Lead Software Engineer H-1B salaries — 9,478 certified filings (FY2016–FY2026)
- 1,416
- Filings · FY2025
- $144k
- Median base · FY2025
- $132k–$161k
- Middle 50% · FY2025
- Globallogic
- Top sponsor · 740 all-time
Lead Software Engineer: 9,478 certified H-1B LCAs since FY2016. In FY2025 the median base salary was $144k across 1,416 filings, with the middle 50% of offers between $132k and $161k. The biggest sponsors are Globallogic, Epam Systems, Capital One Services; most filings are in San Francisco, CA.
How much does a Lead Software Engineer make on an H-1B?
Certified base salary by fiscal year: each box is the p25–p75 range, the heavy line the median, the whiskers reach p10–p90. $144k median in FY2025. Base pay only — hover a year for its figures.
How has Lead Software Engineer sponsorship changed?
372 certified filings in FY2016 → 937 in FY2026. The change column is each year against the one before.
| Fiscal year | Filings | vs prior FY | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 937 | −34% | $149k |
| FY2025 | 1,416 | +32% | $144k |
| FY2024 | 1,069 | −7% | $140k |
| FY2023 | 1,154 | −2% | $135k |
| FY2022 | 1,177 | +57% | $130k |
| FY2021 | 750 | −4% | $130k |
| FY2020 | 783 | +3% | $124k |
| FY2019 | 763 | +24% | $119k |
| FY2018 | 615 | +39% | $116k |
| FY2017 | 442 | +19% | $110k |
| FY2016 | 372 | — | $113k |
Which companies sponsor H-1B Lead Software Engineers?
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 | Globallogic | 740 | $113k |
| 2 | Epam Systems | 636 | $115k |
| 3 | Capital One Services | 457 | $103k |
| 4 | Optum Services | 276 | $133k |
| 5 | Lowe S Companies | 270 | $134k |
| 6 | Impetus Technologies | 187 | $108k |
| 7 | Salesforce Com | 186 | $158k |
| 8 | Mastercard Technologies | 181 | $138k |
| 9 | Cadence Design Systems | 177 | $121k |
| 10 | Cox Automotive Corporate Services | 176 | $153k |
Where are H-1B Lead Software Engineer jobs located?
Worksite cities with the most certified filings for this title, all years.
| # | City | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | 458 | $159k |
| 2 | Charlotte, NC | 409 | $134k |
| 3 | New York, NY | 316 | $145k |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | 310 | $131k |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | 289 | $128k |
| 6 | Irving, TX | 213 | $125k |
| 7 | O'Fallon, MO | 193 | $137k |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | 191 | $140k |
| 9 | Richmond, VA | 176 | $96k |
| 10 | Boston, MA | 169 | $148k |
Common questions about Lead Software Engineer H-1B salaries
- What is the median H-1B salary for a Lead Software Engineer?
- The median certified H-1B base salary for Lead Software Engineer is $144k (FY2025), from 1,416 filings. Across all years the middle 50% earn between $115k and $152k.
- Which companies sponsor the most H-1B Lead Software Engineers?
- The top H-1B sponsors for Lead Software Engineer are Globallogic, Epam Systems, Capital One Services.
- Where are most H-1B Lead Software Engineer jobs located?
- The top worksite locations for H-1B Lead Software Engineer roles are San Francisco, CA, Charlotte, NC, New York, NY.
- Does a certified LCA mean Lead Software Engineer H-1B visas were 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 →