Expert Software Engineer salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 1,298 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $132,350 |
| 25th | $138,486 |
| 50th (median) | $144,061 |
| 75th | $156,390 |
| 90th | $173,385 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $115,000 | $111,072 | $124,800 | 547 |
| FY2021 | $114,400 | $111,093 | $125,514 | 575 |
| FY2022 | $120,000 | $112,736 | $135,000 | 867 |
| FY2023 | $127,875 | $118,000 | $142,204 | 546 |
| FY2024 | $132,350 | $123,800 | $147,000 | 600 |
| FY2025 | $143,689 | $133,922 | $155,807 | 721 |
| FY2026 | $144,586 | $138,486 | $156,998 | 577 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median expert Software Engineer salary of $144,061 is worth about $143,600 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 $144,061, 10% 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 | $152,578 | 257 |
| Ford | $138,486 | 219 |
| Robert Bosch | $143,873 | 72 |
| Fca | $147,126 | 46 |
| Systems Technology Group | $138,486 | 35 |
| United Wholesale Mortgage | $145,000 | 29 |
| DENSO International America | $166,913 | 23 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan | $132,350 | 20 |
| Comerica Management Company | $152,000 | 13 |
| Miracle Software Systems | $138,500 | 13 |
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.