Entry-level Data Scientist salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 104 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Dearborn, Troy, Novi, Farmington, Farmington Hills.
Also listed as: Machine Learning Scientist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $66,102 |
| 25th | $66,352 |
| 50th (median) | $66,975 |
| 75th | $78,036 |
| 90th | $102,684 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $72,000 | $69,482 | $79,905 | 12 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2022 | $63,877 | $48,797 | $86,400 | 18 |
| FY2023 | $80,290 | $63,799 | $96,014 | 26 |
| FY2024 | $67,960 | $63,523 | $77,726 | 56 |
| FY2025 | $66,560 | $66,435 | $77,090 | 56 |
| FY2026 | $70,720 | $66,102 | $80,800 | 48 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median entry-level Data Scientist salary of $66,975 is worth about $66,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Detroit = 100.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Data Scientists in the Detroit, MI area earned a median of $103,330 in May 2025 (3,810 employed). The H-1B median here is $66,975, 35% 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 | too few | 7 |
| Epitec | too few | 5 |
| Think IT Technologies | too few | 4 |
| Cloud Social Technologies | too few | 3 |
| 4D Systems | too few | 2 |
| Artifint Technologies | too few | 2 |
| Augmented Reality Technologies | too few | 2 |
| Emergtech Business Solutions | too few | 2 |
| Flexon Technologies | too few | 2 |
| Henry Ford Health System | 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 | $66,975 | 104 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $86,965 | 310 |
| Senior · Level III | $108,160 | 144 |
| Expert · Level IV | $130,000 | 114 |
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 | $66,102 | $66,975 | 104 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $86,965 | $86,965 | 310 |
| Senior · Level III | $107,848 | $108,160 | 144 |
| Expert · Level IV | $128,710 | $130,000 | 114 |
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.