Entry-level Architect salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Berkley, Novi, Southfield, Northville, Troy.
Also listed as: Project Architect, Architect Non Licensed
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $61,605 |
| 25th | $62,000 |
| 50th (median) | $65,000 |
| 75th | $70,700 |
| 90th | $75,700 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median entry-level Architect salary of $65,000 is worth about $64,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Detroit = 100.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in the Detroit, MI area earned a median of $97,920 in May 2025 (1,350 employed). The H-1B median here is $65,000, 34% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| SmithGroup, Inc., subsidiary of SmithGroup | too few | 3 |
| Gresham Smith | too few | 2 |
| Stantec Architecture | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $65,000 | 13 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 6 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $61,506 | $65,000 | 13 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.