Lake Forest, CA H-1B salaries — 1,753 certified filings (FY2016–FY2026)
- 151
- Filings · FY2025
- $112k
- Median base · FY2025
- $93k–$138k
- Middle 50% · FY2025
- Panasonic Avionics
- Top sponsor · 296 all-time
Employers in Lake Forest, CA have 1,753 certified H-1B LCAs on record since FY2016. In FY2025 the median base salary was $112k across 151 filings, with the middle 50% between $93k and $138k. The biggest sponsors are Panasonic Avionics, Alcon Research, Cognizant Technology Solutions US; the most-sponsored titles are Software Engineer, Manager, Software Developer.
How much do H-1B workers in Lake Forest, CA make?
Certified base salary by fiscal year: each box is the p25–p75 range, the heavy line the median, the whiskers reach p10–p90. $112k median in FY2025. Base pay only — hover a year for its figures.
How has H-1B hiring in Lake Forest, CA changed?
144 certified filings in FY2016 → 99 in FY2026. The change column is each year against the one before.
| Fiscal year | Filings | vs prior FY | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 99 | −34% | $120k |
| FY2025 | 151 | +21% | $112k |
| FY2024 | 125 | +15% | $104k |
| FY2023 | 109 | −22% | $110k |
| FY2022 | 140 | −23% | $111k |
| FY2021 | 183 | +3% | $106k |
| FY2020 | 177 | −24% | $101k |
| FY2019 | 233 | +1% | $95k |
| FY2018 | 230 | +42% | $90k |
| FY2017 | 162 | +13% | $83k |
| FY2016 | 144 | — | $83k |
Which companies sponsor H-1B workers in Lake Forest, CA?
The employers with the most certified filings, all years, with their median base salary. Open any employer for its full profile.
| # | Employer | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panasonic Avionics | 296 | $110k |
| 2 | Alcon Research | 168 | $107k |
| 3 | Cognizant Technology Solutions US | 119 | $101k |
| 4 | Aveva Software | 74 | $118k |
| 5 | HCL America | 64 | $91k |
| 6 | L T Technology Services | 51 | $79k |
| 7 | Schneider Electric Systems USA | 30 | $121k |
| 8 | Intertek Testing Services NA | 30 | $91k |
| 9 | Newracom | 29 | $114k |
| 10 | Tata Consultancy Services | 26 | $77k |
What H-1B jobs get sponsored in Lake Forest, CA?
The most-filed job titles on certified LCAs in this city, all years (DOL titles, pay-grade codes stripped).
| # | Job title | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Software Engineer | 85 | $114k |
| 2 | Manager | 56 | $110k |
| 3 | Software Developer | 47 | $99k |
| 4 | Senior Systems Analyst | 31 | $80k |
| 5 | Test Engineer | 26 | $77k |
| 6 | Computer Programmer | 21 | $85k |
| 7 | Senior Manager | 19 | $124k |
| 8 | Programmer Analyst | 19 | $80k |
| 9 | Senior Software Engineer | 17 | $108k |
| 10 | Engineer | 17 | $74k |
Common questions about H-1B jobs in Lake Forest, CA
- What is the median H-1B salary in Lake Forest, CA?
- The median certified H-1B base salary in Lake Forest, CA is $112k (FY2025), from 151 filings. Across all years the middle 50% earn between $80k and $122k.
- Which companies sponsor the most H-1B workers in Lake Forest, CA?
- The top H-1B sponsors in Lake Forest, CA are Panasonic Avionics, Alcon Research, Cognizant Technology Solutions US.
- What are the most common H-1B jobs in Lake Forest, CA?
- The most-sponsored H-1B roles in Lake Forest, CA are Software Engineer, Manager, Software Developer.
- Does a certified LCA mean an H-1B visa was approved?
- No. A Labor Condition Application (LCA) is the Department of Labor attestation an employer must have certified before filing an H-1B petition with USCIS. It records the job, worksite and offered wage, but not whether the petition was filed, selected in the lottery, or approved. Filing counts measure intent to sponsor, not headcount.
- What salary do these figures show?
- The base annual wage offered on the certified LCA, converted to a yearly amount. Bonus, equity, overtime and benefits are not included, so total compensation is typically higher. Figures are medians and percentiles over certified filings; wages above $5,000,000 a year are excluded as data-entry errors.
- What does the fiscal year mean here?
- Years are U.S. government fiscal years, October to September: FY2025 runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025. This matches how the Department of Labor publishes the disclosure files. The most recent year may be partial until its final quarter is released.
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Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification — certified LCA disclosure data through June 2026 (FY2016–FY2026). An LCA is not an approved visa; pay figures are base salary and exclude bonus and equity. Methodology →