Senior Design Engineer H-1B Salary in San Jose, CA
Employers have filed 107 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Senior Design Engineer positions in San Jose, CA, with a median salary of $130,204. That's 21% higher than the national Senior Design Engineer H-1B median of $108,000 across all U.S. locations, and 11% lower than the San Jose, CA all-roles H-1B median of $146,307. Senior Design Engineer ranks #71 among H-1B job titles filed from San Jose, CA.
Headline numbers for Senior Design Engineer H-1B roles in San Jose, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #3,031 by filing volume out of the 6,873 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Senior Design Engineer hiring.
Senior Design Engineer H-1B Salary Range in San Jose, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $41,870 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $120,000 and $137,500, the interquartile range where most experienced Senior Design Engineers land. The median of $130,204 sits 21% higher than the national Senior Design Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $111,634
- 25th percentile
- $120,000
- Median
- $130,204
- 75th percentile
- $137,500
- 90th percentile
- $153,504
Top Employers Hiring Senior Design Engineers in San Jose, CA
XILINX is the largest H-1B sponsor for Senior Design Engineer in San Jose, CA, with 71 certified filings (66% of local Senior Design Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $129,587. Among the top sponsors, ARM pays the highest median at $153,504. The pay spread across top employers is 18%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 18% ($129,587 at XILINX to $153,504 at ARM)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| XILINX | 71 | $129,587 |
| MICRON | 25 | $137,500 |
| CALSOFT LABS | 2 | $140,000 |
| ARM | 2 | $153,504 |
| CALSOFT LABS, . D/B/A ACL DIGITAL | 2 | $130,000 |
How This Salary Compares
Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Senior Design 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 Senior Design Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.
Senior Design Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities
The other top metros where Senior Design Engineer is an active H-1B role. Austin, TX has the most filings (63) outside San Jose, CA. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | 63 | $129,563 |
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-Senior Design Engineer role here (8,169 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Staff Software Engineer at a median of $183,646.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 8,169 | $160,000 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 2,528 | $175,000 |
| Software Developer | 1,544 | $120,578 |
| Software Engineer III | 1,299 | $155,000 |
| Product Manager | 918 | $167,632 |
| Software Engineer II | 842 | $133,000 |
| Accountant | 805 | $108,000 |
| Data Scientist | 805 | $158,952 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 802 | $183,646 |
| Architect | 770 | $144,800 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Senior Design Engineer in San Jose, CA is $130,204, based on 107 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 21% higher than the national Senior Design Engineer H-1B median of $108,000 across all U.S. locations. It is also 11% lower than the overall H-1B median of $146,307 in San Jose, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $41,870 range from the 10th percentile ($111,634) to the 90th percentile ($153,504). The middle 50% of workers earn between $120,000 and $137,500, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
XILINX is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Jose, CA, with 71 certified filings at a median salary of $129,587. Among the top employers, ARM pays the highest median at $153,504. The pay spread across top employers is 18%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions people ask about Senior Design Engineer H-1B roles in San Jose, CA, answered directly from 107 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 Senior Design Engineer salary in San Jose, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Senior Design Engineer positions in San Jose, CA is $130,204, based on 107 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $111,634
- 25th percentile
- $120,000
- Median
- $130,204
- 75th percentile
- $137,500
- 90th percentile
- $153,504
The salary distribution for Senior Design Engineer roles in San Jose, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $111,634, while the 90th percentile earns $153,504. This $41,870 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,541, Senior Design Engineer salaries in San Jose, CA are about the same, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Senior Design Engineers in San Jose, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Senior Design Engineer positions in San Jose, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Senior Design Engineer roles specifically in San Jose, CA. XILINX leads with 71 filings at a median salary of $129,587. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $129,587 to $153,504.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Senior Design Engineer in San Jose, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Senior Design 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, 107 H-1B positions for Senior Design 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.