Application Engineer H-1B Salary in San Jose, CA
Employers have filed 132 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Application Engineer positions in San Jose, CA, with a median salary of $124,605. That's 21% higher than the national Application Engineer H-1B median of $103,000 across all U.S. locations, and 15% lower than the San Jose, CA all-roles H-1B median of $146,307. Application Engineer ranks #57 among H-1B job titles filed from San Jose, CA.
Headline numbers for Application Engineer H-1B roles in San Jose, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #2,430 by filing volume out of the 6,873 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Application Engineer hiring.
Application Engineer H-1B Salary Range in San Jose, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $66,626 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $108,722 and $145,725, the interquartile range where most experienced Application Engineers land. The median of $124,605 sits 21% higher than the national Application Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $100,374
- 25th percentile
- $108,722
- Median
- $124,605
- 75th percentile
- $145,725
- 90th percentile
- $167,000
Top Employers Hiring Application Engineers in San Jose, CA
INTEL is the largest H-1B sponsor for Application Engineer in San Jose, CA, with 36 certified filings (27% of local Application Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $145,725. The pay spread across top employers is 34%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 34% ($108,722 at CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS to $145,725 at INTEL)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| INTEL | 36 | $145,725 |
| ADVANTEST AMERICA | 16 | $124,399 |
| CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS | 12 | $108,722 |
| INTEL AMERICAS | 8 | $131,726 |
| HERMES MICROVISION | 7 | $133,617 |
How This Salary Compares
Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Application Engineer H-1B median across every U.S. location — a measure of how local cost-of-living and market demand shift pay up or down. The second is the all-roles H-1B median in San Jose, CA, which tells you whether Application Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.
Application Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities
The other top metros where Application Engineer is an active H-1B role. Riverwoods, IL has the most filings (570) outside San Jose, CA. The highest median among these is Sunnyvale, CA at $167,000. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Riverwoods, IL | 570 | $103,000 |
| Austin, TX | 114 | $141,000 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 98 | $167,000 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 79 | $139,256 |
| Beaverton, OR | 74 | $110,000 |
| Hillsboro, OR | 69 | $108,202 |
| Houston, TX | 56 | $99,000 |
Other H-1B Jobs in San Jose, CA
The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from San Jose, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Application Engineer role here (8,169 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Staff Software Engineer at a median of $183,646.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 8,169 | $160,000 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 2,528 | $175,000 |
| Software Developer | 1,544 | $120,578 |
| Software Engineer III | 1,299 | $155,000 |
| Product Manager | 918 | $167,632 |
| Software Engineer II | 842 | $133,000 |
| Accountant | 805 | $108,000 |
| Data Scientist | 805 | $158,952 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 802 | $183,646 |
| Architect | 770 | $144,800 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Application Engineer in San Jose, CA is $124,605, based on 132 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 21% higher than the national Application Engineer H-1B median of $103,000 across all U.S. locations. It is also 15% lower than the overall H-1B median of $146,307 in San Jose, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $66,626 range from the 10th percentile ($100,374) to the 90th percentile ($167,000). The middle 50% of workers earn between $108,722 and $145,725, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
INTEL is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Jose, CA, with 36 certified filings at a median salary of $145,725. The pay spread across top employers is 34%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions people ask about Application Engineer H-1B roles in San Jose, CA, answered directly from 132 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Every answer below cites the specific data point it's based on.
What is the average Application Engineer salary in San Jose, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Application Engineer positions in San Jose, CA is $124,605, based on 132 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $100,374
- 25th percentile
- $108,722
- Median
- $124,605
- 75th percentile
- $145,725
- 90th percentile
- $167,000
The salary distribution for Application Engineer roles in San Jose, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $100,374, while the 90th percentile earns $167,000. This $66,626 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,541, Application Engineer salaries in San Jose, CA are 5% lower, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Application Engineers in San Jose, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Application Engineer positions in San Jose, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Application Engineer roles specifically in San Jose, CA. INTEL leads with 36 filings at a median salary of $145,725. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $108,722 to $145,725.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Application Engineer in San Jose, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Application Engineer in San Jose, CA, you'll need a sponsoring employer. The process involves several steps:
- Secure a job offer from a U.S. employer willing to sponsor your H-1B visa
- The employer files a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor
- Once the LCA is certified, the employer files an H-1B petition with USCIS
- If selected in the H-1B lottery (if applicable) and approved, you can begin work
Based on our data, 132 H-1B positions for Application Engineers in San Jose, CA have been certified, indicating strong demand for this role. The top sponsors listed above have a track record of successful H-1B sponsorship for this position.