Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary in Ann Arbor, MI

Based on 30 certified H-1B filings in the Ann Arbor, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Ann Arbor,.

Also listed as: Machine Learning Engineer, AI Researcher

Median salary$119,755
Middle 50%$77k–$136.9k
vs. national median−35%comparison median $185,536
Filings30FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $65,844 and $235,622.
PercentileSalary
10th$70,000
25th$77,029
50th (median)$119,755
75th$136,893
90th$164,669

Salary by year

Median salary

$60k $100k $140k FY2023: median $71,000 (11 filings) FY2024: median $91,707 (19 filings) FY2025: median $116,859 (20 filings) FY2026: median $127,882 (10 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 3 filings FY20 FY2021: 8 filings FY21 FY2022: 7 filings FY22 FY2023: 11 filings FY23 FY2024: 19 filings FY24 FY2025: 20 filings FY25 FY2026: 10 filings FY26 20
Shaded: FY2025–FY2026, the years behind the figures above. Median shown for years with at least 10 filings. FY2026 covers Q1–Q3 only.
Show as table
Fiscal yearMedianP25P75Filings
FY2020–––3
FY2021–––8
FY2022–––7
FY2023$71,000$70,000$109,53811
FY2024$91,707$70,149$130,70019
FY2025$116,859$78,750$128,88820
FY2026$127,882$86,882$146,54210

Cost of living

Ann Arbor's median Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary of $119,755 is worth about $118,700 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Ann Arbor = 100.9).

Compared with all workers here

All Computer and Information Research Scientists in the Ann Arbor, MI area earned a median of $151,110 in May 2025 (50 employed). The H-1B median here is $119,755, 21% 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

EmployerMedianFilings
University of Michigan$72,00012
Klatoo few9
NVIDIAtoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I too few 8
Mid-level · Level II $120,095 16
Senior · Level III – 0
Expert · Level IV – 0

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Mid-level · Level II$89,003$120,09516

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.