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H-1B data current through FY 2026 Q3

CATERPILLAR H-1B Visa Sponsorship & Salary Data

Yes, CATERPILLAR sponsors H-1B visas. In FY 2026, CATERPILLAR filed 261 H-1B labor condition applications (253 certified) with a median salary of $111,675. Across FY 2020–2026, CATERPILLAR has filed 1,890 total H-1B applications with 1,798 certified and a lifetime median salary of $108,120, which is 10% lower than the national H-1B median of $120,000.

Post-$100K-fee sponsorship status

FY 2026 Q1: 34 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.

Still sponsoring — below baseline
31
22
86
57
51
85
34
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
FY 2025
FY 2026

FY 2020–2025 Q1 range 6-year Q1 average

Certified H-1B LCAs in Q1 (Oct–Dec) of each fiscal year for CATERPILLAR: FY 2020: 31; FY 2021: 22; FY 2022: 86; FY 2023: 57; FY 2024: 51; FY 2025: 85; FY 2026: 34;

Did pay change after the fee?

The median salary on CATERPILLAR's certified LCAs was $110,198 in FY 2026 Q1, versus $114,566 in FY 2025 Q1 (down 4%).

FY 2025 Q1
85 filings
FY 2026 Q1
34 filings

Shape = all certified filings that quarter; box = middle 50%; dark tick = median. A shift right can mean higher pay or a shift toward senior roles.

CATERPILLAR certified 34 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 55 certified filings per Q1, so this quarter came in 38% below the historical norm.

Compared to FY 2025 Q1 specifically (85 certified), FY 2026 Q1 is down 60%. The 6-year Q1 range runs from 22 (low) to 86 (peak in FY 2022).

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 CATERPILLAR.

1,798
Certified Filings
FY 2020-2026
$108,120
Median Salary
-10% vs national
0.2%
Denial Rate
4 denied of 1,890
7
Years of Data
FY 2020-2026

Salary Analysis

Salary Range

  • 10th percentile: $90,000
  • 25th percentile: $96,928
  • Median: $108,120
  • 75th percentile: $125,798
  • 90th percentile: $140,046

Wage Level Distribution

  • Level I (Entry): 37 (2%)
  • Level II (Qualified): 839 (48%)
  • Level III (Experienced): 474 (27%)
  • Level IV (Expert): 403 (23%)

Trend (2020-2026)

  • Starting median: $106,356
  • Current median: $111,675
  • Growth: +5%

Salary & Hiring Visualizations

Salary Distribution

Distribution of H-1B salaries at CATERPILLAR

CATERPILLAR's H-1B salaries range from $90,000 to $140,046 (10th-90th percentile), with a median of $108,120. This is comparable to the national H-1B median.

Wage Level Distribution

DOL wage levels affect H-1B lottery priority

CATERPILLAR files 98% of H-1B positions at Level II or higher. Higher wage levels receive priority in the H-1B lottery, giving CATERPILLAR candidates a competitive advantage.

Median Salary Trend

Year-over-year salary changes

CATERPILLAR's median H-1B salary increased by +5% from FY 2020 ($106,356) to FY 2026 ($111,675).

H-1B Filings by Year

Annual hiring activity through H-1B program

CATERPILLAR's H-1B filings grew by +74% 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

Systems Engineer
38 · $93K
Software Engineer
211 · $105K

The highest-volume H-1B role at CATERPILLAR is Software Engineer with 211 filings at $105,000 median salary.

Salary by Location

Salary distribution across office locations (sorted by median)

Chillicothe, IL
632 · $100K
Mossville, IL
148 · $101K
Peoria, IL
224 · $110K
Irving, TX
68 · $122K
Chicago, IL
283 · $124K

CATERPILLAR's largest H-1B hub is Chillicothe, IL with 632 filings. The highest-paying location is Chicago, IL at $123,614 median.

Highest Paying H-1B Roles at CATERPILLAR

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 CATERPILLAR's most common H-1B job titles, ranked by median salary. The highest-paying role is Lead Software Engineer at $145,000 median, which is 34% above the company's overall H-1B median of $108,120.

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

1

Lead Software Engineer

59 H-1B filings at CATERPILLAR

$145,000
+34% vs company median
2

Senior Software Engineer

197 H-1B filings at CATERPILLAR

$125,000
+16% vs company median
3

Software Engineer

211 H-1B filings at CATERPILLAR

$105,000
-3% vs company median
4

Senior Systems Engineer

46 H-1B filings at CATERPILLAR

$103,293
-4% vs company median
5

Performance / Simulation / Application Engineer

34 H-1B filings at CATERPILLAR

$95,680
-12% vs company median
6

Systems Engineer

38 H-1B filings at CATERPILLAR

$93,288
-14% vs company median

Salary data based on 1,798 certified H-1B labor condition applications at CATERPILLAR. Actual compensation may vary based on experience, specific role requirements, and location within the company.

