Principal Software Engineer/Developer H-1B salaries — 2,390 certified filings (FY2016–FY2026)
- 315
- Filings · FY2025
- $132k
- Median base · FY2025
- $127k–$141k
- Middle 50% · FY2025
- Fidelity Technology Group
- Top sponsor · 1,438 all-time
Principal Software Engineer/Developer: 2,390 certified H-1B LCAs since FY2016. In FY2025 the median base salary was $132k across 315 filings, with the middle 50% of offers between $127k and $141k. The biggest sponsors are Fidelity Technology Group, Fidelity Technology Group LLC D B a Fidelity Investments, Fidelity Brokerage Services; most filings are in Durham, NC.
How much does a Principal Software Engineer/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. $132k median in FY2025. Base pay only — hover a year for its figures.
How has Principal Software Engineer/Developer sponsorship changed?
25 certified filings in FY2016 → 243 in FY2026. The change column is each year against the one before.
| Fiscal year | Filings | vs prior FY | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 243 | −23% | $133k |
| FY2025 | 315 | +1% | $132k |
| FY2024 | 311 | +51% | $132k |
| FY2023 | 206 | −46% | $121k |
| FY2022 | 379 | 0% | $113k |
| FY2021 | 379 | +66% | $109k |
| FY2020 | 229 | +67% | $109k |
| FY2019 | 137 | +27% | $99k |
| FY2018 | 108 | +86% | $100k |
| FY2017 | 58 | +132% | $101k |
| FY2016 | 25 | — | $95k |
Which companies sponsor H-1B Principal Software Engineer/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 | Fidelity Technology Group | 1,438 | $116k |
| 2 | Fidelity Technology Group LLC D B a Fidelity Investments | 442 | $132k |
| 3 | Fidelity Brokerage Services | 205 | $103k |
| 4 | Fmr | 56 | $103k |
| 5 | Fidelity Management Research | 52 | $110k |
| 6 | National Financial | 42 | $101k |
| 7 | National Financial Services | 34 | $109k |
| 8 | Fidelity Service | 30 | $103k |
| 9 | National Charitable Services | 26 | $109k |
| 10 | Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations | 18 | $104k |
Where are H-1B Principal Software Engineer/Developer jobs located?
Worksite cities with the most certified filings for this title, all years.
| # | City | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham, NC | 1,248 | $113k |
| 2 | Westlake, TX | 539 | $120k |
| 3 | Boston, MA | 167 | $116k |
| 4 | Merrimack, NH | 160 | $120k |
| 5 | Smithfield, RI | 84 | $114k |
| 6 | Jersey City, NJ | 65 | $128k |
| 7 | Salt Lake City, UT | 46 | $107k |
| 8 | Covington, KY | 15 | $109k |
| 9 | Cary, NC | 5 | $100k |
| 10 | Austin, TX | 4 | $112k |
Common questions about Principal Software Engineer/Developer H-1B salaries
- What is the median H-1B salary for a Principal Software Engineer/Developer?
- The median certified H-1B base salary for Principal Software Engineer/Developer is $132k (FY2025), from 315 filings. Across all years the middle 50% earn between $109k and $131k.
- Which companies sponsor the most H-1B Principal Software Engineer/Developers?
- The top H-1B sponsors for Principal Software Engineer/Developer are Fidelity Technology Group, Fidelity Technology Group LLC D B a Fidelity Investments, Fidelity Brokerage Services.
- Where are most H-1B Principal Software Engineer/Developer jobs located?
- The top worksite locations for H-1B Principal Software Engineer/Developer roles are Durham, NC, Westlake, TX, Boston, MA.
- Does a certified LCA mean Principal Software Engineer/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 →