HR Assistant salary and cost of hiring in Michigan
The median HR assistant in Michigan earned $48,250 a year in May 2025[1], 4.7% below the US median of $50,610. That puts Michigan at #33 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-4161. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-16.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | $37,940 | $48,250 | $64,190 | |
| United States | $37,340 | $50,610 | $68,280 |
The middle half of HR assistants in Michigan earns $42,640–$55,020; the top tenth earns $64,190 or more, 1.7 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Michigan median that makes about $68,929 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for HR assistants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Michigan
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | $52,790 | 130 | |
| Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $61,630 | 50 | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $60,640 | 120 | |
| Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $56,510 | 30 | |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $55,930 | 870 | |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $53,050 | 220 | |
| Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $55,330 | 50 | |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $48,680 | 50 | |
| Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $56,160 | 30 | |
| Flint, MI | $51,780 | 60 | |
| Saginaw, MI | $54,570 | 40 |
Ann Arbor, MI pays the most ($51,220) and Saginaw, MI the least ($45,930): $5,290 a year apart for the same job.
What an HR assistant does
An HR assistant runs the admin side of people work: job posts, interview scheduling, onboarding paperwork, employee records and HR questions.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | +0.1% | |
| Ohio | +0.1% | |
| Michigan | +0.0% | |
| North Carolina | -0.1% | |
| Missouri | -0.6% |
Questions
How much does an HR assistant earn in Michigan?
The median was $48,250 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $42,640 to $55,020.
What does it cost to employ an HR assistant in Michigan?
About $68,929 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Michigan do HR assistants earn the most?
Ann Arbor, MI, with a median of $51,220 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4161: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434161.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Data checked 2026-10-16.