Expert QA Engineer salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 150 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $109,700 |
| 25th | $120,411 |
| 50th (median) | $125,000 |
| 75th | $135,000 |
| 90th | $145,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2021 | $105,700 | $99,564 | $111,620 | 12 |
| FY2022 | $100,942 | $95,680 | $118,846 | 24 |
| FY2023 | $104,500 | $99,819 | $119,558 | 50 |
| FY2024 | $110,000 | $99,819 | $121,126 | 57 |
| FY2025 | $125,000 | $115,000 | $135,000 | 98 |
| FY2026 | $125,263 | $120,411 | $135,200 | 52 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median expert QA Engineer salary of $125,000 is worth about $124,600 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 $125,000, 22% 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 | $134,291 | 33 |
| Ford | $120,411 | 25 |
| United Wholesale Mortgage | $127,500 | 12 |
| Lucid Motors | too few | 6 |
| Harman Becker Automotive Systems | too few | 6 |
| NTT DATA | too few | 5 |
| Fca | too few | 5 |
| Accenture | too few | 3 |
| Cognizant | too few | 3 |
| Akkodis | too few | 3 |
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.