Principal Software Architect H-1B salaries — 146 certified filings (FY2016–FY2026)
- 19
- Filings · FY2025
- $155k
- Median base · FY2025
- $148k–$217k
- Middle 50% · FY2025
- Equinix
- Top sponsor · 8 all-time
Principal Software Architect: 146 certified H-1B LCAs since FY2016. In FY2025 the median base salary was $155k across 19 filings, with the middle 50% of offers between $148k and $217k. The biggest sponsors are Equinix, Harman International Industries, Disney Parks Technology Services; most filings are in Sunnyvale, CA.
How much does a Principal Software Architect 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. $155k median in FY2025. Base pay only — hover a year for its figures.
How has Principal Software Architect sponsorship changed?
10 certified filings in FY2016 → 10 in FY2026. The change column is each year against the one before.
| Fiscal year | Filings | vs prior FY | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 10 | −47% | $164k |
| FY2025 | 19 | +12% | $155k |
| FY2024 | 17 | +70% | $180k |
| FY2023 | 10 | −33% | $191k |
| FY2022 | 15 | +7% | $163k |
| FY2021 | 14 | +27% | $165k |
| FY2020 | 11 | −31% | $169k |
| FY2019 | 16 | +7% | $155k |
| FY2018 | 15 | +67% | $155k |
| FY2017 | 9 | −10% | $130k |
| FY2016 | 10 | — | $130k |
Which companies sponsor H-1B Principal Software Architects?
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 | Equinix | 8 | $155k |
| 2 | Harman International Industries | 5 | $192k |
| 3 | Disney Parks Technology Services | 5 | $213k |
| 4 | Factset Research Systems | 5 | $218k |
| 5 | Nuance Communications | 5 | $113k |
| 6 | B1 IT Solutions | 4 | $128k |
| 7 | Bright Machines | 3 | $250k |
| 8 | Concentrix Cvg Customer Management Group | 3 | $153k |
| 9 | Brocade Communications Systems | 3 | $180k |
| 10 | Procom Consulting | 3 | $169k |
Where are H-1B Principal Software Architect jobs located?
Worksite cities with the most certified filings for this title, all years.
| # | City | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale, CA | 12 | $180k |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | 8 | $152k |
| 3 | Frisco, TX | 6 | $128k |
| 4 | Mountain View, CA | 5 | $155k |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | 5 | $185k |
| 6 | Irvine, CA | 5 | $160k |
| 7 | Orlando, FL | 4 | $191k |
| 8 | Burlington, MA | 4 | $108k |
| 9 | Pleasanton, CA | 4 | $160k |
| 10 | San Francisco, CA | 4 | $162k |
Common questions about Principal Software Architect H-1B salaries
- What is the median H-1B salary for a Principal Software Architect?
- The median certified H-1B base salary for Principal Software Architect is $155k (FY2025), from 19 filings. Across all years the middle 50% earn between $138k and $192k.
- Which companies sponsor the most H-1B Principal Software Architects?
- The top H-1B sponsors for Principal Software Architect are Equinix, Harman International Industries, Disney Parks Technology Services.
- Where are most H-1B Principal Software Architect jobs located?
- The top worksite locations for H-1B Principal Software Architect roles are Sunnyvale, CA, Seattle, WA, Frisco, TX.
- Does a certified LCA mean Principal Software Architect 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 →