Senior Validation Engineer salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 62 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Farmington Hills, Troy, Auburn Hills, Warren, Rochester Hills.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $109,300 |
| 25th | $111,426 |
| 50th (median) | $116,905 |
| 75th | $126,969 |
| 90th | $130,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $101,139 | $94,619 | $120,000 | 15 |
| FY2021 | $96,408 | $96,267 | $107,500 | 19 |
| FY2022 | $104,336 | $96,852 | $115,000 | 28 |
| FY2023 | $115,000 | $99,382 | $120,000 | 23 |
| FY2024 | $112,691 | $107,060 | $126,382 | 31 |
| FY2025 | $114,275 | $109,635 | $119,997 | 30 |
| FY2026 | $119,740 | $111,483 | $127,835 | 32 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median senior Validation Engineer salary of $116,905 is worth about $116,600 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 $116,905, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Valeo North America | $127,720 | 12 |
| Capri USA Group | too few | 5 |
| FANUC America | too few | 5 |
| General Motors Company | too few | 4 |
| ZF Active Safety | too few | 4 |
| Challenge Manufacturing Holdings | too few | 3 |
| ZF CV Systems North America | too few | 3 |
| DTE Electric Company | too few | 2 |
| Huf North America Automotive Parts Manufacturing | too few | 2 |
| Satyam-Venture Engineering Services Pvt | 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.