Mid-level Software Engineer salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 1,959 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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 | $97,032 |
| 25th | $97,760 |
| 50th (median) | $102,190 |
| 75th | $112,923 |
| 90th | $128,968 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $79,500 | $79,498 | $87,360 | 2,276 |
| FY2021 | $80,163 | $79,248 | $90,674 | 2,160 |
| FY2022 | $82,000 | $80,163 | $92,768 | 2,324 |
| FY2023 | $90,000 | $85,405 | $99,008 | 1,945 |
| FY2024 | $92,000 | $91,021 | $102,285 | 1,710 |
| FY2025 | $100,000 | $97,032 | $112,485 | 1,200 |
| FY2026 | $102,999 | $102,190 | $113,000 | 759 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median mid-level Software Engineer salary of $102,190 is worth about $101,900 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 $102,190, 22% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ford | $113,580 | 125 |
| General Motors Company | $122,686 | 66 |
| United Wholesale Mortgage | $114,450 | 60 |
| Megan Soft | $104,000 | 49 |
| KPIT Technologies | $115,355 | 42 |
| Miracle Software Systems | $102,190 | 42 |
| Epitec | $122,616 | 28 |
| Amazon | $154,860 | 22 |
| American It Solutions | $97,100 | 21 |
| Code Tech | $97,760 | 21 |
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.