Expert Validation Engineer salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 60 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Farmington Hills, Troy, Auburn Hills, Warren, Rochester Hills.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $129,126 |
| 25th | $130,250 |
| 50th (median) | $133,225 |
| 75th | $139,622 |
| 90th | $160,033 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 5 |
| FY2022 | $120,000 | $115,445 | $130,000 | 16 |
| FY2023 | $126,801 | $116,054 | $131,000 | 15 |
| FY2024 | $127,000 | $124,131 | $133,470 | 15 |
| FY2025 | $130,000 | $124,685 | $132,302 | 16 |
| FY2026 | $134,970 | $130,250 | $141,775 | 44 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median expert Validation Engineer salary of $133,225 is worth about $132,800 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 $133,225, 6% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Capri USA Group | $134,883 | 23 |
| General Motors Company | $157,526 | 10 |
| Ford | too few | 4 |
| Valeo North America | too few | 4 |
| Lucid Motors | too few | 2 |
| Fca | too few | 2 |
| ZF Active Safety | too few | 2 |
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.