Expert Materials Engineer salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Novi, Troy, Southfield, Warren, Auburn Hills.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $116,751 |
| 25th | $119,075 |
| 50th (median) | $130,000 |
| 75th | $135,000 |
| 90th | $141,007 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median expert Materials Engineer 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 Materials Engineers in the Detroit, MI area earned a median of $100,070 in May 2025 (460 employed). The H-1B median here is $130,000, 30% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Eaton | too few | 3 |
| General Motors Company | 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.