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H-1B data current through FY 2026 Q1

Lead Application Engineer H-1B Salary in San Jose, CA

Employers have filed 63 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Lead Application Engineer positions in San Jose, CA, with a median salary of $132,142. That's 4% higher than the national Lead Application Engineer H-1B median of $127,500 across all U.S. locations, and 11% lower than the San Jose, CA all-roles H-1B median of $148,221. Lead Application Engineer ranks #116 among H-1B job titles filed from San Jose, CA.

Headline numbers for Lead Application Engineer H-1B roles in San Jose, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #5,562 by filing volume out of the 7,138 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Lead Application Engineer hiring.

$132,142
Median Salary
63
Certified Filings
$114,338
10th Percentile
$151,513
90th Percentile

Lead Application Engineer H-1B Salary Range in San Jose, CA

The pay distribution for this role spans $37,175 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $121,678 and $147,066, the interquartile range where most experienced Lead Application Engineers land. The median of $132,142 sits 4% higher than the national Lead Application Engineer H-1B median.

10th percentile
$114,338
25th percentile
$121,678
Median
$132,142
75th percentile
$147,066
90th percentile
$151,513
Middle 50% of Lead Application Engineer H-1B salaries in San Jose, CA: $121,678 to $147,066

Top Employers Hiring Lead Application Engineers in San Jose, CA

CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS is the largest H-1B sponsor for Lead Application Engineer in San Jose, CA, with 57 certified filings (90% of local Lead Application Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $130,354. Among the top sponsors, ANSYS pays the highest median at $144,529. The pay spread across top employers is 11%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.

Median Salary Comparison
ANSYS
$144,529

Pay spread among top employers: 11% ($130,354 at CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS to $144,529 at ANSYS)

Employer Filings Median Salary
CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS 57 $130,354
ANSYS 6 $144,529

How This Salary Compares

Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Lead Application 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 Lead Application Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.

vs. National Lead Application Engineer
+4%
4% higher than the national Lead Application Engineer H-1B median of $127,500.
vs. San Jose, CA Average
-11%
11% lower than the overall H-1B median in San Jose, CA ($148,221).

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-Lead Application Engineer role here (8,782 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Machine Learning Engineer at a median of $184,662.

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Software Engineer 8,782 $160,000
Senior Software Engineer 2,733 $175,000
Software Developer 1,572 $120,578
Software Engineer III 1,331 $155,000
Product Manager 1,031 $170,500
Data Scientist 868 $160,193
Machine Learning Engineer 868 $184,662
Software Engineer II 863 $133,152
Staff Software Engineer 859 $184,080
Accountant 847 $108,300

Key Insights

The median H-1B salary for Lead Application Engineer in San Jose, CA is $132,142, based on 63 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 4% higher than the national Lead Application Engineer H-1B median of $127,500 across all U.S. locations. It is also 11% lower than the overall H-1B median of $148,221 in San Jose, CA across all job titles.

Salaries span a $37,175 range from the 10th percentile ($114,338) to the 90th percentile ($151,513). The middle 50% of workers earn between $121,678 and $147,066, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.

CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Jose, CA, with 57 certified filings at a median salary of $130,354. Among the top employers, ANSYS pays the highest median at $144,529. The pay spread across top employers is 11%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions people ask about Lead Application Engineer H-1B roles in San Jose, CA, answered directly from 63 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 Lead Application Engineer salary in San Jose, CA?

The median H-1B salary for Lead Application Engineer positions in San Jose, CA is $132,142, based on 63 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

10th percentile
$114,338
25th percentile
$121,678
Median
$132,142
75th percentile
$147,066
90th percentile
$151,513

The salary distribution for Lead Application Engineer roles in San Jose, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $114,338, while the 90th percentile earns $151,513. This $37,175 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.

Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,707, Lead Application Engineer salaries in San Jose, CA are 1% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.

Which companies hire Lead Application Engineers in San Jose, CA?

The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Lead Application Engineer positions in San Jose, CA are:

ANSYS
$144,529

These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Lead Application Engineer roles specifically in San Jose, CA. CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS leads with 57 filings at a median salary of $130,354. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $130,354 to $144,529.

How do I get an H-1B visa as a Lead Application Engineer in San Jose, CA?

To obtain an H-1B visa as a Lead Application Engineer in San Jose, 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, 63 H-1B positions for Lead Application 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.