Senior Data Engineer salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 42 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Dearborn, Farmington Hills, Troy, Canton, Novi.
Also listed as: Database Architect, Data Architect
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $113,403 |
| 25th | $120,000 |
| 50th (median) | $121,500 |
| 75th | $137,836 |
| 90th | $149,920 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 5 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2022 | $120,000 | $101,000 | $130,600 | 17 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2024 | $124,800 | $114,280 | $138,193 | 15 |
| FY2025 | $128,276 | $120,000 | $140,661 | 20 |
| FY2026 | $120,000 | $120,000 | $131,875 | 22 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median senior Data Engineer salary of $121,500 is worth about $121,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Detroit = 100.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Database Architects in the Detroit, MI area earned a median of $132,040 in May 2025 (730 employed). The H-1B median here is $121,500, 8% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ford | $140,668 | 10 |
| Rocket Limited Partnership | too few | 9 |
| Cognizant | too few | 2 |
| Info Services | too few | 2 |
| Kyyba Tech | too few | 2 |
| Satin Solutions | 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 | $77,896 | 21 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $103,761 | 70 |
| Senior · Level III | $121,500 | 42 |
| Expert · Level IV | $144,037 | 74 |
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 | $67,870 | $77,896 | 21 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $90,251 | $103,761 | 70 |
| Senior · Level III | $119,725 | $121,500 | 42 |
| Expert · Level IV | $134,992 | $144,037 | 74 |
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.