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H-1B data current through FY 2026 Q3

Professor H-1B Salary in San Francisco, CA

Employers have filed 100 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Professor positions in San Francisco, CA, with a median salary of $234,876. That's 154% higher than the national Professor H-1B median of $92,435 across all U.S. locations, and 50% higher than the San Francisco, CA all-roles H-1B median of $156,959. Professor ranks #84 among H-1B job titles filed from San Francisco, CA.

Headline numbers for Professor H-1B roles in San Francisco, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #3,601 by filing volume out of the 7,543 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Professor hiring.

$234,876
Median Salary
100
Certified Filings
$120,000
10th Percentile
$366,000
90th Percentile

Professor H-1B Salary Range in San Francisco, CA

The pay distribution for this role spans $246,000 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $155,000 and $304,000, the interquartile range where most experienced Professors land. The median of $234,876 sits 154% higher than the national Professor H-1B median.

10th percentile
$120,000
25th percentile
$155,000
Median
$234,876
75th percentile
$304,000
90th percentile
$366,000
Middle 50% of Professor H-1B salaries in San Francisco, CA: $155,000 to $304,000

Top Employers Hiring Professors in San Francisco, CA

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO is the largest H-1B sponsor for Professor in San Francisco, CA, with 92 certified filings (92% of local Professor H-1B filings) at a median salary of $240,271. The pay spread across top employers is 392%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.

Median Salary Comparison

Pay spread among top employers: 392% ($48,800 at UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA HASTINGS COLLEGE OF THE LAW to $240,271 at UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO)

How This Salary Compares

Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Professor 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 Francisco, CA, which tells you whether Professor pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.

vs. National Professor
+154%
154% higher than the national Professor H-1B median of $92,435.
vs. San Francisco, CA Average
+50%
50% higher than the overall H-1B median in San Francisco, CA ($156,959).

Professor H-1B Salaries in Other Cities

The other top metros where Professor is an active H-1B role. University Park, PA has the most filings (299) outside San Francisco, CA. The highest median among these is New York, NY at $185,000. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.

City Filings Median Salary
University Park, PA 299 $70,032
Indianapolis, IN 130 $70,000
Boston, MA 98 $127,000
New York, NY 90 $185,000
Los Angeles, CA 87 $150,000
Savannah, GA 82 $75,383
Storrs, CT 82 $74,845
Columbia, MO 78 $61,181
Chicago, IL 78 $83,000
Tempe, AZ 72 $75,000

Other H-1B Jobs in San Francisco, CA

The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from San Francisco, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Professor role here (13,951 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Engineering Manager at a median of $212,472.

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Software Engineer 13,951 $167,710
Senior Software Engineer 5,106 $180,960
Data Scientist 1,623 $151,882
Product Manager 1,588 $165,000
Software Engineer II 1,125 $165,000
Engineering Manager 1,118 $212,472
Staff Software Engineer 1,099 $210,000
Accountant 1,052 $108,500
Consultant 1,010 $120,994
Associate 908 $140,900

Key Insights

The median H-1B salary for Professor in San Francisco, CA is $234,876, based on 100 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 154% higher than the national Professor H-1B median of $92,435 across all U.S. locations. It is also 50% higher than the overall H-1B median of $156,959 in San Francisco, CA across all job titles.

Salaries span a $246,000 range from the 10th percentile ($120,000) to the 90th percentile ($366,000). The middle 50% of workers earn between $155,000 and $304,000, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Francisco, CA, with 92 certified filings at a median salary of $240,271. The pay spread across top employers is 392%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions people ask about Professor H-1B roles in San Francisco, CA, answered directly from 100 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 Professor salary in San Francisco, CA?

The median H-1B salary for Professor positions in San Francisco, CA is $234,876, based on 100 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

10th percentile
$120,000
25th percentile
$155,000
Median
$234,876
75th percentile
$304,000
90th percentile
$366,000

The salary distribution for Professor roles in San Francisco, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $120,000, while the 90th percentile earns $366,000. This $246,000 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.

Compared to the national H-1B median of $126,302, Professor salaries in San Francisco, CA are 86% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.

Which companies hire Professors in San Francisco, CA?

The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Professor positions in San Francisco, CA are:

These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Professor roles specifically in San Francisco, CA. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO leads with 92 filings at a median salary of $240,271. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $48,800 to $240,271.

How do I get an H-1B visa as a Professor in San Francisco, CA?

To obtain an H-1B visa as a Professor in San Francisco, 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, 100 H-1B positions for Professors in San Francisco, 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.