Design Engineer H-1B Salary in San Jose, CA
Employers have filed 161 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Design Engineer positions in San Jose, CA, with a median salary of $123,193. That's 50% higher than the national Design Engineer H-1B median of $82,000 across all U.S. locations, and 16% lower than the San Jose, CA all-roles H-1B median of $146,307. Design Engineer ranks #41 among H-1B job titles filed from San Jose, CA.
Headline numbers for Design Engineer H-1B roles in San Jose, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #1,931 by filing volume out of the 6,873 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Design Engineer hiring.
Design Engineer H-1B Salary Range in San Jose, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $63,690 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $111,634 and $135,180, the interquartile range where most experienced Design Engineers land. The median of $123,193 sits 50% higher than the national Design Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $92,934
- 25th percentile
- $111,634
- Median
- $123,193
- 75th percentile
- $135,180
- 90th percentile
- $156,624
Top Employers Hiring Design Engineers in San Jose, CA
NXP USA is the largest H-1B sponsor for Design Engineer in San Jose, CA, with 40 certified filings (25% of local Design Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $143,655. The pay spread across top employers is 25%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 25% ($114,961 at XILINX to $143,655 at NXP USA)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| NXP USA | 40 | $143,655 |
| TSMC TECHNOLOGY | 36 | $124,197 |
| MICRON | 30 | $115,000 |
| XILINX | 19 | $114,961 |
| CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS | 9 | $126,984 |
How This Salary Compares
Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Design 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 Design Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.
Design Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities
The other top metros where Design Engineer is an active H-1B role. Austin, TX has the most filings (198) outside San Jose, CA. The highest median among these is Santa Clara, CA at $128,690. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | 198 | $119,430 |
| Raymond, OH | 136 | $83,054 |
| Irvine, CA | 100 | $93,288 |
| Houston, TX | 93 | $84,000 |
| Auburn Hills, MI | 69 | $82,000 |
| Farmington Hills, MI | 56 | $80,000 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 54 | $128,690 |
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-Design 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 Design Engineer in San Jose, CA is $123,193, based on 161 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 50% higher than the national Design Engineer H-1B median of $82,000 across all U.S. locations. It is also 16% lower than the overall H-1B median of $146,307 in San Jose, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $63,690 range from the 10th percentile ($92,934) to the 90th percentile ($156,624). The middle 50% of workers earn between $111,634 and $135,180, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
NXP USA is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Jose, CA, with 40 certified filings at a median salary of $143,655. The pay spread across top employers is 25%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions people ask about Design Engineer H-1B roles in San Jose, CA, answered directly from 161 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 Design Engineer salary in San Jose, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Design Engineer positions in San Jose, CA is $123,193, based on 161 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $92,934
- 25th percentile
- $111,634
- Median
- $123,193
- 75th percentile
- $135,180
- 90th percentile
- $156,624
The salary distribution for Design Engineer roles in San Jose, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $92,934, while the 90th percentile earns $156,624. This $63,690 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,541, Design Engineer salaries in San Jose, CA are 6% lower, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Design Engineers in San Jose, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Design Engineer positions in San Jose, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Design Engineer roles specifically in San Jose, CA. NXP USA leads with 40 filings at a median salary of $143,655. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $114,961 to $143,655.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Design Engineer in San Jose, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Design 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, 161 H-1B positions for Design 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.