Entry-level Medical Scientist salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 26 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Southfield, Troy, Dearborn, Madison Heights, Royal Oak.
Also listed as: Research Scientist, Associate Research Scientist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $57,752 |
| 25th | $61,007 |
| 50th (median) | $64,470 |
| 75th | $69,310 |
| 90th | $77,500 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $54,756 | $47,070 | $65,000 | 17 |
| FY2021 | $52,707 | $48,733 | $58,500 | 15 |
| FY2022 | $54,835 | $49,795 | $58,640 | 11 |
| FY2023 | $55,691 | $49,443 | $56,428 | 14 |
| FY2024 | $56,100 | $52,400 | $57,554 | 25 |
| FY2025 | $62,098 | $61,006 | $68,120 | 18 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 8 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median entry-level Medical Scientist salary of $64,470 is worth about $64,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Detroit = 100.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in the Detroit, MI area earned a median of $84,310 in May 2025 (1,120 employed). The H-1B median here is $64,470, 24% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Henry Ford Health System | too few | 9 |
| Wayne State University | too few | 8 |
| Revival Research Institute | too few | 5 |
| Revive Research Institute | 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 | $64,470 | 26 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $70,000 | 23 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 6 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
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 | $55,099 | $64,470 | 26 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $63,918 | $70,000 | 23 |
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.