Materials Engineer salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 41 certified H-1B filings in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Novi, Troy, Southfield, Warren, Auburn Hills.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $82,000 |
| 25th | $93,642 |
| 50th (median) | $110,000 |
| 75th | $121,048 |
| 90th | $135,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $77,100 | $70,000 | $85,654 | 33 |
| FY2021 | $85,654 | $79,336 | $100,000 | 28 |
| FY2022 | $105,000 | $95,576 | $115,000 | 21 |
| FY2023 | $108,675 | $86,985 | $121,500 | 31 |
| FY2024 | $109,000 | $90,000 | $118,137 | 14 |
| FY2025 | $110,000 | $93,171 | $125,524 | 27 |
| FY2026 | $115,203 | $100,241 | $118,765 | 14 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median Materials Engineer salary of $110,000 is worth about $109,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Detroit = 100.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Materials Engineers in the Detroit, MI area earned a median of $100,070 in May 2025 (460 employed). The H-1B median here is $110,000, 10% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| A123 Systems | too few | 5 |
| General Motors Company | too few | 4 |
| Eaton | too few | 3 |
| Ford | too few | 2 |
| Lotte Chemical California | 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 | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $94,760 | 11 |
| Senior · Level III | $110,000 | 11 |
| Expert · Level IV | $130,000 | 13 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $87,027 | $94,760 | 11 |
| Senior · Level III | $101,275 | $110,000 | 11 |
| Expert · Level IV | $115,502 | $130,000 | 13 |
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.