Principal Engineer, Software H-1B salaries — 183 certified filings (FY2016–FY2026)
- 31
- Filings · FY2025
- $179k
- Median base · FY2025
- $171k–$189k
- Middle 50% · FY2025
- T-Mobile USA
- Top sponsor · 126 all-time
Principal Engineer, Software: 183 certified H-1B LCAs since FY2016. In FY2025 the median base salary was $179k across 31 filings, with the middle 50% of offers between $171k and $189k. The biggest sponsors are T-Mobile USA, Carefusion Resources, Carmax Enterprise Services; most filings are in Bellevue, WA.
How much does a Principal Engineer, Software 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. $179k median in FY2025. Base pay only — hover a year for its figures.
How has Principal Engineer, Software sponsorship changed?
10 certified filings in FY2016 → 21 in FY2026. The change column is each year against the one before.
| Fiscal year | Filings | vs prior FY | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 21 | −32% | $171k |
| FY2025 | 31 | +24% | $179k |
| FY2024 | 25 | +19% | $171k |
| FY2023 | 21 | −19% | $166k |
| FY2022 | 26 | +63% | $161k |
| FY2021 | 16 | +78% | $154k |
| FY2020 | 9 | −40% | $148k |
| FY2019 | 15 | +114% | $154k |
| FY2018 | 7 | +250% | $142k |
| FY2017 | 2 | −80% | $113k |
| FY2016 | 10 | — | $105k |
Which companies sponsor H-1B Principal Engineer, Softwares?
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 | T-Mobile USA | 126 | $166k |
| 2 | Carefusion Resources | 8 | $105k |
| 3 | Carmax Enterprise Services | 6 | $170k |
| 4 | Verint Americas | 4 | $110k |
| 5 | Carmax Enterprise Services Llc “ces” | 3 | $150k |
| 6 | F5 | 3 | $201k |
| 7 | Harman Becker Automotive Systems | 3 | $123k |
| 8 | Mattel HQ | 3 | $175k |
| 9 | Usa Waste - Management Resources | 3 | $150k |
| 10 | Hill-Rom | 2 | $130k |
Where are H-1B Principal Engineer, Software jobs located?
Worksite cities with the most certified filings for this title, all years.
| # | City | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bellevue, WA | 41 | $177k |
| 2 | Bothell, WA | 27 | $170k |
| 3 | Atlanta, GA | 20 | $155k |
| 4 | Overland Park, KS | 19 | $145k |
| 5 | Frisco, TX | 12 | $165k |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | 8 | $105k |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | 4 | $191k |
| 8 | Ann Arbor, MI | 3 | $140k |
| 9 | Houston, TX | 3 | $150k |
| 10 | Richmond, VA | 3 | $170k |
Common questions about Principal Engineer, Software H-1B salaries
- What is the median H-1B salary for a Principal Engineer, Software?
- The median certified H-1B base salary for Principal Engineer, Software is $179k (FY2025), from 31 filings. Across all years the middle 50% earn between $143k and $178k.
- Which companies sponsor the most H-1B Principal Engineer, Softwares?
- The top H-1B sponsors for Principal Engineer, Software are T-Mobile USA, Carefusion Resources, Carmax Enterprise Services.
- Where are most H-1B Principal Engineer, Software jobs located?
- The top worksite locations for H-1B Principal Engineer, Software roles are Bellevue, WA, Bothell, WA, Atlanta, GA.
- Does a certified LCA mean Principal Engineer, Software 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 →