Mid-level Validation Engineer salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 108 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Farmington Hills, Troy, Auburn Hills, Warren, Rochester Hills.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $87,640 |
| 25th | $92,622 |
| 50th (median) | $98,443 |
| 75th | $108,831 |
| 90th | $126,900 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $77,834 | $76,066 | $82,664 | 87 |
| FY2021 | $78,998 | $77,834 | $85,210 | 90 |
| FY2022 | $81,897 | $78,998 | $92,375 | 94 |
| FY2023 | $95,000 | $85,218 | $111,500 | 59 |
| FY2024 | $93,900 | $85,280 | $115,625 | 51 |
| FY2025 | $95,973 | $91,000 | $114,444 | 53 |
| FY2026 | $99,038 | $92,622 | $108,194 | 55 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median mid-level Validation Engineer salary of $98,443 is worth about $98,200 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 $98,443, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Valeo North America | $114,512 | 10 |
| Capri USA Group | too few | 8 |
| Magna Services of America | too few | 8 |
| Astemo Americas | too few | 7 |
| General Motors Company | too few | 5 |
| optimal | too few | 4 |
| ZF North America | too few | 3 |
| Automated Production Systems | too few | 2 |
| BOS Automotive Products | too few | 2 |
| Brose North America | 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.