Jobs, pay and daily life in Monroe, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Monroe is a city in Michigan with 20,320 residents. The median household earns $59,813 a year and the median rent is $909 a month, which is 18.2% of the median household income. It is part of the Monroe, MI metropolitan area, where BLS counts 40,740 jobs.
How Monroe compares. Among the 100 largest places in Michigan, Monroe is #59 by population, #14 for rent (#1 = cheapest), #85 for remote work (#1 = most), #84 for long commutes (#1 = fewest). Its county, Monroe County, is #12 of 83 counties for average pay ($60,516).
Monroe has 20,320 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.2% of the population of Michigan. It covers 9 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 2,246 people per square mile. The median age is 37.6, 6% younger than the state median (37.6 against 40.2).
The median gross rent is $909 a month (rent plus utilities), 19% below the state median ($909 against $1,129). Over a year that is 18.2% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $167,900, which is 2.8 times the median household income ($59,813); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 69.3% of households own their home, 5% below the state average (69.3% against 73.2%).
The Monroe, MI metropolitan area has 40,740 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $46,240 a year, 9% below the national median ($46,240 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are transportation and material moving (4,940 jobs, median $41,690); production (4,770 jobs, median $45,690); food preparation and serving related (4,180 jobs, median $30,430). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Monroe County was 4.3%. 57.1% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Monroe County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 80.1% drive alone, 1.1% use public transit, 2.9% walk, 6.8% work from home. 14.4% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 12% above the state average (14.4% against 12.9%).
19.9% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 39% below the state share (19.9% against 32.5%). 2.2% of residents were born outside the United States, 70% below the state share (2.2% against 7.2%). The poverty rate is 19.2%, 45% above the state rate (19.2% against 13.2%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 74°F (23.2°C), and the coolest is Jan at 26°F (-3.5°C). About 865 mm (34 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; May is the wettest month (97 mm) and Jan the driest (53 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Flat Rock (14 miles, similar rent); Woodhaven (17 miles, rent 21% higher); Oregon (18 miles, similar rent); Trenton (18 miles, rent 3% lower). Rent differences are against Monroe; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Michigan (335) →State guide: MichiganCountry guideMonroe CountyMichigan rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 335 federal postings open in Michigan (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in Michigan →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,330 | 1.31 | $27,950 | $25,960 | $34,420 | -10% |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,250 | 1.22 | $34,620 | $27,450 | $46,810 | -2% |
| Cashiers | 1,220 | 1.51 | $29,320 | $25,960 | $36,320 | -11% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 1,110 | 3.01 | $36,870 | $35,080 | $58,980 | -17% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,090 | 2.01 | $54,510 | $40,480 | $69,080 | -7% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 950 | 1.22 | $39,520 | $33,320 | $48,440 | -2% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 940 | 1.26 | $35,660 | $28,950 | $46,010 | -4% |
| Office Clerks, General | 870 | 1.35 | $41,540 | $25,960 | $63,500 | -8% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 770 | 0.68 | $34,290 | $27,670 | $42,230 | -4% |
| General and Operations Managers | 730 | 0.80 | $93,690 | $46,100 | $198,850 | -11% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 660 | 1.11 | $38,780 | $25,960 | $62,470 | +10% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 640 | 1.72 | $34,630 | $28,220 | $43,390 | -6% |
| Registered Nurses | 630 | 0.71 | $82,170 | $61,270 | $100,520 | -16% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 560 | 1.54 | $63,030 | $47,010 | $91,460 | -1% |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 440 | 1.19 | $36,200 | $29,250 | $44,590 | -3% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 440 | 1.37 | $36,430 | $29,040 | $57,030 | -17% |
| Nursing Assistants | 430 | 1.12 | $38,420 | $35,580 | $44,520 | -9% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 390 | 1.39 | $64,390 | $47,700 | $94,090 | -11% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 370 | 0.55 | $41,650 | $30,280 | $61,200 | -7% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 370 | 0.91 | $44,750 | $31,510 | $68,630 | -10% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 730 | 0.80 | $93,690 | $46,100 | $198,850 | -11% |
