Entry-level QA Engineer salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 74 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $58,768 |
| 25th | $60,000 |
| 50th (median) | $68,141 |
| 75th | $70,665 |
| 90th | $84,850 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2021 | $78,736 | $63,600 | $92,388 | 18 |
| FY2022 | $70,000 | $64,860 | $80,310 | 24 |
| FY2023 | $75,600 | $62,005 | $88,245 | 26 |
| FY2024 | $62,400 | $62,005 | $75,598 | 35 |
| FY2025 | $60,000 | $60,000 | $69,041 | 42 |
| FY2026 | $68,141 | $68,141 | $72,850 | 32 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median entry-level QA Engineer salary of $68,141 is worth about $67,900 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 $68,141, 33% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| People Tech Group | $60,000 | 10 |
| Pentangle Tech Services | too few | 9 |
| Global Connect Technologies | too few | 7 |
| Ford | too few | 5 |
| A123 Systems | too few | 3 |
| Alten Technology | too few | 3 |
| Dynamic Map Platform North America | too few | 3 |
| United Wholesale Mortgage | too few | 3 |
| Artifint Technologies | too few | 2 |
| BTI Solutions | 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 | $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.