BNSF RAILWAY H-1B Visa Sponsorship & Salary Data
Yes, BNSF RAILWAY sponsors H-1B visas. In FY 2026, BNSF RAILWAY filed 64 H-1B labor condition applications (59 certified) with a median salary of $165,000. Across FY 2020–2026, BNSF RAILWAY has filed 86 total H-1B applications with 78 certified and a lifetime median salary of $165,000, which is 38% higher than the national H-1B median of $120,000.
FY 2026 Q1: 9 certified LCAs
Certifications dated Oct 1 – Dec 31, 2025 — the first full quarter after the $100K H-1B fee took effect on September 21, 2025.
BNSF RAILWAY certified 9 H-1B LCAs in FY 2026 Q1 — the first quarter after the $100K H-1B fee took effect on September 21, 2025. The 6-year Q1 baseline (FY 2020–2025) averages 2 certified filings per Q1, so this quarter came in 350% above the historical norm.
These counts reflect DOL LCA certifications with decision_date in Oct–Dec — a proxy for post-fee sponsorship activity. LCAs do not distinguish cap-subject new hires (fee-exposed) from extensions, transfers, and change-of-status petitions (fee-exempt), so a drop does not cleanly translate to fewer H-1B workers at BNSF RAILWAY.
Salary Analysis
Salary Range
- 10th percentile: $93,750
- 25th percentile: $120,000
- Median: $165,000
- 75th percentile: $165,000
- 90th percentile: $215,000
Wage Level Distribution
- Level I (Entry): 20 (28%)
- Level II (Qualified): 9 (13%)
- Level III (Experienced): 0 (0%)
- Level IV (Expert): 42 (59%)
Trend (2020-2026)
- Starting median: $86,601
- Current median: $165,000
- Growth: +91%
Salary & Hiring Visualizations
Salary Distribution
Distribution of H-1B salaries at BNSF RAILWAY
BNSF RAILWAY's H-1B salaries range from $93,750 to $215,000 (10th-90th percentile), with a median of $165,000. This is 38% above the national H-1B median.
Wage Level Distribution
DOL wage levels affect H-1B lottery priority
BNSF RAILWAY files 72% of H-1B positions at Level II or higher. Higher wage levels receive priority in the H-1B lottery, giving BNSF RAILWAY candidates a competitive advantage.
Median Salary Trend
Year-over-year salary changes
BNSF RAILWAY's median H-1B salary increased by +91% from FY 2020 ($86,601) to FY 2026 ($165,000). This strong growth reflects competitive compensation adjustments.
H-1B Filings by Year
Annual hiring activity through H-1B program
BNSF RAILWAY's H-1B filings grew by +5800% from FY 2020 to FY 2026. This indicates significant expansion of their H-1B workforce.
Salary by Job Title
Top roles by filing volume: shape of all filings, middle 50% box, median tick
The highest-volume H-1B role at BNSF RAILWAY is Senior Software Engineer with 28 filings at $165,000 median salary.
Salary by Location
Salary distribution across office locations (sorted by median)
BNSF RAILWAY's largest H-1B hub is Fort Worth, TX with 17 filings. The highest-paying location is Irving, TX at $165,000 median.
Highest Paying H-1B Roles at BNSF RAILWAY
Ranked by median salary — Unlike "Salary by Job Title" above which shows the most common roles by filing volume, this section ranks all H-1B positions by their median compensation to highlight the best-paying opportunities.
These are the 6 highest-paying of BNSF RAILWAY's most common H-1B job titles, ranked by median salary. The highest-paying role is Staff Engineering Manager at $243,750 median, which is 48% above the company's overall H-1B median of $165,000.
High-paying H-1B roles typically require advanced technical expertise, specialized domain knowledge, or significant leadership responsibility. Factors influencing top-tier compensation include years of experience, educational credentials (PhD, Master's degrees), rare skill combinations, and market demand for specific technologies. The chart under each role shows how pay is spread across its filings—a wide box means pay varies a lot for that title, while a narrow box suggests standardized pay bands. Senior and principal-level positions consistently command premium salaries due to their strategic impact and scarcity of qualified candidates.
Middle 50% of salaries Middle 80% Median Shape of all filings (wider = more common salary) Sample of filings Company median
Staff Engineering Manager
2 H-1B filings at BNSF RAILWAY
Too few filings to chart the pay spread.