Highest Individual H-1B Salaries at CATERPILLAR

Actual filed salaries — These are the 10 highest individual H-1B salary filings at CATERPILLAR, representing specific positions (not aggregated medians). These may include executive, highly specialized, or senior leadership roles.

The highest H-1B salary filed at CATERPILLAR was $484,000 for a Svp, Resource Industries, Sales, Services & Technology position in Tucson, AZ (FY2024). This is 348% 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 CATERPILLAR—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.

Where are the highest-paid H-1B positions located?

Marker size indicates salary level. Click markers for details.

Rank Job Title Location Salary Level Year
1 Svp, Resource Industries, Sales, Services & Technology Tucson, AZ $484,000 IV FY 2024
2 Autonomy Senior Staff Engineer San Francisco, CA $240,000 II FY 2022
3 Chief Engineer Tempe, AZ $232,898 IV FY 2026
4 Global Director Minestar Operations Performance Tempe, AZ $232,898 IV FY 2026
5 Strategy And Planning Manager Deerfield, IL $220,000 III FY 2020
6 V.P. And General Manager, Motors Technology And Innovation Irving, TX $218,442 IV FY 2026
7 V.P. And General Manager, Motors Technology And Innovation Irving, TX $218,442 IV FY 2026
8 Autonomy Technology Strategist San Francisco, CA $206,315 IV FY 2024
9 Electronic Npi Team Leader San Francisco, CA $206,000 II FY 2020
10 Principal Architect Chicago, IL $195,000 III FY 2022

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 CATERPILLAR

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Software Engineer 211 $105,000
Senior Software Engineer 197 $125,000
Lead Software Engineer 59 $145,000
Senior Systems Engineer 46 $103,293
Systems Engineer 38 $93,288
Performance / Simulation / Application Engineer 34 $95,680

H-1B Locations for CATERPILLAR

Location Filings Median Salary
Chillicothe, IL 632 $100,443
Chicago, IL 283 $123,614
Peoria, IL 224 $110,000
Mossville, IL 148 $100,849
Irving, TX 68 $122,044
Tucson, AZ 44 $105,500
Champaign, IL 26 $100,298
East Peoria, IL 24 $118,000
Decatur, IL 23 $104,356
Seguin, TX 18 $98,200

Recent H-1B Filings at CATERPILLAR

Sample of 20 recent certified H-1B labor condition applications. This represents a small fraction of CATERPILLAR's 1,798 total certified filings.

Job Title Location Salary Level Year
Senior IT Analyst Applications East Peoria, IL $127,587 IV FY 2026
Software Engineer Chillicothe, IL $92,789 II FY 2026
Performance/ Simulation/ Application Engineer Chillicothe, IL $95,680 II FY 2026
Engineer - Design Pontiac, IL $75,962 II FY 2026
Senior Software Engineer Chillicothe, IL $127,587 IV FY 2026
Senior Systems Engineer Chillicothe, IL $111,675 IV FY 2026
Technical Lead Peoria, IL $95,680 II FY 2026
Senior Autonomy Engineer Chillicothe, IL $111,675 IV FY 2026
Software Engineer Georgetown, TX $139,152 III FY 2026
Lead Software Engineer Irving, TX $125,288 N/A FY 2026
Electronic Systems Verification & Validation Senior Engineer Chillicothe, IL $110,198 III FY 2026
Senior Digital Technical Support Engineer Chicago, IL $130,707 III FY 2026
Development & Research Engineering Specialist Chillicothe, IL $107,099 II FY 2026
Senior Autonomy Engineer Chillicothe, IL $127,587 IV FY 2026
Software Engineer Peoria, IL $127,587 IV FY 2026
Design Engineer Tucson, AZ $102,128 II FY 2026
Principal Architect Chicago, IL $160,555 IV FY 2026
Senior Software Engineer Chillicothe, IL $111,675 IV FY 2026
Senior Design Engineer Denison, TX $106,870 III FY 2026
Senior Data Specialist Chicago, IL $135,998 N/A FY 2026

Data source: U.S. Department of Labor LCA Disclosure Files. Showing most recent certified filings.

Frequently Asked Questions about CATERPILLAR H-1B Visas

What is the average H-1B salary at CATERPILLAR?

The median H-1B salary at CATERPILLAR is $108,120, based on 1,798 certified filings from FY 2020 to FY 2026. This is 10% lower than the national H-1B median salary of $120,000. Compensation at CATERPILLAR reflects their market positioning, with entry-level roles starting around $96,928 and senior positions reaching $140,046 or higher. These figures represent base salaries in LCA filings and may not include bonuses, equity grants, or other compensation common at large employers.

10th %ile Median 90th %ile
$90,000 $108,120 $140,046

Salaries at CATERPILLAR range from $90,000 at the 10th percentile to $140,046 at the 90th percentile, showing a $50,046 spread across experience levels and roles. The 25th percentile is $96,928 and the 75th percentile is $125,798.

