Real Estate Agent Pay

Auburn Hills vs Detroit: Real Estate Agent Salary (2026)

Compare real estate agent salaries between Auburn Hills, MI and Detroit, MI. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Auburn Hills, MI
$57,228
$27.52/hr
Detroit, MI
$57,946
$27.86/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricAuburn Hills, MIDetroit, MI
Median Salary$57,228$57,946
Hourly Rate$27.52$27.86
Entry Level (P10)$35,298$33,231
25th Percentile$42,480$41,168
75th Percentile$73,252$80,388
Top Earner (P90)$88,703$108,006
Total Employed4930
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Auburn Hills ($57,228) and Detroit ($57,946) real estate agent salaries.Auburn HillsDetroitMedian Salary$57,228$57,946Entry Level (P10)$35,298$33,231Top Earner (P90)$88,703$108,006US Median $53,622

Verdict

Detroit, MI offers better overall compensation for real estate agents, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Auburn Hills.

The salary gap between Auburn Hills and Detroit is $718 (1.25%). Detroit's median is +8.06% compared to the US national median of $53,622.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Auburn Hills spans $53,405,Detroit spans $74,775. Detroit has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced real estate agents.

Auburn Hills
P10 (Entry)$35,298
P25$42,480
Median$57,228
P75$73,252
P90 (Top)$88,703
Detroit
P10 (Entry)$33,231
P25$41,168
Median$57,946
P75$80,388
P90 (Top)$108,006

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Auburn Hills ($61,403 effective) pays 6.28% more than Detroit ($57,774 effective).

Auburn Hills
Nominal: $57,228
CoL Index: 93.2
Adjusted: $61,403
Detroit
Nominal: $57,946
CoL Index: 100.298
Adjusted: $57,774

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Auburn Hills if…

  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $61,403)
  • You prefer the Michigan area and lifestyle

Choose Detroit if…

  • Higher median salary ($57,946/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($108,006)
  • Larger job market (930 employed)
  • You prefer the Michigan area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, real estate agent salaries in Auburn Hills grew 6.8% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 2.1% growth in Detroit over the same period.

Auburn Hills, MI

+6.8%

$52,780 (2024) → $56,382 (2025)

Detroit, MI

+2.1%

$55,930 (2019) → $57,090 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays real estate agents more: Auburn Hills or Detroit?

Detroit has a higher median real estate agent salary at $57,946/year, compared to Auburn Hills at $57,228/year — a difference of $718 (1.25%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Auburn Hills and Detroit?

Auburn Hills real estate agents earn $27.52/hr while Detroit hygienists earn $27.86/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Auburn Hills to Detroit as a real estate agent?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Auburn Hills and Detroit. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Auburn Hills = $61,403, Detroit = $57,774), job availability (4 vs 930 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level real estate agents earn in Auburn Hills vs Detroit?

Entry-level (10th percentile) real estate agents earn $35,298 in Auburn Hills and $33,231 in Detroit. The Auburn Hills area offers higher starting salaries.
MG

Written by Maria Gonzalez, REALTOR®

Career Analyst

Maria has 10 years of experience as a real estate agent. She specializes in residential properties. She works with a large brokerage in Texas.

Clinically reviewed by David Chen, REALTOR®Data verified by Fatima Ali, REALTOR®

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 1.50% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, REALTOR®, a licensed real estate agent with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov