Software Engineer Principal H-1B salaries — 158 certified filings (FY2016–FY2026)
- 34
- Filings · FY2025
- $178k
- Median base · FY2025
- $150k–$188k
- Middle 50% · FY2025
- Home Depot Management
- Top sponsor · 34 all-time
Software Engineer Principal: 158 certified H-1B LCAs since FY2016. In FY2025 the median base salary was $178k across 34 filings, with the middle 50% of offers between $150k and $188k. The biggest sponsors are Home Depot Management, The Pnc Financial Services Group, Home Depot Product Authority; most filings are in Atlanta, GA.
How much does a Software Engineer Principal 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. $178k median in FY2025. Base pay only — hover a year for its figures.
How has Software Engineer Principal sponsorship changed?
2 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 | −38% | $160k |
| FY2025 | 34 | +70% | $178k |
| FY2024 | 20 | −23% | $141k |
| FY2023 | 26 | +117% | $143k |
| FY2022 | 12 | −25% | $158k |
| FY2021 | 16 | +129% | $132k |
| FY2020 | 7 | 0% | $161k |
| FY2019 | 7 | −30% | $122k |
| FY2018 | 10 | +233% | $143k |
| FY2017 | 3 | +50% | $111k |
| FY2016 | 2 | — | $102k |
Which companies sponsor H-1B Software Engineer Principals?
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 | Home Depot Management | 34 | $180k |
| 2 | The Pnc Financial Services Group | 26 | $132k |
| 3 | Home Depot Product Authority | 19 | $161k |
| 4 | Siemens Industry Software | 14 | $153k |
| 5 | Usa Waste - Management Resources | 10 | $122k |
| 6 | Zebra Technologies | 9 | $148k |
| 7 | Sagent M C | 8 | $132k |
| 8 | Fis Management Services | 6 | $185k |
| 9 | Worldpay | 4 | $162k |
| 10 | Cbre | 4 | $147k |
Where are H-1B Software Engineer Principal jobs located?
Worksite cities with the most certified filings for this title, all years.
| # | City | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta, GA | 30 | $172k |
| 2 | Pittsburgh, PA | 13 | $135k |
| 3 | Houston, TX | 10 | $122k |
| 4 | Holtsville, NY | 6 | $148k |
| 5 | Marietta, GA | 6 | $161k |
| 6 | Fremont, CA | 5 | $185k |
| 7 | Coppell, TX | 5 | $120k |
| 8 | Richardson, TX | 4 | $147k |
| 9 | Plano, TX | 4 | $145k |
| 10 | Lewisville, TX | 3 | $135k |
Common questions about Software Engineer Principal H-1B salaries
- What is the median H-1B salary for a Software Engineer Principal?
- The median certified H-1B base salary for Software Engineer Principal is $178k (FY2025), from 34 filings. Across all years the middle 50% earn between $132k and $177k.
- Which companies sponsor the most H-1B Software Engineer Principals?
- The top H-1B sponsors for Software Engineer Principal are Home Depot Management, The Pnc Financial Services Group, Home Depot Product Authority.
- Where are most H-1B Software Engineer Principal jobs located?
- The top worksite locations for H-1B Software Engineer Principal roles are Atlanta, GA, Pittsburgh, PA, Houston, TX.
- Does a certified LCA mean Software Engineer Principal 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 →