Senior Engineer H-1B Salary in San Jose, CA
Employers have filed 259 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Senior Engineer positions in San Jose, CA, with a median salary of $150,000. That's 17% higher than the national Senior Engineer H-1B median of $128,027 across all U.S. locations, and 1% higher than the San Jose, CA all-roles H-1B median of $148,221. Senior Engineer ranks #31 among H-1B job titles filed from San Jose, CA.
Headline numbers for Senior Engineer H-1B roles in San Jose, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #1,153 by filing volume out of the 7,138 job × city combinations we track — in the top quartile for Senior Engineer hiring.
Senior Engineer H-1B Salary Range in San Jose, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $86,582 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $137,441 and $167,129, the interquartile range where most experienced Senior Engineers land. The median of $150,000 sits 17% higher than the national Senior Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $117,610
- 25th percentile
- $137,441
- Median
- $150,000
- 75th percentile
- $167,129
- 90th percentile
- $204,192
Top Employers Hiring Senior Engineers in San Jose, CA
SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR is the largest H-1B sponsor for Senior Engineer in San Jose, CA, with 74 certified filings (29% of local Senior Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $148,221. Among the top sponsors, OKBL USA TECHNOLOGY pays the highest median at $252,000. The pay spread across top employers is 115%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 115% ($117,291 at TSMC TECHNOLOGY to $252,000 at OKBL USA TECHNOLOGY)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR | 74 | $148,221 |
| SAMSUNG AUSTIN SEMICONDUCTOR | 48 | $153,117 |
| SAMSUNG AUSTIN SEMICONDUCTOR | 18 | $151,091 |
| TSMC TECHNOLOGY | 15 | $117,291 |
| OKBL USA TECHNOLOGY | 13 | $252,000 |
How This Salary Compares
Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Senior 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 Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.
Senior Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities
The other top metros where Senior Engineer is an active H-1B role. Phoenix, AZ has the most filings (801) outside San Jose, CA. The highest median among these is New York, NY at $168,000. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 801 | $144,672 |
| Austin, TX | 365 | $126,495 |
| New York, NY | 297 | $168,000 |
| Minneapolis, MN | 219 | $113,776 |
| Boston, MA | 139 | $160,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 119 | $147,368 |
| Sunrise, FL | 108 | $145,000 |
| Chicago, IL | 99 | $120,000 |
| San Diego, CA | 92 | $126,880 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 91 | $127,327 |
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 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 Senior Engineer in San Jose, CA is $150,000, based on 259 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 17% higher than the national Senior Engineer H-1B median of $128,027 across all U.S. locations. It is also 1% higher than the overall H-1B median of $148,221 in San Jose, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $86,582 range from the 10th percentile ($117,610) to the 90th percentile ($204,192). The middle 50% of workers earn between $137,441 and $167,129, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Jose, CA, with 74 certified filings at a median salary of $148,221. Among the top employers, OKBL USA TECHNOLOGY pays the highest median at $252,000. The pay spread across top employers is 115%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions people ask about Senior Engineer H-1B roles in San Jose, CA, answered directly from 259 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 Engineer salary in San Jose, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Senior Engineer positions in San Jose, CA is $150,000, based on 259 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $117,610
- 25th percentile
- $137,441
- Median
- $150,000
- 75th percentile
- $167,129
- 90th percentile
- $204,192
The salary distribution for Senior Engineer roles in San Jose, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $117,610, while the 90th percentile earns $204,192. This $86,582 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,707, Senior Engineer salaries in San Jose, CA are 15% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Senior Engineers in San Jose, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Senior Engineer positions in San Jose, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Senior Engineer roles specifically in San Jose, CA. SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR leads with 74 filings at a median salary of $148,221. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $117,291 to $252,000.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Senior Engineer in San Jose, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Senior 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, 259 H-1B positions for Senior 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.