Senior Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 292 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Dearborn, Auburn Hills, Troy, Novi, Farmington Hills.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $102,731 |
| 25th | $104,413 |
| 50th (median) | $106,538 |
| 75th | $119,775 |
| 90th | $139,972 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $86,320 | $80,101 | $95,680 | 209 |
| FY2021 | $84,150 | $78,811 | $96,000 | 166 |
| FY2022 | $88,442 | $83,554 | $102,900 | 189 |
| FY2023 | $96,366 | $88,442 | $110,490 | 141 |
| FY2024 | $100,000 | $96,366 | $111,055 | 229 |
| FY2025 | $106,538 | $102,731 | $119,775 | 172 |
| FY2026 | $106,538 | $106,538 | $119,700 | 120 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median senior Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $106,538 is worth about $106,200 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 $106,538, 1% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | $106,538 | 106 |
| Ford | $112,890 | 16 |
| Wipro | too few | 9 |
| Infosys | too few | 8 |
| Microsoft | too few | 8 |
| Accenture | too few | 7 |
| HCLTech | too few | 7 |
| Aptiv US Services General Partnership | too few | 6 |
| KPIT Technologies | too few | 6 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | too few | 6 |
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.