Brian Calley President and Chief Executive Officer at Small Business Association of Michigan | Official website
Brian Calley President and Chief Executive Officer at Small Business Association of Michigan | Official website
Each year, ASE releases a comprehensive compensation survey for Michigan. The 2025 results indicate that wage growth is stabilizing.
The latest survey shows a more measured pace in wage increases after several years of significant rises. A constant sample of organizations participating in both 2024 and 2025 revealed an actual wage movement increase of 3.2% this year, compared to a 4.3% rise in 2024.
This slower rate of increase does not suggest stagnation but rather a shift in employer strategies from broad adjustments to more strategic compensation decisions. Employers are focusing on where compensation dollars can have the most impact, aiming for performance-based pay and ensuring total rewards strategies support talent retention and pay equity while staying competitive.
Certain job families continue to experience healthy growth. Engineering, human resources, and sales/marketing titles saw average increases of 3.4%. Accounting and finance titles followed with a 3.3% rise, while hourly production workers experienced a 3.0% increase this year.
The survey provides data for 575 positions, including base pay percentiles and average variable pay, offering employers the information needed to benchmark titles accurately and make informed decisions supporting competitiveness and fairness.
Participation in the survey increased by over 6%, with contributions from 437 organizations representing more than 106,000 incumbents across Michigan. Participation from regions like Grand Rapids, Muskegon, and Holland surged by 80%, enhancing the geographic diversity of the data.
Sixteen new job titles were added this year to keep up with evolving workforce demands and ensure the data remains relevant.
The full survey report is available in the ASE Survey Library for member participants or can be purchased through their request form. This data is essential for those shaping compensation strategy in 2025.
Mary E. Corrado stated: "As always, I’m proud of the work ASE does to support Michigan employers with the insights and tools they need to lead their workforces effectively."
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