Aerospace Engineer.
Detroit.
$126,000
median salary, 7% below the national average
$98,000 to $163,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Detroit is 10% cheaper than the national average. For Aerospace Engineers, that shakes out to a median of $126,000, with the full range spanning $98,000 to $163,000. Security clearance level and employer type drive the widest variance. Know the range before you walk in. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Aerospace Engineer in Detroit, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $128,960 for Aerospace Engineers (SOC 17-2011) in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metropolitan area, based on 260 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$84,810
25th percentile
$104,560
Median
$128,960
75th percentile
$139,680
90th percentile
$166,610
Workers surveyed
260
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Aerospace Engineers (SOC 17-2011) rather than Aerospace Engineer specifically. The Detroit range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 17-2011Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $113,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$82,000
to $101,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$107,000
to $132,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$139,000
to $164,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$158,000
to $195,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $32,000 to the total package.
Base
$126,000
Equity
$18,000
Bonus
$11,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $158,000
How Detroit compares.
Detroit, MI
$126,000
Cost of living: 10% below average
National Average
$135,000
Detroit is $9,000 below
Aerospace Engineer salary by city.
Salary by role in Detroit.
What you should know.
The Aerospace Engineer landscape in Detroit is not what most salary sites will tell you. Detroit's economy is transforming as the automotive industry pivots to electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology. Ford, GM, and a growing cluster of mobility startups are investing billions in the region. The city's low cost of living paired with rising tech salaries makes it one of the highest purchasing power metros for engineering roles. Security clearance level and employer type drive the widest variance. Defense contractors pay 10 to 20% premiums for TS/SCI clearances. Specialization in propulsion, avionics, or spacecraft systems commands higher compensation than structural analysis. The growing commercial space sector is pushing salaries upward across all levels.
Junior aerospace engineers start at $88,000 to $100,000. Senior engineers reach $115,000 to $152,000 after six to eight years. Principal engineers and engineering directors earn $155,000 to $210,000, with chief engineers at major programs exceeding $230,000. In Detroit, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Defense contractors offer 8 to 15% annual bonuses and retention bonuses of $10,000 to $30,000 for cleared engineers. Commercial space companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin add equity packages. Many roles include relocation assistance and clearance processing support. And on the tax side: michigan has a flat 4.25% state income tax. Detroit adds a city income tax of 2.4% for residents. Factor the city tax into your calculations if living within city limits. When someone quotes you $126,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight EV and autonomous vehicle expertise. Detroit employers are paying significant premiums for talent with electric vehicle, battery tech, or self driving experience. The range for Aerospace Engineers in Detroit runs from $98,000 to $163,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- An AI Research Scientist in Detroit earns $127,000 (1% more)
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Common questions.
Aerospace Engineer salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Detroit.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Aerospace Engineer Salary in Detroit, MI." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/aerospace-engineer/detroit
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