Senior Engineering Director salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 78 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $161,450 |
| 25th | $166,795 |
| 50th (median) | $169,585 |
| 75th | $178,348 |
| 90th | $200,674 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $145,000 | $140,000 | $154,354 | 23 |
| FY2021 | $146,216 | $141,856 | $158,750 | 18 |
| FY2022 | $150,000 | $146,182 | $160,000 | 49 |
| FY2023 | $152,000 | $147,949 | $160,218 | 52 |
| FY2024 | $160,000 | $151,154 | $170,579 | 47 |
| FY2025 | $167,088 | $164,299 | $175,410 | 47 |
| FY2026 | $177,396 | $166,798 | $181,353 | 31 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median senior Engineering Director salary of $169,585 is worth about $169,100 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 $169,585, 1% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fca | $167,772 | 12 |
| Ford | too few | 9 |
| American Axle & Manufacturing | too few | 8 |
| General Motors Company | too few | 4 |
| Valeo North America | too few | 4 |
| Aptiv US Services General Partnership | too few | 3 |
| MAHLE Thermal and Fluid Systems Holding | too few | 3 |
| Credit Acceptance | too few | 2 |
| DENSO International America | too few | 2 |
| Magna Powertrain 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.