Entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 392 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Auburn Hills, Troy, Dearborn, Warren, Novi.
Also listed as: Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $72,467 |
| 25th | $76,486 |
| 50th (median) | $79,040 |
| 75th | $87,560 |
| 90th | $97,126 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $68,915 | $66,435 | $75,000 | 741 |
| FY2021 | $72,758 | $68,000 | $81,120 | 440 |
| FY2022 | $73,500 | $69,784 | $80,000 | 404 |
| FY2023 | $78,038 | $70,158 | $88,260 | 238 |
| FY2024 | $75,000 | $70,158 | $85,000 | 233 |
| FY2025 | $77,796 | $72,467 | $86,080 | 224 |
| FY2026 | $79,782 | $77,792 | $89,704 | 168 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary of $79,040 is worth about $78,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Detroit = 100.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Mechanical Engineers in the Detroit, MI area earned a median of $109,470 in May 2025 (22,500 employed). The H-1B median here is $79,040, 28% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ford | $103,020 | 28 |
| Satyam-Venture Engineering Services Pvt | $77,896 | 28 |
| Segula Technologies | $78,000 | 19 |
| Akkodis | $79,040 | 18 |
| Alten Technology | $75,130 | 18 |
| Caresoft Technologies | $76,962 | 12 |
| FEV North America | $87,892 | 11 |
| Pentangle Tech Services | $77,792 | 11 |
| Engineering Technology Associates | too few | 9 |
| Nyx | too few | 9 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $79,040 | 392 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $95,810 | 1,043 |
| Senior · Level III | $114,330 | 546 |
| Expert · Level IV | $129,780 | 705 |
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 | $72,467 | $79,040 | 392 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $87,589 | $95,810 | 1,043 |
| Senior · Level III | $102,731 | $114,330 | 546 |
| Expert · Level IV | $125,362 | $129,780 | 705 |
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.