Entry-level Engineering Director salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 48 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $120,723 |
| 25th | $123,136 |
| 50th (median) | $126,909 |
| 75th | $139,283 |
| 90th | $143,892 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $106,101 | $104,354 | $110,445 | 35 |
| FY2021 | $110,000 | $106,101 | $118,000 | 31 |
| FY2022 | $110,000 | $109,491 | $116,134 | 33 |
| FY2023 | $114,109 | $106,850 | $124,600 | 43 |
| FY2024 | $120,723 | $114,830 | $125,260 | 43 |
| FY2025 | $123,136 | $120,723 | $128,340 | 29 |
| FY2026 | $135,863 | $124,265 | $142,133 | 19 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median entry-level Engineering Director salary of $126,909 is worth about $126,500 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 $126,909, 25% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Altair Engineering | too few | 6 |
| Ford | too few | 3 |
| FEV North America | too few | 3 |
| Siemens | too few | 2 |
| SEL Engineering Services | too few | 2 |
| Vehma International of America | 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 | $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.