Senior Software Engineer
28 H-1B filings at BNSF RAILWAY
Software Engineer II
15 H-1B filings at BNSF RAILWAY
Software Engineer
6 H-1B filings at BNSF RAILWAY
Too few filings to chart the pay spread.
Senior Operations Research And Advanced Analytics Specialist
2 H-1B filings at BNSF RAILWAY
Too few filings to chart the pay spread.
Senior Operations Research Specialist
3 H-1B filings at BNSF RAILWAY
Too few filings to chart the pay spread.
Salary data based on 78 certified H-1B labor condition applications at BNSF RAILWAY. Actual compensation may vary based on experience, specific role requirements, and location within the company.
Highest Individual H-1B Salaries at BNSF RAILWAY
Actual filed salaries — These are the 10 highest individual H-1B salary filings at BNSF RAILWAY, representing specific positions (not aggregated medians). These may include executive, highly specialized, or senior leadership roles.
The highest H-1B salary filed at BNSF RAILWAY was $315,000 for a Software Engineer position in Redmond, WA (FY2026). This is 91% higher than the company's median H-1B salary.
Top H-1B salaries often cluster in high cost-of-living metros like San Francisco, New York, and Seattle where prevailing wages are higher. However, executive and specialized roles can command premium compensation regardless of location. These filings represent the upper bound of H-1B compensation at BNSF RAILWAY—actual total compensation may be significantly higher when including stock grants, bonuses, and benefits. Geographic patterns in top salaries often reflect where companies locate their most senior technical talent and leadership positions.
Marker size indicates salary level. Click markers for details.
| Rank | Job Title | Location | Salary | Level | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Software Engineer | Redmond, WA | $315,000 | IV | FY 2026 |
| 2 | Senior Staff Cybersecurity Manager | Secaucus, NJ | $261,248 | IV | FY 2026 |
| 3 | Staff Engineer Manager | San Jose, CA | $245,314 | N/A | FY 2026 |
| 4 | Staff Engineer | Chicago, IL | $243,750 | IV | FY 2025 |
| 5 | Staff Engineering Manager | Lathrop, CA | $243,750 | IV | FY 2025 |
| 6 | Senior Staff Engineer | Round Rock, TX | $243,750 | IV | FY 2026 |
| 7 | Senior Staff Engineer | Lynnwood, WA | $243,750 | IV | FY 2026 |
| 8 | Senior Software Engineer | Fort Worth, TX | $215,000 | IV | FY 2026 |
| 9 | Senior Software Engineer | Bellevue, WA | $212,202 | IV | FY 2026 |
| 10 | Senior Software Engineer | Everett, WA | $212,202 | IV | FY 2026 |
These represent the highest individual salary amounts filed in H-1B labor condition applications. Note: H-1B salary data reflects base compensation only and does not include stock options, RSUs, bonuses, or other benefits which can significantly increase total compensation at tech companies.
Detailed Breakdown
H-1B Job Titles at BNSF RAILWAY
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Software Engineer | 28 | $165,000 |
| Software Engineer II | 15 | $123,750 |
| Software Engineer | 6 | $123,600 |
| Senior Operations Research Specialist | 3 | $86,601 |
| Senior Operations Research And Advanced Analytics Specialist | 2 | $101,900 |
| Staff Engineering Manager | 2 | $243,750 |
H-1B Locations for BNSF RAILWAY
| Location | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Worth, TX | 17 | $112,923 |
| Irving, TX | 5 | $165,000 |
| Prosper, TX | 4 | $165,000 |
| Mckinney, TX | 4 | $165,000 |
| Celina, TX | 3 | $165,000 |
| Little Elm, TX | 3 | $144,200 |
| Austin, TX | 2 | $123,600 |
| Round Rock, TX | 2 | $243,750 |
| Leander, TX | 2 | $165,000 |
| Pompano Beach, FL | 2 | $165,547 |
Recent H-1B Filings at BNSF RAILWAY
Sample of 20 recent certified H-1B labor condition applications. This represents a small fraction of BNSF RAILWAY's 78 total certified filings.
