CFO.
Detroit.
$236,000
median salary, 9% below the national average
$177,000 to $314,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Orbyt estimates CFO pay in Detroit at $236,000, within a range of $177,000 to $314,000. That is 9% below the national average. Detroit's economy is transforming as the automotive industry pivots to electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for CFO in Detroit, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $304,110 for Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metropolitan area, based on 2,070 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$112,220
25th percentile
$172,730
Median
$304,110
75th percentile
$450,450
90th percentile
$604,220
Workers surveyed
2,070
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) rather than CFO specifically. The Detroit range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 11-1011Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $213,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$153,000
to $189,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$201,000
to $248,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$260,000
to $307,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$295,000
to $366,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $62,000 to the total package.
Base
$236,000
Equity
$35,000
Bonus
$22,000
Signing
$5,000
Estimated total: $298,000
How Detroit compares.
Detroit, MI
$236,000
Cost of living: 10% below average
National Average
$260,000
Detroit is $24,000 below
CFO salary by city.
Salary by role in Detroit.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for CFO roles in Detroit, here is what you are walking into. Detroit's economy is transforming as the automotive industry pivots to electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology. Ford, GM, and a growing cluster of mobility startups are investing billions in the region. The city's low cost of living paired with rising tech salaries makes it one of the highest purchasing power metros for engineering roles. Company size measured by revenue and market capitalization drives the widest pay variation among CFOs. Fortune 500 CFOs earn three to five times more than mid-market counterparts. Industry also matters, with technology, financial services, and pharmaceutical CFOs commanding the highest packages. IPO and M&A transaction experience adds further premium.
VP of Finance roles pay $180,000 to $260,000 in base salary. CFOs at small companies ($10 million to $50 million revenue) earn $175,000 to $250,000. Mid-market CFOs ($50 million to $500 million) earn $250,000 to $400,000. Enterprise CFOs at $1 billion or more revenue companies command $400,000 to $800,000 base. In Detroit, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. CFO total compensation far exceeds base salary. Annual bonuses of 40 to 75% of base, equity grants worth $200,000 to $2 million or more at public companies, and long-term incentive plans are standard. Total compensation at large companies commonly reaches $800,000 to $5 million. And on the tax side: michigan has a flat 4.25% state income tax. Detroit adds a city income tax of 2.4% for residents. Factor the city tax into your calculations if living within city limits. When someone quotes you $236,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight EV and autonomous vehicle expertise. Detroit employers are paying significant premiums for talent with electric vehicle, battery tech, or self driving experience. The range for CFOs in Detroit runs from $177,000 to $314,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Common questions.
CFO salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Detroit.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"CFO Salary in Detroit, MI." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/cfo/detroit
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