Expert Data Scientist salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 114 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $117,580 |
| 25th | $128,710 |
| 50th (median) | $130,000 |
| 75th | $142,653 |
| 90th | $177,180 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 1 |
| FY2021 | $100,942 | $96,512 | $120,000 | 13 |
| FY2022 | $105,290 | $100,942 | $110,724 | 24 |
| FY2023 | $112,635 | $111,980 | $135,238 | 36 |
| FY2024 | $121,272 | $111,987 | $131,073 | 34 |
| FY2025 | $130,000 | $118,000 | $146,370 | 49 |
| FY2026 | $130,000 | $128,710 | $142,000 | 65 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median expert Data Scientist salary of $130,000 is worth about $129,600 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 $130,000, 26% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ford | $128,710 | 30 |
| DTE Electric Company | too few | 5 |
| General Motors Company | too few | 4 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan | too few | 3 |
| Strategic Staffing Solutions, L.C. | too few | 3 |
| 365 Retail Markets | too few | 2 |
| CVS Health | too few | 2 |
| Deloitte | too few | 2 |
| Concept Reply | too few | 2 |
| DTE Energy Corporate Services | 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.