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H-1B data current through FY 2026 Q3

Associate H-1B Salary in San Francisco, CA

Employers have filed 908 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Associate positions in San Francisco, CA, with a median salary of $140,900. That's 4% higher than the national Associate H-1B median of $135,000 across all U.S. locations, and 10% lower than the San Francisco, CA all-roles H-1B median of $156,959. Associate ranks #10 among H-1B job titles filed from San Francisco, CA.

Headline numbers for Associate H-1B roles in San Francisco, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #225 by filing volume out of the 7,543 job × city combinations we track — one of the largest for Associate hiring.

$140,900
Median Salary
908
Certified Filings
$94,390
10th Percentile
$225,000
90th Percentile

Associate H-1B Salary Range in San Francisco, CA

The pay distribution for this role spans $130,610 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $110,000 and $180,000, the interquartile range where most experienced Associates land. The median of $140,900 sits 4% higher than the national Associate H-1B median.

10th percentile
$94,390
25th percentile
$110,000
Median
$140,900
75th percentile
$180,000
90th percentile
$225,000
Middle 50% of Associate H-1B salaries in San Francisco, CA: $110,000 to $180,000

Top Employers Hiring Associates in San Francisco, CA

BLACKROCK FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT is the largest H-1B sponsor for Associate in San Francisco, CA, with 179 certified filings (20% of local Associate H-1B filings) at a median salary of $120,931. Among the top sponsors, KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP pays the highest median at $255,000. The pay spread across top employers is 112%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.

Median Salary Comparison

Pay spread among top employers: 112% ($120,411 at BLACKROCK INSTITUTIONAL TRUST , N.A to $255,000 at KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP)

Employer Filings Median Salary
BLACKROCK FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 179 $120,931
BLACKROCK INSTITUTIONAL TRUST , N.A 69 $120,411
BLACKROCK US 46 $120,931
GOLDMAN SACHS & 40 $175,000
KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP 34 $255,000

How This Salary Compares

Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Associate 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 Francisco, CA, which tells you whether Associate pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.

vs. National Associate
+4%
4% higher than the national Associate H-1B median of $135,000.
vs. San Francisco, CA Average
-10%
10% lower than the overall H-1B median in San Francisco, CA ($156,959).

Associate H-1B Salaries in Other Cities

The other top metros where Associate is an active H-1B role. New York, NY has the most filings (9,457) outside San Francisco, CA. The highest median among these is Washington, DC at $200,000. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.

City Filings Median Salary
New York, NY 9,457 $150,000
Dallas, TX 753 $110,000
Salt Lake City, UT 574 $91,000
Chicago, IL 542 $130,700
Boston, MA 411 $150,000
Atlanta, GA 404 $95,000
Alpharetta, GA 380 $135,000
Washington, DC 378 $200,000
Jersey City, NJ 363 $135,000
Los Angeles, CA 349 $115,000

Other H-1B Jobs in San Francisco, CA

The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from San Francisco, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Associate role here (13,951 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Engineering Manager at a median of $212,472.

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Software Engineer 13,951 $167,710
Senior Software Engineer 5,106 $180,960
Data Scientist 1,623 $151,882
Product Manager 1,588 $165,000
Software Engineer II 1,125 $165,000
Engineering Manager 1,118 $212,472
Staff Software Engineer 1,099 $210,000
Accountant 1,052 $108,500
Consultant 1,010 $120,994
Senior Product Manager 841 $183,855

Key Insights

The median H-1B salary for Associate in San Francisco, CA is $140,900, based on 908 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 4% higher than the national Associate H-1B median of $135,000 across all U.S. locations. It is also 10% lower than the overall H-1B median of $156,959 in San Francisco, CA across all job titles.

Salaries span a $130,610 range from the 10th percentile ($94,390) to the 90th percentile ($225,000). The middle 50% of workers earn between $110,000 and $180,000, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.

BLACKROCK FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Francisco, CA, with 179 certified filings at a median salary of $120,931. Among the top employers, KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP pays the highest median at $255,000. The pay spread across top employers is 112%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions people ask about Associate H-1B roles in San Francisco, CA, answered directly from 908 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 Associate salary in San Francisco, CA?

The median H-1B salary for Associate positions in San Francisco, CA is $140,900, based on 908 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

10th percentile
$94,390
25th percentile
$110,000
Median
$140,900
75th percentile
$180,000
90th percentile
$225,000

The salary distribution for Associate roles in San Francisco, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $94,390, while the 90th percentile earns $225,000. This $130,610 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.

Compared to the national H-1B median of $126,302, Associate salaries in San Francisco, CA are 12% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.

Which companies hire Associates in San Francisco, CA?

The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Associate positions in San Francisco, CA are:

These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Associate roles specifically in San Francisco, CA. BLACKROCK FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT leads with 179 filings at a median salary of $120,931. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $120,411 to $255,000.

How do I get an H-1B visa as a Associate in San Francisco, CA?

To obtain an H-1B visa as a Associate in San Francisco, CA, you'll need a sponsoring employer. The process involves several steps:

1
Job Offer
2
LCA Filed
3
H-1B Petition
4
Approved
  1. Secure a job offer from a U.S. employer willing to sponsor your H-1B visa
  2. The employer files a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor
  3. Once the LCA is certified, the employer files an H-1B petition with USCIS
  4. If selected in the H-1B lottery (if applicable) and approved, you can begin work

Based on our data, 908 H-1B positions for Associates in San Francisco, 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.