Does CATERPILLAR sponsor H-1B visas in 2026?

Yes, CATERPILLAR actively sponsors H-1B visas in FY 2026. In the most recent fiscal year (FY 2026), CATERPILLAR filed 261 H-1B labor condition applications with 253 certified and 0 denied, at a median salary of $111,675. Across FY 2020–2026, they have filed 1,890 total H-1B applications with 1,798 certified and a 0.2% lifetime denial rate, demonstrating ongoing commitment to hiring international talent. CATERPILLAR sponsors positions across multiple job categories and locations, making them a viable option for professionals seeking H-1B visa sponsorship.

H-1B Filing History
20
21
22
23
24
25
26

In the most recent fiscal year (FY 2026), CATERPILLAR filed 261 H-1B applications, with 253 certified and 0 denied. Over 7 years of data, CATERPILLAR 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 CATERPILLAR's H-1B approval rate?

CATERPILLAR's LCA (Labor Condition Application) denial rate is 0.2%, with 4 out of 1,890 applications denied across all years. This translates to a 99.8% 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 CATERPILLAR as a potential H-1B sponsor.

Approval vs Denial Rate
99.8% Certified
1,798 certified 4 denied

This is an excellent approval rate, indicating CATERPILLAR 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 CATERPILLAR sponsor for H-1B?

CATERPILLAR sponsors H-1B visas for various specialty occupation positions requiring at least a bachelor's degree. Based on 1,798 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 CATERPILLAR most frequently sponsors can help job seekers target their applications effectively.

Most common H-1B job titles at CATERPILLAR:

The most frequently sponsored role is Software Engineer with 211 filings at a median salary of $105,000. This is followed by Senior Software Engineer (197 filings) and Lead Software Engineer.

Where are CATERPILLAR's H-1B jobs located?

CATERPILLAR'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 CATERPILLAR sponsors H-1B workers can help candidates target specific offices and negotiate appropriate compensation for each market.

Top CATERPILLAR H-1B locations:

The largest H-1B hub for CATERPILLAR is Chillicothe, IL with 632 filings at a median salary of $100,443. The highest-paying location is Chicago, IL at $123,614 median. Salaries range from $98,200 to $123,614 across office locations.

How have CATERPILLAR's H-1B salaries changed over time?

CATERPILLAR's median H-1B salary has increased by +5% from FY 2020 ($106,356) to FY 2026 ($111,675). Tracking salary trends over time reveals how CATERPILLAR 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 CATERPILLAR.

Median Salary Trend
20
21
22
23
24
25
26

Year-by-year breakdown:

  • FY 2022: $106,347 (330 certified)
  • FY 2023: $108,500 (244 certified)
  • FY 2024: $103,293 (293 certified)
  • FY 2025: $112,299 (357 certified)
  • FY 2026: $111,675 (253 certified)

CATERPILLAR has maintained steady salary growth for H-1B positions over this period.

What wage level does CATERPILLAR use for H-1B?

CATERPILLAR primarily files H-1B applications at Wage Level II, accounting for 48% 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 CATERPILLAR's wage level distribution an important factor for prospective applicants assessing their chances of H-1B selection.

Wage Level Distribution
II
III
IV
I: 2% II: 48% III: 27% IV: 23%

With 98% of positions at Level II or higher, CATERPILLAR typically offers competitive wages above entry-level. Higher wage levels receive priority in the H-1B lottery.

How does CATERPILLAR's H-1B salary compare to other employers?

CATERPILLAR's median H-1B salary of $108,120 is 10% lower than the national H-1B median of $120,000 across all employers and industries. This comparison provides context for evaluating CATERPILLAR'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 CATERPILLAR's offerings with similar companies in your field for a more accurate assessment.

vs National H-1B Median
CATERPILLAR
$108,120
National
$120,000
-10% below national median

CATERPILLAR's H-1B salaries are below the national median, though this may vary significantly by role, experience level, and location. Consider researching specific positions for more accurate compensation expectations.

How do new H-1B fees and rules affect CATERPILLAR's sponsorship?
Estimated H-1B Sponsorship Costs (FY 2025)
I-129 Base Filing Fee $1,655
ACWIA Fee (25+ employees) $1,500
Fraud Prevention Fee $500
Asylum Program Fee $600
H-1B Registration Fee $215
Premium Processing (optional) $2,805
Estimated Total per H-1B $4,470 - $7,275+

Recent H-1B rule changes have increased filing fees and introduced wage-level prioritization in the lottery. CATERPILLAR's higher proportion of Level III-IV positions (50%) may benefit from wage-based lottery prioritization.

With 1,798 certified filings, CATERPILLAR invests significantly in H-1B sponsorship. The company's 0.2% 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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