Supply Chain AI Optimization Engineer.
Detroit.
$188,000
median salary, 8% below the national average
$147,000 to $245,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median Supply Chain AI Optimization Engineer salary in Detroit is $188,000, 8% below the national average. Entry level starts near $147,000. Experienced professionals push past $245,000. Detroit's economy is transforming as the automotive industry pivots to electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology. That spread is your negotiation window. 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 Supply Chain AI Optimization 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 $81,590 for Operations Research Analysts (SOC 15-2031) in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metropolitan area, based on 530 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$65,180
25th percentile
$75,440
Median
$81,590
75th percentile
$115,210
90th percentile
$150,530
Workers surveyed
530
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $188,000 is 130% higher than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Operations Research Analysts covers a different population than the Supply Chain AI Optimization Engineer title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Operations Research Analysts (SOC 15-2031) rather than Supply Chain AI Optimization Engineer specifically. The Detroitrange 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 15-2031Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $169,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$122,000
to $150,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$160,000
to $197,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$207,000
to $244,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$235,000
to $291,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $42,000 to the total package.
Base
$188,000
Equity
$23,000
Bonus
$15,000
Signing
$4,000
Estimated total: $230,000
How Detroit compares.
Detroit, MI
$188,000
Cost of living: 10% below average
National Average
$205,000
Detroit is $17,000 below
Supply Chain AI Optimization Engineer salary by city.
Salary by role in Detroit.
What you should know.
Before you negotiate a Supply Chain AI Optimization Engineer offer in Detroit, understand the terrain. 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. The gap between theoretical knowledge and production deployment experience is the single largest salary differentiator. Supply Chain AI Optimization Engineers who can optimize inference costs, reduce model latency, and handle scale reliably earn significantly more. Published research or open source contributions to widely adopted frameworks create additional leverage in negotiations.
Entry-level Supply Chain AI Optimization Engineers start near $160,000. Mid-career professionals with three to five years of experience reach $205,000 to $267,000. Senior-level roles command $262,000 to $318,000. Management transitions to director-level positions offer $338,000 and above. 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. Equity at top-tier companies adds 30% to 60% above base salary. Annual bonuses of 15% to 25% are standard. Signing bonuses of $25,000 to $75,000 are common when changing roles. Refresher equity grants vest annually. Relocation packages and executive benefits like financial planning are typical. 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 $188,000, 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 Supply Chain AI Optimization Engineers in Detroit runs from $147,000 to $245,000. 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?
- A Healthcare AI Researcher in Detroit earns $187,000 (1% less)
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- See all ai industrial roles tracked in Orbyt Intelligence
Common questions.
Supply Chain AI Optimization Engineer salary in other cities.
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