Principal Software Developer H-1B salaries — 330 certified filings (FY2016–FY2026)
- 20
- Filings · FY2025
- $154k
- Median base · FY2025
- $124k–$173k
- Middle 50% · FY2025
- Dfs Corporate Services
- Top sponsor · 38 all-time
Principal Software Developer: 330 certified H-1B LCAs since FY2016. In FY2025 the median base salary was $154k across 20 filings, with the middle 50% of offers between $124k and $173k. The biggest sponsors are Dfs Corporate Services, Incandescent Technologies, The Nielsen Company US; most filings are in Riverwoods, IL.
How much does a Principal Software Developer 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. $154k median in FY2025. Base pay only — hover a year for its figures.
How has Principal Software Developer sponsorship changed?
24 certified filings in FY2016 → 29 in FY2026. The change column is each year against the one before.
| Fiscal year | Filings | vs prior FY | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 29 | +45% | $160k |
| FY2025 | 20 | +11% | $154k |
| FY2024 | 18 | −45% | $143k |
| FY2023 | 33 | −13% | $138k |
| FY2022 | 38 | −16% | $126k |
| FY2021 | 45 | +10% | $122k |
| FY2020 | 41 | +14% | $114k |
| FY2019 | 36 | +57% | $122k |
| FY2018 | 23 | 0% | $126k |
| FY2017 | 23 | −4% | $114k |
| FY2016 | 24 | — | $107k |
Which companies sponsor H-1B Principal Software Developers?
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 | Dfs Corporate Services | 38 | $122k |
| 2 | Incandescent Technologies | 31 | $98k |
| 3 | The Nielsen Company US | 29 | $120k |
| 4 | Liberty Mutual Technology Group | 17 | $129k |
| 5 | Savvas Learning | 15 | $148k |
| 6 | Sas Institute | 14 | $132k |
| 7 | Liberty Mutual Group | 8 | $106k |
| 8 | Alticor | 7 | $137k |
| 9 | Ncs Pearson | 6 | $127k |
| 10 | Ansys | 6 | $103k |
Where are H-1B Principal Software Developer jobs located?
Worksite cities with the most certified filings for this title, all years.
| # | City | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riverwoods, IL | 24 | $122k |
| 2 | Oldsmar, FL | 17 | $117k |
| 3 | Boston, MA | 16 | $128k |
| 4 | Chandler, AZ | 15 | $148k |
| 5 | Cary, NC | 15 | $132k |
| 6 | Tampa, FL | 14 | $88k |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | 9 | $154k |
| 8 | New York, NY | 9 | $124k |
| 9 | Ada, MI | 8 | $137k |
| 10 | Shakopee, MN | 6 | $113k |
Common questions about Principal Software Developer H-1B salaries
- What is the median H-1B salary for a Principal Software Developer?
- The median certified H-1B base salary for Principal Software Developer is $154k (FY2025), from 20 filings. Across all years the middle 50% earn between $112k and $148k.
- Which companies sponsor the most H-1B Principal Software Developers?
- The top H-1B sponsors for Principal Software Developer are Dfs Corporate Services, Incandescent Technologies, The Nielsen Company US.
- Where are most H-1B Principal Software Developer jobs located?
- The top worksite locations for H-1B Principal Software Developer roles are Riverwoods, IL, Oldsmar, FL, Boston, MA.
- Does a certified LCA mean Principal Software Developer 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 →