Hardware Engineer H-1B Salary in San Diego, CA
Employers have filed 212 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Hardware Engineer positions in San Diego, CA, with a median salary of $104,562. That's 25% lower than the national Hardware Engineer H-1B median of $139,672 across all U.S. locations, and 14% lower than the San Diego, CA all-roles H-1B median of $121,000. Hardware Engineer ranks #20 among H-1B job titles filed from San Diego, CA.
Headline numbers for Hardware Engineer H-1B roles in San Diego, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #1,580 by filing volume out of the 7,543 job × city combinations we track — in the top quartile for Hardware Engineer hiring.
Hardware Engineer H-1B Salary Range in San Diego, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $80,060 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $100,676 and $120,000, the interquartile range where most experienced Hardware Engineers land. The median of $104,562 sits 25% lower than the national Hardware Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $94,968
- 25th percentile
- $100,676
- Median
- $104,562
- 75th percentile
- $120,000
- 90th percentile
- $175,028
Top Employers Hiring Hardware Engineers in San Diego, CA
QUALCOMM is the largest H-1B sponsor for Hardware Engineer in San Diego, CA, with 138 certified filings (65% of local Hardware Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $101,721. Among the top sponsors, MICROSOFT pays the highest median at $182,000. The pay spread across top employers is 80%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 80% ($101,156 at HP to $182,000 at MICROSOFT)
How This Salary Compares
Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Hardware 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 Diego, CA, which tells you whether Hardware Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.
Hardware Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities
The other top metros where Hardware Engineer is an active H-1B role. Santa Clara, CA has the most filings (932) outside San Diego, CA. The highest median among these is Mountain View, CA at $171,000. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara, CA | 932 | $163,778 |
| Folsom, CA | 480 | $110,361 |
| Mountain View, CA | 435 | $171,000 |
| Redmond, WA | 286 | $162,179 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 229 | $158,000 |
| San Jose, CA | 142 | $136,500 |
| Austin, TX | 130 | $135,000 |
| Hillsboro, OR | 87 | $124,000 |
| Palo Alto, CA | 50 | $158,226 |
Other H-1B Jobs in San Diego, CA
The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from San Diego, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Hardware Engineer role here (2,861 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Staff Software Engineer at a median of $146,328.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 2,861 | $126,880 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 1,707 | $121,597 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 1,460 | $146,328 |
| QA Engineer | 786 | $96,742 |
| Senior QA Engineer | 630 | $111,322 |
| Software Developer | 588 | $111,342 |
| Staff QA Engineer | 464 | $133,370 |
| Software Engineer II | 388 | $130,187 |
| Senior Asics Engineer | 351 | $108,930 |
| Research Scientist | 342 | $110,000 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Hardware Engineer in San Diego, CA is $104,562, based on 212 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 25% lower than the national Hardware Engineer H-1B median of $139,672 across all U.S. locations. It is also 14% lower than the overall H-1B median of $121,000 in San Diego, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $80,060 range from the 10th percentile ($94,968) to the 90th percentile ($175,028). The middle 50% of workers earn between $100,676 and $120,000, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
QUALCOMM is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Diego, CA, with 138 certified filings at a median salary of $101,721. Among the top employers, MICROSOFT pays the highest median at $182,000. The pay spread across top employers is 80%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions people ask about Hardware Engineer H-1B roles in San Diego, CA, answered directly from 212 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 Hardware Engineer salary in San Diego, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Hardware Engineer positions in San Diego, CA is $104,562, based on 212 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $94,968
- 25th percentile
- $100,676
- Median
- $104,562
- 75th percentile
- $120,000
- 90th percentile
- $175,028
The salary distribution for Hardware Engineer roles in San Diego, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $94,968, while the 90th percentile earns $175,028. This $80,060 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $126,302, Hardware Engineer salaries in San Diego, CA are 17% lower, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Hardware Engineers in San Diego, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Hardware Engineer positions in San Diego, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Hardware Engineer roles specifically in San Diego, CA. QUALCOMM leads with 138 filings at a median salary of $101,721. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $101,156 to $182,000.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Hardware Engineer in San Diego, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Hardware Engineer in San Diego, 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, 212 H-1B positions for Hardware Engineers in San Diego, 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.