Senior Mechanical Engineer salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 546 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $102,846 |
| 25th | $109,512 |
| 50th (median) | $114,330 |
| 75th | $123,945 |
| 90th | $133,979 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $101,141 | $96,873 | $109,406 | 288 |
| FY2021 | $104,000 | $98,259 | $110,000 | 293 |
| FY2022 | $105,000 | $98,259 | $115,000 | 376 |
| FY2023 | $103,200 | $95,590 | $114,117 | 347 |
| FY2024 | $110,000 | $101,230 | $120,251 | 323 |
| FY2025 | $114,000 | $107,120 | $124,000 | 349 |
| FY2026 | $115,000 | $109,512 | $123,745 | 197 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median senior Mechanical Engineer salary of $114,330 is worth about $114,000 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 $114,330, 4% 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 | $122,686 | 53 |
| Ford | $110,235 | 50 |
| Fca | $114,888 | 25 |
| Rivian | $160,000 | 19 |
| Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America | $122,258 | 11 |
| Vehma International of America | $113,017 | 11 |
| Re:Car | $142,500 | 10 |
| Akkodis | too few | 9 |
| American Axle & Manufacturing | too few | 9 |
| Altair Productdesign | 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.