Senior Software Engineer salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 1,065 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $114,691 |
| 25th | $120,349 |
| 50th (median) | $121,388 |
| 75th | $134,971 |
| 90th | $148,256 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $96,000 | $95,285 | $106,434 | 983 |
| FY2021 | $100,000 | $95,160 | $112,150 | 770 |
| FY2022 | $103,886 | $96,500 | $119,950 | 796 |
| FY2023 | $110,000 | $101,275 | $124,800 | 685 |
| FY2024 | $118,365 | $108,178 | $129,000 | 562 |
| FY2025 | $123,745 | $115,000 | $135,873 | 598 |
| FY2026 | $120,640 | $120,349 | $132,914 | 467 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median senior Software Engineer salary of $121,388 is worth about $121,000 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 $121,388, 7% 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 | $120,349 | 113 |
| General Motors Company | $129,168 | 49 |
| United Wholesale Mortgage | $125,000 | 48 |
| Rocket Limited Partnership | $120,500 | 37 |
| Capgemini America | $130,306 | 27 |
| Robert Bosch | $127,591 | 22 |
| Aptiv US Services General Partnership | $129,096 | 20 |
| Credit Acceptance | $177,500 | 18 |
| Magna Electronics | $120,349 | 18 |
| Htc Global Services | $120,349 | 15 |
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.