Entry-level Chemist salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 16 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Warren, Riverview, Livonia, Southfield, Canton.
Also listed as: Quality Control Chemist, Analytical Chemist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $51,355 |
| 25th | $52,000 |
| 50th (median) | $59,030 |
| 75th | $60,000 |
| 90th | $62,660 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median entry-level Chemist salary of $59,030 is worth about $58,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Detroit = 100.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Chemists in the Detroit, MI area earned a median of $85,770 in May 2025 (1,250 employed). The H-1B median here is $59,030, 31% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne State University | too few | 8 |
| RTI Laboratories | 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 | $59,030 | 16 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $90,000 | 11 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 5 |
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 | $51,355 | $59,030 | 16 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $77,293 | $90,000 | 11 |
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.