Mechanical Engineers in Michigan. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Michigan's median wage for Mechanical Engineers was $102,730 in 2024, about 1.8% below the national median of $104,651. That gap is narrow enough that it tells us less about the state than the wage spread does.
The spread here is wide. Engineers at the 10th percentile earned $67,150, while those at the 90th earned $140,420. Top earners made roughly twice what the lowest-paid engineers did. The average ($106,150) sits above the median, which means a smaller group of senior or specialized engineers pulls the mean up. Most working engineers in Michigan land somewhere between $81,910 and $128,310.
Cost of living matters in Michigan more than in many states. Michigan's overall cost-of-living index sits at 92.9, about 7% below the national baseline. That makes the nominal $102,730 worth more in purchasing power than the same paycheck in a higher-cost state. After adjusting for that difference, Michigan's median lines up closer to $110,600 in national-baseline dollars, which puts it above the US median, not below it.
BLS projects employment for Mechanical Engineers to grow 9% between 2024 and 2034, a pace BLS categorizes as faster than average. Michigan's industrial base, concentrated in automotive and advanced manufacturing, gives the state a large existing pool of these roles. With 31,830 engineers employed here in 2024, Michigan holds one of the larger state-level concentrations in the country.
Salary distribution
Where Michigan mechanical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $87,640 and $132,160, with a median of $104,890.
Mechanical Engineers in Michigan: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 2,000 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $109,512. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 262 | $77,800 |
| Level II — qualified | 805 | $95,888 |
| Level III — experienced | 407 | $113,940 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 499 | $129,168 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Mechanical Engineers in Michigan. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Motors | Design Release Engineer | 200 | $131,170 |
| FORD MOTOR COMPANY | Product Development Engineer | 147 | $117,853 |
| FCA US LLC | Driveability & Emissions Calibration Engineer | 106 | $124,522 |
| Engineering Technology Associates, Inc. | Mechanical Engineer | 59 | $94,000 |
| Akkodis, Inc. | HIL Test Engineer - Mid | 48 | $93,600 |
| Caresoft Technologies Inc | Mechanical Engineer | 38 | $93,642 |
| eShocan LLC | Design Engineer | 22 | $93,184 |
| SEGULA TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC. | Exterior - Front Lighting “ DRE | 22 | $88,868 |
| FEV North America, Inc. | Senior Project Engineer | 20 | $97,450 |
| LER TechForce, LLC | Project Engineer | 20 | $97,937 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Cost Engineer – EV Propulsion RESS at General Motors$158,831WarrenWage Level IVDecided —I-200-26084-728098
- ADAS Campaign Prevention Specialist at FORD MOTOR COMPANY$157,370DearbornWage Level IVDecided —I-203-26084-729378
- Application Engineer at Veoneer US Safety Systems, LLC$105,000SouthfieldWage Level IIDecided —I-200-26084-727946
- Senior Structural Engineer at Vehma International of America, Inc.$114,112TroyWage Level IIIDecided —I-200-26084-728179
- Supervisor, Product Development - Engineering at Yazaki North America Inc.$134,947CantonWage Level IVDecided —I-203-26084-729446
- Sr Product Design Engineer at Kasai North America, Inc.$125,362TroyWage Level IVDecided —I-200-26084-729838
- Manager Quality at American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.$140,000DetroitWage Level IVDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-725643
- Systems Validation Engineer at Pentangle Tech Services LLC$93,642Auburn HillsWage Level IIDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-726959
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Mechanical Engineers pay by experience level in Michigan
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Mechanical Engineers specialties in Michigan
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 672 certified offers. The most common variant is Mechanical Engineer at a median of $93,700.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | Caresoft Technologies Inc | 198 | $93,700 |
| Engineer | Hitachi Astemo Americas, Inc | 75 | $117,853 |
| Design Engineer | North American Lighting, Inc. | 69 | $94,249 |
| Project Engineer | FEV North America, Inc. | 65 | $96,447 |
| Product Engineer | Intent-Design Ltd | 63 | $102,874 |
| Design Release Engineer | General Motors | 38 | $110,740 |
| Senior Systems Engineer | General Motors | 36 | $122,928 |
| Application Engineer | FREUDENBERG-NOK GENERAL PARTNERSHIP | 34 | $109,660 |
| Mechanical Design Engineer | Veenus Infotechs Corporation | 28 | $92,186 |
| CAE Engineer | eShocan LLC | 23 | $103,000 |
| Product Development Engineer | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 22 | $107,908 |
| Calibration Engineer | LER TechForce, LLC | 21 | $110,240 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Mechanical Engineers in Michigan, by industry
Median offered wage across 1,992 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $117,853.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | General Motors | 1,191 | $117,853 |
| Professional services | Engineering Technology Associates, Inc. | 576 | $93,700 |
| Technology and software | Epitec, Inc. | 171 | $93,642 |
| Retail and wholesale | Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC | 38 | $92,700 |
| Education | PAC Project Advisors International, Ltd. | 13 | $95,000 |
| Energy and utilities | Aramco Services Company | 3 | $118,860 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Michigan over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Mechanical
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
- 02
Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
- 03
Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
- 04
Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs.
- 05
Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
- 06
Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification.
- 07
Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.
- 08
Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+9.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for mechanical engineers in major Michigan metropolitan areas.
- Detroit$109,470
Compare Mechanical Engineers pay across nearby states
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Mechanical Engineers in Michigan?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Michigan is $104,890.
- How does Michigan compare to the national median for Mechanical Engineers?
- The Michigan median is -2.6% versus the BLS national figure of $107,639.
- What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers in Michigan?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $76,310 and the 90th-percentile at $159,840, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Mechanical Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 9.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Mechanical Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.