| Job Title | Location | Salary | Level | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staff Security Engineer | Wylie, TX | $165,000 | IV | FY 2026 |
| Senior Staff Cybersecurity Manager | Secaucus, NJ | $261,248 | IV | FY 2026 |
| Senior Data Engineer | Celina, TX | $165,000 | IV | FY 2026 |
| Software Engineer | Redmond, WA | $315,000 | IV | FY 2026 |
| Staff Engineering Manager | Odessa, TX | $178,027 | IV | FY 2026 |
| Senior Staff Engineer | Round Rock, TX | $243,750 | IV | FY 2026 |
| Data Engineer II | Little Elm, TX | $93,750 | I | FY 2026 |
| Senior Staff Engineer | Lynnwood, WA | $243,750 | IV | FY 2026 |
| Senior Operations Research And Advanced Analytics Specialist | Fremont, CA | $101,900 | II | FY 2026 |
| Software Engineer II | Melbourne, FL | $123,750 | II | FY 2026 |
| Senior Software Engineer | Aubrey, TX | $165,000 | IV | FY 2026 |
| Senior Software Engineer | Mountain House, CA | $165,000 | IV | FY 2026 |
| Staff Engineer (Product, Platform & Enterprise) | Prosper, TX | $165,000 | IV | FY 2026 |
| Senior Software Engineer | Leander, TX | $165,000 | IV | FY 2026 |
| Senior Software Engineer | Bellevue, WA | $212,202 | IV | FY 2026 |
| Senior Data Scientist | St. Peters, MO | $165,000 | IV | FY 2026 |
| Senior Software Engineer | Leander, TX | $165,000 | IV | FY 2026 |
| Staff Engineer Manager | San Jose, CA | $245,314 | N/A | FY 2026 |
| Senior Software Engineer | Pompano Beach, FL | $165,547 | IV | FY 2026 |
| Senior Software Engineer | Mckinney, TX | $165,000 | IV | FY 2026 |
Data source: U.S. Department of Labor LCA Disclosure Files. Showing most recent certified filings.
Frequently Asked Questions about BNSF RAILWAY H-1B Visas
What is the average H-1B salary at BNSF RAILWAY?
The median H-1B salary at BNSF RAILWAY is $165,000, based on 78 certified filings from FY 2020 to FY 2026. This is 38% higher than the national H-1B median salary of $120,000. Compensation at BNSF RAILWAY reflects their market positioning, with entry-level roles starting around $120,000 and senior positions reaching $215,000 or higher. These figures represent base salaries in LCA filings and may not include bonuses, equity grants, or other compensation common at large employers.
Salaries at BNSF RAILWAY range from $93,750 at the 10th percentile to $215,000 at the 90th percentile, showing a $121,250 spread across experience levels and roles. The 25th percentile is $120,000 and the 75th percentile is $165,000.
Does BNSF RAILWAY sponsor H-1B visas in 2026?
Yes, BNSF RAILWAY actively sponsors H-1B visas in FY 2026. In the most recent fiscal year (FY 2026), BNSF RAILWAY filed 64 H-1B labor condition applications with 59 certified and 0 denied, at a median salary of $165,000. Across FY 2020–2026, they have filed 86 total H-1B applications with 78 certified and a 0% lifetime denial rate, demonstrating ongoing commitment to hiring international talent. BNSF RAILWAY sponsors positions across multiple job categories and locations, making them a viable option for professionals seeking H-1B visa sponsorship.
In the most recent fiscal year (FY 2026), BNSF RAILWAY filed 64 H-1B applications, with 59 certified and 0 denied. Over 7 years of data, BNSF RAILWAY has consistently demonstrated commitment to H-1B sponsorship.
Note: These are Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the Department of Labor, which is a prerequisite for H-1B petitions. The actual number of H-1B petitions filed with USCIS may differ.
What is BNSF RAILWAY's H-1B approval rate?
BNSF RAILWAY's LCA (Labor Condition Application) denial rate is 0%, with 0 out of 86 applications denied across all years. This translates to a 100.0% certification rate, which indicates how successfully the company prepares and files H-1B applications. A lower denial rate suggests better compliance with Department of Labor requirements, proper wage documentation, and accurate job classification. Prospective H-1B applicants should consider this approval rate alongside other factors like salary, job role, and location when evaluating BNSF RAILWAY as a potential H-1B sponsor.
This is an excellent approval rate, indicating BNSF RAILWAY has strong H-1B sponsorship practices and typically meets DOL requirements. Applicants can feel confident in the company's H-1B track record.
What jobs does BNSF RAILWAY sponsor for H-1B?
