Expert Mechanical Engineer salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 705 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $117,854 |
| 25th | $125,362 |
| 50th (median) | $129,780 |
| 75th | $142,170 |
| 90th | $155,532 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $115,635 | $110,982 | $125,929 | 150 |
| FY2021 | $115,507 | $112,000 | $125,000 | 156 |
| FY2022 | $117,420 | $112,507 | $130,000 | 315 |
| FY2023 | $117,656 | $110,000 | $128,005 | 312 |
| FY2024 | $121,024 | $115,200 | $132,000 | 401 |
| FY2025 | $127,280 | $120,591 | $139,796 | 414 |
| FY2026 | $132,810 | $125,362 | $145,600 | 291 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median expert Mechanical Engineer salary of $129,780 is worth about $129,400 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 $129,780, 19% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| General Motors Company | $137,019 | 174 |
| Ford | $125,362 | 91 |
| Fca | $127,800 | 81 |
| Robert Bosch | $141,708 | 22 |
| American Axle & Manufacturing | $127,790 | 12 |
| North American Lighting | $131,250 | 12 |
| Lucid Motors | $125,362 | 11 |
| Dana Automotive Systems Group | $123,681 | 10 |
| TE Connectivity | $130,000 | 10 |
| BorgWarner PDS (USA) | too few | 8 |
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.