Principal Software Engineer H-1B Salary in Boston, MA
Employers have filed 206 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Principal Software Engineer positions in Boston, MA, with a median salary of $130,000. That's 13% lower than the national Principal Software Engineer H-1B median of $150,000 across all U.S. locations, and 18% higher than the Boston, MA all-roles H-1B median of $110,000. Principal Software Engineer ranks #30 among H-1B job titles filed from Boston, MA.
Headline numbers for Principal Software Engineer H-1B roles in Boston, MA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #1,474 by filing volume out of the 6,873 job × city combinations we track — in the top quartile for Principal Software Engineer hiring.
Principal Software Engineer H-1B Salary Range in Boston, MA
The pay distribution for this role spans $69,760 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $115,939 and $147,846, the interquartile range where most experienced Principal Software Engineers land. The median of $130,000 sits 13% lower than the national Principal Software Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $110,240
- 25th percentile
- $115,939
- Median
- $130,000
- 75th percentile
- $147,846
- 90th percentile
- $180,000
Top Employers Hiring Principal Software Engineers in Boston, MA
FIDELITY TECHNOLOGY GROUP is the largest H-1B sponsor for Principal Software Engineer in Boston, MA, with 83 certified filings (40% of local Principal Software Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $119,933. Among the top sponsors, AIR WORLDWIDE pays the highest median at $134,525. The pay spread across top employers is 22%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 22% ($110,240 at FIDELITY MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH to $134,525 at AIR WORLDWIDE)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| FIDELITY TECHNOLOGY GROUP | 83 | $119,933 |
| FIDELITY MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH | 18 | $110,240 |
| FIDELITY BROKERAGE SERVICES | 9 | $111,779 |
| AIR WORLDWIDE | 7 | $134,525 |
| LIBERTY MUTUAL TECHNOLOGY GROUP | 5 | $128,627 |
How This Salary Compares
Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Principal Software 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 Boston, MA, which tells you whether Principal Software Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.
Principal Software Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities
The other top metros where Principal Software Engineer is an active H-1B role. Durham, NC has the most filings (1,041) outside Boston, MA. The highest median among these is Santa Clara, CA at $200,000. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Durham, NC | 1,041 | $120,786 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 501 | $200,000 |
| Westlake, TX | 463 | $120,328 |
| San Jose, CA | 434 | $191,928 |
| Seattle, WA | 418 | $190,486 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 386 | $184,080 |
| Round Rock, TX | 345 | $130,964 |
| San Francisco, CA | 297 | $196,000 |
| Austin, TX | 264 | $145,000 |
| Atlanta, GA | 211 | $130,478 |
Other H-1B Jobs in Boston, MA
The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from Boston, MA, ranked by certified filing volume. Research Fellow is the busiest non-Principal Software Engineer role here (1,801 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Software Engineer II at a median of $145,000.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Research Fellow | 1,801 | $64,008 |
| Software Engineer | 1,369 | $110,000 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 1,329 | $135,000 |
| Software Engineer II | 895 | $145,000 |
| Software Developer | 883 | $103,000 |
| Assistant Professor | 695 | $120,000 |
| Consultant | 688 | $114,234 |
| Research Scientist | 658 | $88,000 |
| Accountant | 556 | $88,000 |
| Architect | 542 | $91,374 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Principal Software Engineer in Boston, MA is $130,000, based on 206 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 13% lower than the national Principal Software Engineer H-1B median of $150,000 across all U.S. locations. It is also 18% higher than the overall H-1B median of $110,000 in Boston, MA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $69,760 range from the 10th percentile ($110,240) to the 90th percentile ($180,000). The middle 50% of workers earn between $115,939 and $147,846, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
FIDELITY TECHNOLOGY GROUP is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Boston, MA, with 83 certified filings at a median salary of $119,933. Among the top employers, AIR WORLDWIDE pays the highest median at $134,525. The pay spread across top employers is 22%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions people ask about Principal Software Engineer H-1B roles in Boston, MA, answered directly from 206 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 Principal Software Engineer salary in Boston, MA?
The median H-1B salary for Principal Software Engineer positions in Boston, MA is $130,000, based on 206 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $110,240
- 25th percentile
- $115,939
- Median
- $130,000
- 75th percentile
- $147,846
- 90th percentile
- $180,000
The salary distribution for Principal Software Engineer roles in Boston, MA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $110,240, while the 90th percentile earns $180,000. This $69,760 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,541, Principal Software Engineer salaries in Boston, MA are about the same, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Principal Software Engineers in Boston, MA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Principal Software Engineer positions in Boston, MA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Principal Software Engineer roles specifically in Boston, MA. FIDELITY TECHNOLOGY GROUP leads with 83 filings at a median salary of $119,933. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $110,240 to $134,525.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Principal Software Engineer in Boston, MA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Principal Software Engineer in Boston, MA, 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, 206 H-1B positions for Principal Software Engineers in Boston, MA 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.