warren, 17.6% across Michigan and 16.4% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Michigan
Across the 19 areas of Michigan with data for this job, the median runs from $36,150 in Saginaw to $48,250 in Midland, a gap of $12,100 a year. No other area in Michigan has as many customer support specialists, and 16 of the other 18 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Detroit-Warren | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, MI | +7.9% | 620 | |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | +0.6% | 9,010 | |
| Detroit-Warren, MI | this area | 31,310 | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | -1.1% | 3,790 | |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | -1.3% | 1,970 | |
| Southern Michigan (Nonmetro) | -1.8% | 1,190 | |
| Niles, MI | -2.5% | 930 |
Detroit-Warren against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Detroit-Warren is #17 of 520 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Michigan, Rochester and Midland pay just above Detroit-Warren and Missoula and Pittsfield just below. All four are within $160 a year of the median in Detroit-Warren. Of the three markets with about as many customer support specialists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Detroit-Warren | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | +0.4% | 1,340 | pay | |
| Rochester, NY | +0.0% | 9,290 | pay | |
| Detroit-Warren, MI | this area | 31,310 | ||
| Missoula, MT | -0.1% | 700 | pay | |
| Pittsfield, MA | -0.2% | 680 | pay | |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | -2.3% | 32,690 | jobs | |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | -4.5% | 34,730 | jobs | |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL | -4.6% | 34,150 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a customer support specialist in Detroit-Warren, MI?
About $57,716 a year at the median, or $4,810 a month: $44,730 in pay plus about $12,986 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for customer support specialists in Detroit-Warren?
The median was $44,730 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,040, the 90th $63,730, and the middle half earned $36,680 to $51,100.
Is Detroit-Warren cheaper than the rest of Michigan for customer support specialists?
No, it costs more: a median of $44,730 against $43,950 statewide. The next area up in Michigan is Grand Rapids-Wyoming at $44,990, the next down Lansing-East Lansing at $44,250.
How many customer support specialists work in Detroit-Warren?
BLS counts about 31,310 in the May 2025 survey. That is 44% of the Michigan total of 71,310. No other area in Michigan has as many.
Does a customer support specialist cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Detroit-Warren?
Yes: $2,410 a year more at the median. The medians are $44,730 and $42,320.
What does a remote customer support specialist cost compared with Detroit-Warren?
Our open roles pay $700–$1,000 a month. At the midpoint, with the one-time fee and Deel, year one comes to $13,288, against about $57,716 for a local hire at the median.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4051: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.