BNSF RAILWAY sponsors H-1B visas for various specialty occupation positions requiring at least a bachelor's degree. Based on 78 certified filings, the most commonly sponsored job titles reflect the company's primary business functions and talent needs. These positions typically require specialized knowledge in fields like technology, engineering, finance, or scientific research. Understanding which roles BNSF RAILWAY most frequently sponsors can help job seekers target their applications effectively.
Most common H-1B job titles at BNSF RAILWAY:
The most frequently sponsored role is Senior Software Engineer with 28 filings at a median salary of $165,000. This is followed by Software Engineer II (15 filings) and Software Engineer.
Where are BNSF RAILWAY's H-1B jobs located?
BNSF RAILWAY's H-1B positions are distributed across multiple U.S. locations, with concentration in major metropolitan areas and tech hubs. Geographic distribution often reflects company office locations, client sites, and regional market demands. Location significantly impacts H-1B salary due to varying cost of living and local wage requirements. Understanding where BNSF RAILWAY sponsors H-1B workers can help candidates target specific offices and negotiate appropriate compensation for each market.
Top BNSF RAILWAY H-1B locations:
Circle size indicates relative H-1B filing volume
The largest H-1B hub for BNSF RAILWAY is Fort Worth, TX with 17 filings at a median salary of $112,923. The highest-paying location is Round Rock, TX at $243,750 median. Salaries range from $112,923 to $243,750 across office locations.
How have BNSF RAILWAY's H-1B salaries changed over time?
BNSF RAILWAY's median H-1B salary has increased by +91% from FY 2020 ($86,601) to FY 2026 ($165,000). Tracking salary trends over time reveals how BNSF RAILWAY adjusts compensation to remain competitive in the H-1B labor market. Salary growth typically reflects inflation adjustments, increased demand for specialized skills, and evolving prevailing wage requirements. These historical trends can help applicants understand future salary expectations and negotiate appropriately when considering H-1B opportunities at BNSF RAILWAY.
Year-by-year breakdown:
- FY 2021: $94,500 (4 certified)
- FY 2022: $130,000 (4 certified)
- FY 2024: $90,301 (3 certified)
- FY 2025: $162,027 (7 certified)
- FY 2026: $165,000 (59 certified)
This 91% growth reflects strong compensation adjustments at BNSF RAILWAY, keeping pace with market demands for H-1B talent.
What wage level does BNSF RAILWAY use for H-1B?
BNSF RAILWAY primarily files H-1B applications at Wage Level IV, accounting for 59% of their filings. DOL wage levels range from Level I (entry-level, 17th percentile of local wages) to Level IV (expert, 67th percentile). Wage level determines both salary requirements and, under recent H-1B rules, lottery selection priority. Higher wage levels receive preference in the H-1B lottery, making BNSF RAILWAY's wage level distribution an important factor for prospective applicants assessing their chances of H-1B selection.
BNSF RAILWAY has a mix of entry-level (Level I) and experienced (Level II+) H-1B positions. This reflects a range of roles from junior to senior.
How does BNSF RAILWAY's H-1B salary compare to other employers?
BNSF RAILWAY's median H-1B salary of $165,000 is 38% higher than the national H-1B median of $120,000 across all employers and industries. This comparison provides context for evaluating BNSF RAILWAY's competitiveness in attracting H-1B talent. Keep in mind that industry, location, and job function significantly impact salary levels. Tech companies and financial institutions typically offer higher H-1B salaries than other sectors, while salaries in major metros like San Francisco and New York exceed those in smaller markets. Compare BNSF RAILWAY's offerings with similar companies in your field for a more accurate assessment.
This places BNSF RAILWAY among the higher-paying H-1B sponsors in the industry. Candidates considering H-1B sponsorship should weigh this competitive compensation alongside other factors like role growth, location, and visa processing track record.
How do new H-1B fees and rules affect BNSF RAILWAY's sponsorship?
Recent H-1B rule changes have increased filing fees and introduced wage-level prioritization in the lottery. BNSF RAILWAY's higher proportion of Level III-IV positions (59%) may benefit from wage-based lottery prioritization.
With 78 certified filings, BNSF RAILWAY invests significantly in H-1B sponsorship. The company's 0% denial rate suggests strong compliance with H-1B requirements and documentation standards.
Note: H-1B regulations are subject to change. Fees shown are estimates based on 2024 USCIS fee schedules. Actual costs may vary based on company size, premium processing, and future rule changes.
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