How much does a CDL-A job in Michigan really pay, and how much of it do you keep? We pulled the numbers from our own job database and ran them through 2026 tax rates.
What Michigan CDL-A jobs pay right now
In our database there are 52 open CDL-A jobs that hire drivers in Michigan, and 47 of them list an average pay figure from the carrier.
| Weekly pay (carrier-reported average) | |
|---|---|
| Middle of the pack (median) | $1,200 |
| Lower quarter of jobs | $1,200 or less |
| Top quarter of jobs | $1,500 or more |
Other numbers worth knowing:
- 3 of these jobs get you home daily, 8 home weekly.
- 6 are local and 6 are dedicated.
- 17 accept brand-new CDL-A drivers.
Why Michigan is different
Michigan freight still runs on the auto industry: parts plants, assembly plants and the suppliers around Detroit, plus the busiest truck crossings into Canada. That means many dedicated and just-in-time jobs where being on time matters more than miles. West Michigan (Grand Rapids) adds food, furniture and retail distribution. Winters are long, so ask about snow days and equipment.
What you keep after taxes
Take a driver in Michigan at the median: about $1,200 a week, 50 working weeks, so about $60,000 a year as a W-2 company driver, single, standard deduction.
| Per year | |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | $60,000 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,020 |
| Michigan state income tax | −$2,299 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,590 |
| Take-home | $48,091 (about $962 a week) |
Michigan tax in short: a flat 4.25% state income tax with a personal exemption. About two dozen Michigan cities also charge their own income tax (Detroit about 2.4% for residents, Grand Rapids 1.5%), which is not in the table above, so check your city before you compare offers.
For comparison, the same paycheck in Texas (no state income tax) would leave about $2,299 more a year. Want to run your own numbers, or compare two offers after taxes? Use our free pay calculator: pick your state and it shows the take-home for both offers, including 1099 jobs.
These are estimates for a single filer with no other income, before health insurance, 401(k) and local taxes. Your real numbers depend on your situation; this is not tax advice.
Where the jobs are
Browse open Michigan jobs by metro: Detroit · Grand Rapids, or see all Michigan CDL-A jobs.
Sources: pay figures are carrier-reported averages from our job database (October 2026); federal brackets and standard deduction from the IRS 2026 inflation adjustments; state rates from the Tax Foundation's 2026 state income tax table; Social Security wage base from the SSA.
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