Validation Engineer salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 286 certified H-1B filings in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Farmington Hills, Troy, Auburn Hills, Warren, Rochester Hills.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $73,800 |
| 25th | $92,622 |
| 50th (median) | $109,282 |
| 75th | $129,164 |
| 90th | $138,041 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $76,500 | $62,500 | $83,034 | 173 |
| FY2021 | $78,998 | $76,710 | $90,248 | 174 |
| FY2022 | $83,325 | $78,998 | $100,255 | 184 |
| FY2023 | $99,416 | $85,218 | $116,371 | 114 |
| FY2024 | $104,045 | $85,218 | $120,060 | 127 |
| FY2025 | $104,200 | $85,134 | $121,078 | 127 |
| FY2026 | $111,500 | $92,622 | $130,250 | 159 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median Validation Engineer salary of $109,282 is worth about $109,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Detroit = 100.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Validation Engineers in the Detroit, MI area earned a median of $126,250 in May 2025 (5,800 employed). The H-1B median here is $109,282, 13% 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
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Capri USA Group | $130,250 | 37 |
| Valeo North America | $123,371 | 26 |
| General Motors Company | $145,000 | 19 |
| Magna Services of America | $99,003 | 10 |
| Astemo Americas | too few | 7 |
| FANUC America | too few | 7 |
| optimal | too few | 7 |
| ZF Active Safety | too few | 7 |
| Ford | too few | 6 |
| BrightSharks Engineering Services | too few | 6 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $73,799 | 56 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $98,443 | 108 |
| Senior · Level III | $116,905 | 62 |
| Expert · Level IV | $133,225 | 60 |
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 | $73,798 | $73,799 | 56 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $92,622 | $98,443 | 108 |
| Senior · Level III | $111,426 | $116,905 | 62 |
| Expert · Level IV | $130,250 | $133,225 | 60 |
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.