| Registered Nurses | 630 | 0.71 | $82,170 | $61,270 | $100,520 | -16% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 560 | 1.54 | $63,030 | $47,010 | $91,460 | -1% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,090 | 2.01 | $54,510 | $40,480 | $69,080 | -7% |
| Office Clerks, General | 870 | 1.35 | $41,540 | $25,960 | $63,500 | -8% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 950 | 1.22 | $39,520 | $33,320 | $48,440 | -2% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 660 | 1.11 | $38,780 | $25,960 | $62,470 | +10% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 1,110 | 3.01 | $36,870 | $35,080 | $58,980 | -17% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 940 | 1.26 | $35,660 | $28,950 | $46,010 | -4% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 640 | 1.72 | $34,630 | $28,220 | $43,390 | -6% |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,250 | 1.22 | $34,620 | $27,450 | $46,810 | -2% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 770 | 0.68 | $34,290 | $27,670 | $42,230 | -4% |
| Cashiers | 1,220 | 1.51 | $29,320 | $25,960 | $36,320 | -11% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,330 | 1.31 | $27,950 | $25,960 | $34,420 | -10% |
These figures are for the whole Monroe, MI metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $46,240 (US $50,980); unemployment 4.3% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.5% |
| Manufacturing | 17.2% |
| Retail trade | 12.5% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 6.9% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 6.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 6.8% |
| Other services | 6.3% |
| Construction | 6.2% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 3.9% |
| Public administration | 2.3% |
| Information | 1.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.3% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.5% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Monroe lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | 155,505 | $8,136 million | $52,322 | 41,159 | 2,514 | $60,516 | +1.4% | 4.3% | 70,767 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 5,814 | 19.6% | $80,172 | 1.72 |
| Retail trade | 5,380 | 18.1% | $38,752 | 1.31 |
| Health care and social assistance | 4,683 | 15.8% | $52,879 | 0.79 |
| Accommodation and food services | 4,278 | 14.4% | $19,908 | 1.14 |
| Administrative and waste services | 2,310 | 7.8% | $48,949 | 0.95 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 2,107 | 7.1% | $57,891 | 1.21 |
| Construction | 1,940 | 6.5% | $80,151 | 0.90 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 1,199 | 4.0% | $46,326 | 0.97 |
| Finance and insurance | 684 | 2.3% | $66,850 | 0.41 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 455 | 1.5% | $25,564 | 0.66 |
| Educational services | 395 | 1.3% | $37,311 | 0.46 |
| Real estate and rental | 223 | 0.8% | $52,328 | 0.35 |
| Information | 213 | 0.7% | $54,081 | 0.28 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 80.1% |
| Public transit | 1.1% |
| Walk | 2.9% |
| Work from home | 6.8% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 14.4% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,813 |
| Income per person | $31,285 |
| Median gross rent per month | $909 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 18.2% |
| Median home value | $167,900 |
| Homeowners | 69.3% |
| Poverty rate | 19.2% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 93.5 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $46,240 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Flat 4.25%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 88.9% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 19.9% |
| Born abroad | 2.2% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 57.1% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -3.5 | 26 | 53 |
| Feb | -2.9 | 27 | 53 |
| Mar | 1.7 | 35 | 61 |
| Apr | 7.8 | 46 | 77 |
| May | 14.3 | 58 | 97 |
| Jun | 20.1 | 68 | 87 |
| Jul | 23.2 | 74 | 86 |
| Aug | 22.8 | 73 | 82 |
| Sep | 18.9 | 66 | 76 |
| Oct | 12.0 | 54 | 70 |
| Nov | 5.3 | 42 | 64 |
| Dec | -0.3 | 31 | 59 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Rock | MI | 14 mi | 10,340 | $81,585 | $919 |
| Woodhaven | MI | 17 mi | 12,690 | $78,648 | $1,096 |
| Oregon | OH | 18 mi | 19,799 | $82,197 | $900 |
| Trenton | MI | 18 mi | 18,125 | $82,212 | $880 |
| Riverview | MI | 20 mi | 12,186 | $73,468 | $1,101 |
| Toledo | OH | 20 mi | 267,463 | $49,724 | $901 |
| Romulus | MI | 21 mi | 24,831 | $69,151 | $1,049 |
| Southgate | MI | 22 mi | 29,366 | $66,118 | $1,120 |
| Sylvania | OH | 22 mi | 19,055 | $100,189 | $1,072 |
| Taylor | MI | 22 mi | 62,081 | $61,081 | $1,101 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
20,320 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$909 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 18.2% of the median household income.
$59,813 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
4.3% (BLS county, Monroe County (latest month 2026M09)).
Michigan. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.