Entry-level Software Engineer salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 551 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Dearborn, Farmington Hills, Troy, Novi, Auburn Hills.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $79,373 |
| 25th | $79,500 |
| 50th (median) | $84,053 |
| 75th | $89,250 |
| 90th | $110,500 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $65,244 | $63,710 | $75,000 | 330 |
| FY2021 | $76,495 | $65,000 | $93,184 | 350 |
| FY2022 | $75,000 | $63,877 | $88,260 | 292 |
| FY2023 | $75,000 | $69,680 | $86,819 | 325 |
| FY2024 | $75,317 | $74,651 | $87,173 | 393 |
| FY2025 | $80,000 | $79,373 | $85,436 | 359 |
| FY2026 | $84,874 | $84,053 | $94,925 | 192 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median entry-level Software Engineer salary of $84,053 is worth about $83,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Detroit = 100.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Detroit, MI area earned a median of $130,760 in May 2025 (24,870 employed). The H-1B median here is $84,053, 36% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| United Wholesale Mortgage | $90,000 | 31 |
| Amazon | $129,000 | 25 |
| Ford | $118,830 | 22 |
| People Tech Group | $79,373 | 22 |
| Rocket Limited Partnership | $85,000 | 15 |
| Symplore | $79,373 | 12 |
| Talent Trust Tech | $80,000 | 11 |
| Pi Square Technologies | $80,000 | 10 |
| California SoftTech | too few | 9 |
| NeuroNet Solutions | too few | 8 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $84,053 | 551 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $102,190 | 1,959 |
| Senior · Level III | $121,388 | 1,065 |
| Expert · Level IV | $144,061 | 1,298 |
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 | $79,373 | $84,053 | 551 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $97,032 | $102,190 | 1,959 |
| Senior · Level III | $120,349 | $121,388 | 1,065 |
| Expert · Level IV | $138,486 | $144,061 | 1,298 |
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.