Engineering Director salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 330 certified H-1B filings in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Auburn Hills, Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Dearborn.
Also listed as: Architectural and Engineering Manager, Manager Hardware Engineering
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $134,500 |
| 25th | $144,955 |
| 50th (median) | $161,450 |
| 75th | $181,813 |
| 90th | $201,416 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $124,704 | $110,889 | $140,000 | 117 |
| FY2021 | $127,106 | $119,817 | $140,731 | 118 |
| FY2022 | $138,000 | $127,837 | $150,000 | 199 |
| FY2023 | $140,472 | $125,362 | $156,071 | 177 |
| FY2024 | $150,000 | $132,642 | $165,253 | 195 |
| FY2025 | $159,492 | $141,565 | $181,540 | 206 |
| FY2026 | $166,795 | $144,955 | $185,000 | 124 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median Engineering Director salary of $161,450 is worth about $161,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Detroit = 100.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Architectural and Engineering Managers in the Detroit, MI area earned a median of $168,550 in May 2025 (9,260 employed). The H-1B median here is $161,450, 4% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Fca | $158,940 | 60 |
| Ford | $168,000 | 29 |
| American Axle & Manufacturing | $165,419 | 16 |
| Valeo North America | $153,000 | 13 |
| Magna Electronics | too few | 9 |
| Altair Engineering | too few | 7 |
| Aptiv US Services General Partnership | too few | 6 |
| Asterisk Green | too few | 5 |
| Harman Becker Automotive Systems | too few | 5 |
| Siemens | 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 | $126,909 | 48 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $146,000 | 117 |
| Senior · Level III | $169,585 | 78 |
| Expert · Level IV | $194,100 | 69 |
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 | $123,136 | $126,909 | 48 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $141,086 | $146,000 | 117 |
| Senior · Level III | $166,795 | $169,585 | 78 |
| Expert · Level IV | $181,813 | $194,100 | 69 |
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.