QA Engineer salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 713 certified H-1B filings in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Dearborn, Auburn Hills, Warren, Troy, Farmington Hills.
Also listed as: Software Tester, Test Automation Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $73,278 |
| 25th | $85,571 |
| 50th (median) | $100,000 |
| 75th | $119,200 |
| 90th | $130,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $78,000 | $63,920 | $85,274 | 151 |
| FY2021 | $78,811 | $66,186 | $90,155 | 143 |
| FY2022 | $87,680 | $75,000 | $99,670 | 222 |
| FY2023 | $88,200 | $75,000 | $104,500 | 279 |
| FY2024 | $85,000 | $74,610 | $100,000 | 366 |
| FY2025 | $99,639 | $77,012 | $117,990 | 430 |
| FY2026 | $100,000 | $85,571 | $119,595 | 283 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median QA Engineer salary of $100,000 is worth about $99,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Detroit = 100.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Detroit, MI area earned a median of $102,390 in May 2025 (2,140 employed). The H-1B median here is $100,000, 2% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| General Motors Company | $125,325 | 62 |
| KPIT Technologies | $110,000 | 58 |
| Ford | $120,411 | 52 |
| United Wholesale Mortgage | $110,000 | 30 |
| Cognizant | $102,981 | 25 |
| Pentangle Tech Services | $80,000 | 22 |
| NTT DATA | $104,832 | 15 |
| American It Solutions | $85,571 | 15 |
| Wipro | $85,571 | 14 |
| Harman Becker Automotive Systems | $106,293 | 12 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $68,141 | 74 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $86,000 | 347 |
| Senior · Level III | $103,000 | 140 |
| Expert · Level IV | $125,000 | 150 |
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 | $57,491 | $68,141 | 74 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $85,571 | $86,000 | 347 |
| Senior · Level III | $102,981 | $103,000 | 140 |
| Expert · Level IV | $120,411 | $125,000 | 150 |
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.