Design Engineer H-1B Salary in Santa Clara, CA
Employers have filed 57 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Design Engineer positions in Santa Clara, CA, with a median salary of $132,825. That's 60% higher than the national Design Engineer H-1B median of $83,000 across all U.S. locations, and 14% lower than the Santa Clara, CA all-roles H-1B median of $155,000. Design Engineer ranks #98 among H-1B job titles filed from Santa Clara, CA.
Headline numbers for Design Engineer H-1B roles in Santa Clara, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #6,468 by filing volume out of the 7,543 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Design Engineer hiring.
Design Engineer H-1B Salary Range in Santa Clara, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $113,358 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $105,000 and $170,000, the interquartile range where most experienced Design Engineers land. The median of $132,825 sits 60% higher than the national Design Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $88,213
- 25th percentile
- $105,000
- Median
- $132,825
- 75th percentile
- $170,000
- 90th percentile
- $201,571
Top Employers Hiring Design Engineers in Santa Clara, CA
APPLIED MATERIALS is the largest H-1B sponsor for Design Engineer in Santa Clara, CA, with 12 certified filings (21% of local Design Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $185,498. Among the top sponsors, AI-FABRICS pays the highest median at $190,000. The pay spread across top employers is 114%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 114% ($88,691 at TSMC TECHNOLOGY to $190,000 at AI-FABRICS)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| APPLIED MATERIALS | 12 | $185,498 |
| ANALOG DEVICES | 9 | $107,668 |
| APPLIED MATERIALS | 6 | $169,625 |
| AI-FABRICS | 4 | $190,000 |
| TSMC TECHNOLOGY | 3 | $88,691 |
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 Santa Clara, 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 (215) outside Santa Clara, CA. The highest median among these is San Jose, CA at $124,197. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | 215 | $115,000 |
| San Jose, CA | 180 | $124,197 |
| Raymond, OH | 148 | $83,200 |
| Irvine, CA | 104 | $95,000 |
| Houston, TX | 99 | $84,450 |
| Auburn Hills, MI | 73 | $82,000 |
| Farmington Hills, MI | 56 | $80,000 |
| Dublin, OH | 51 | $75,000 |
| Seattle, WA | 50 | $83,500 |
Other H-1B Jobs in Santa Clara, CA
The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from Santa Clara, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Design Engineer role here (4,674 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Principal Software Engineer at a median of $201,053.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 4,674 | $150,000 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 1,527 | $157,477 |
| Component Design Engineer | 1,298 | $133,400 |
| Hardware Engineer | 932 | $163,778 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 898 | $179,396 |
| Software Engineer II | 841 | $179,200 |
| Architect | 757 | $163,800 |
| QA Engineer | 594 | $125,000 |
| Software Developer | 571 | $127,000 |
| Principal Software Engineer | 557 | $201,053 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Design Engineer in Santa Clara, CA is $132,825, based on 57 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 60% higher than the national Design Engineer H-1B median of $83,000 across all U.S. locations. It is also 14% lower than the overall H-1B median of $155,000 in Santa Clara, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $113,358 range from the 10th percentile ($88,213) to the 90th percentile ($201,571). The middle 50% of workers earn between $105,000 and $170,000, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
APPLIED MATERIALS is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Santa Clara, CA, with 12 certified filings at a median salary of $185,498. Among the top employers, AI-FABRICS pays the highest median at $190,000. The pay spread across top employers is 114%, 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 Santa Clara, CA, answered directly from 57 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 Santa Clara, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Design Engineer positions in Santa Clara, CA is $132,825, based on 57 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $88,213
- 25th percentile
- $105,000
- Median
- $132,825
- 75th percentile
- $170,000
- 90th percentile
- $201,571
The salary distribution for Design Engineer roles in Santa Clara, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $88,213, while the 90th percentile earns $201,571. This $113,358 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $126,302, Design Engineer salaries in Santa Clara, CA are 5% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Design Engineers in Santa Clara, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Design Engineer positions in Santa Clara, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Design Engineer roles specifically in Santa Clara, CA. APPLIED MATERIALS leads with 12 filings at a median salary of $185,498. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $88,691 to $190,000.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Design Engineer in Santa Clara, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Design Engineer in Santa Clara, 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, 57 H-1B positions for Design Engineers in Santa Clara, 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.