Hardware Engineer H-1B Salary in San Jose, CA
Employers have filed 142 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Hardware Engineer positions in San Jose, CA, with a median salary of $136,500. That's 2% lower than the national Hardware Engineer H-1B median of $139,672 across all U.S. locations, and 9% lower than the San Jose, CA all-roles H-1B median of $150,000. Hardware Engineer ranks #60 among H-1B job titles filed from San Jose, CA.
Headline numbers for Hardware Engineer H-1B roles in San Jose, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #2,447 by filing volume out of the 7,543 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Hardware Engineer hiring.
Hardware Engineer H-1B Salary Range in San Jose, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $53,393 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $126,464 and $153,504, the interquartile range where most experienced Hardware Engineers land. The median of $136,500 sits 2% lower than the national Hardware Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $111,634
- 25th percentile
- $126,464
- Median
- $136,500
- 75th percentile
- $153,504
- 90th percentile
- $165,027
Top Employers Hiring Hardware Engineers in San Jose, CA
CISCO is the largest H-1B sponsor for Hardware Engineer in San Jose, CA, with 88 certified filings (62% of local Hardware Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $138,000. Among the top sponsors, INTEL FEDERAL pays the highest median at $151,902. The pay spread across top employers is 27%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 27% ($120,000 at LITEPOINT to $151,902 at INTEL FEDERAL)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| CISCO | 88 | $138,000 |
| INTEL | 12 | $135,672 |
| LITEPOINT | 3 | $120,000 |
| CREDO SEMICONDUCTOR | 3 | $136,500 |
| INTEL FEDERAL | 3 | $151,902 |
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 Jose, 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 Jose, 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 Diego, CA | 212 | $104,562 |
| Austin, TX | 130 | $135,000 |
| Hillsboro, OR | 87 | $124,000 |
| Palo Alto, CA | 50 | $158,226 |
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-Hardware Engineer role here (9,425 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Machine Learning Engineer at a median of $186,874.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 9,425 | $162,485 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 2,894 | $176,033 |
| Software Developer | 1,620 | $120,640 |
| Software Engineer III | 1,360 | $155,375 |
| Product Manager | 1,140 | $173,157 |
| Machine Learning Engineer | 981 | $186,874 |
| Data Scientist | 963 | $165,000 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 909 | $185,000 |
| Software Engineer II | 899 | $133,875 |
| Accountant | 859 | $109,453 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Hardware Engineer in San Jose, CA is $136,500, based on 142 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 2% lower than the national Hardware Engineer H-1B median of $139,672 across all U.S. locations. It is also 9% lower than the overall H-1B median of $150,000 in San Jose, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $53,393 range from the 10th percentile ($111,634) to the 90th percentile ($165,027). The middle 50% of workers earn between $126,464 and $153,504, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
CISCO is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Jose, CA, with 88 certified filings at a median salary of $138,000. Among the top employers, INTEL FEDERAL pays the highest median at $151,902. The pay spread across top employers is 27%, 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 Jose, CA, answered directly from 142 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 Jose, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Hardware Engineer positions in San Jose, CA is $136,500, based on 142 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $111,634
- 25th percentile
- $126,464
- Median
- $136,500
- 75th percentile
- $153,504
- 90th percentile
- $165,027
The salary distribution for Hardware Engineer roles in San Jose, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $111,634, while the 90th percentile earns $165,027. This $53,393 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 Jose, CA are 8% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Hardware Engineers in San Jose, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Hardware Engineer positions in San Jose, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Hardware Engineer roles specifically in San Jose, CA. CISCO leads with 88 filings at a median salary of $138,000. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $120,000 to $151,902.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Hardware Engineer in San Jose, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Hardware 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, 142 H-1B positions for Hardware 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.