Expert Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 290 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Dearborn, Auburn Hills, Troy, Novi, Farmington Hills.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $122,221 |
| 25th | $128,877 |
| 50th (median) | $131,020 |
| 75th | $152,931 |
| 90th | $174,671 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $109,500 | $96,762 | $125,200 | 151 |
| FY2021 | $100,942 | $95,430 | $125,000 | 144 |
| FY2022 | $114,899 | $101,000 | $135,000 | 189 |
| FY2023 | $120,320 | $109,233 | $140,589 | 140 |
| FY2024 | $122,221 | $115,752 | $137,161 | 183 |
| FY2025 | $131,634 | $124,121 | $153,410 | 158 |
| FY2026 | $130,000 | $128,877 | $150,244 | 132 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median expert Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $131,020 is worth about $130,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Detroit = 100.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer Systems Engineers/Architects in the Detroit, MI area earned a median of $107,560 in May 2025 (3,830 employed). The H-1B median here is $131,020, 22% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | $128,877 | 46 |
| Ford | $128,877 | 40 |
| Harman Becker Automotive Systems | $157,784 | 20 |
| Accenture | too few | 9 |
| General Motors Company | too few | 9 |
| Htc Global Services | too few | 8 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan | too few | 7 |
| Fca | too few | 6 |
| Aptiv US Services General Partnership | too few | 5 |
| Robert Bosch | too few | 4 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $70,000 | 41 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $84,198 | 458 |
| Senior · Level III | $106,538 | 292 |
| Expert · Level IV | $131,020 | 290 |
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 | $63,752 | $70,000 | 41 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $83,242 | $84,198 | 458 |
| Senior · Level III | $106,538 | $106,538 | 292 |
| Expert · Level IV | $128,877 | $131,020 | 290 |
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.