Software Engineer H-1B salaries — 301,963 certified filings (FY2016–FY2026)
- 27,813
- Filings · FY2025
- $138k
- Median base · FY2025
- $106k–$183k
- Middle 50% · FY2025
- Microsoft
- Top sponsor · 29,968 all-time
Software Engineer: 301,963 certified H-1B LCAs since FY2016. In FY2025 the median base salary was $138k across 27,813 filings, with the middle 50% of offers between $106k and $183k. The biggest sponsors are Microsoft, Google, Meta Platforms; most filings are in Redmond, WA.
How much does a 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. $138k median in FY2025. Base pay only — hover a year for its figures.
How has Software Engineer sponsorship changed?
23,518 certified filings in FY2016 → 20,612 in FY2026. The change column is each year against the one before.
| Fiscal year | Filings | vs prior FY | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 20,612 | −26% | $151k |
| FY2025 | 27,813 | −9% | $138k |
| FY2024 | 30,712 | −4% | $130k |
| FY2023 | 31,849 | −11% | $133k |
| FY2022 | 35,922 | +42% | $125k |
| FY2021 | 25,258 | −5% | $114k |
| FY2020 | 26,596 | −13% | $109k |
| FY2019 | 30,500 | +13% | $97k |
| FY2018 | 27,087 | +23% | $94k |
| FY2017 | 22,096 | −6% | $88k |
| FY2016 | 23,518 | — | $84k |
Which companies sponsor H-1B 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 | Microsoft | 29,968 | $142k |
| 2 | 27,422 | $170k | |
| 3 | Meta Platforms | 12,265 | $200k |
| 4 | 7,220 | $167k | |
| 5 | Mphasis | 5,479 | $107k |
| 6 | Intel | 5,159 | $118k |
| 7 | Natsoft | 1,994 | $97k |
| 8 | Cisco Systems | 1,899 | $127k |
| 9 | Nvidia | 1,830 | $171k |
| 10 | Uber Technologies | 1,635 | $140k |
Where are H-1B Software Engineer jobs located?
Worksite cities with the most certified filings for this title, all years.
| # | City | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redmond, WA | 22,653 | $140k |
| 2 | Mountain View, CA | 15,143 | $168k |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | 14,025 | $144k |
| 4 | New York, NY | 12,345 | $145k |
| 5 | Sunnyvale, CA | 11,695 | $167k |
| 6 | Menlo Park, CA | 10,732 | $185k |
| 7 | Bellevue, WA | 8,435 | $149k |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | 7,935 | $157k |
| 9 | San Jose, CA | 5,907 | $131k |
| 10 | Irving, TX | 5,545 | $95k |
Common questions about Software Engineer H-1B salaries
- What is the median H-1B salary for a Software Engineer?
- The median certified H-1B base salary for Software Engineer is $138k (FY2025), from 27,813 filings. Across all years the middle 50% earn between $90k and $148k.
- Which companies sponsor the most H-1B Software Engineers?
- The top H-1B sponsors for Software Engineer are Microsoft, Google, Meta Platforms.
- Where are most H-1B Software Engineer jobs located?
- The top worksite locations for H-1B Software Engineer roles are Redmond, WA, Mountain View, CA, San Francisco, CA.
- Does a certified LCA mean 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 →