Senior QA Engineer H-1B Salary in Santa Clara, CA
Employers have filed 306 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Senior QA Engineer positions in Santa Clara, CA, with a median salary of $142,438. That's 27% higher than the national Senior QA Engineer H-1B median of $112,216 across all U.S. locations, and 8% lower than the Santa Clara, CA all-roles H-1B median of $155,000. Senior QA Engineer ranks #16 among H-1B job titles filed from Santa Clara, CA.
Headline numbers for Senior QA Engineer H-1B roles in Santa Clara, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #1,012 by filing volume out of the 7,543 job × city combinations we track — in the top quartile for Senior QA Engineer hiring.
Senior QA Engineer H-1B Salary Range in Santa Clara, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $55,989 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $130,894 and $151,305, the interquartile range where most experienced Senior QA Engineers land. The median of $142,438 sits 27% higher than the national Senior QA Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $116,043
- 25th percentile
- $130,894
- Median
- $142,438
- 75th percentile
- $151,305
- 90th percentile
- $172,032
Top Employers Hiring Senior QA Engineers in Santa Clara, CA
SERVICENOW is the largest H-1B sponsor for Senior QA Engineer in Santa Clara, CA, with 114 certified filings (37% of local Senior QA Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $144,852. Among the top sponsors, PALO ALTO NETWORKS pays the highest median at $170,000. The pay spread across top employers is 41%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 41% ($120,578 at QUALCOMM ATHEROS to $170,000 at PALO ALTO NETWORKS)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| SERVICENOW | 114 | $144,852 |
| QUALCOMM ATHEROS | 21 | $120,578 |
| QUALCOMM | 19 | $141,378 |
| PALO ALTO NETWORKS | 16 | $170,000 |
| AURIS HEALTH | 11 | $149,800 |
How This Salary Compares
Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Senior QA 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 Santa Clara, CA, which tells you whether Senior QA Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.
Senior QA Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities
The other top metros where Senior QA Engineer is an active H-1B role. San Diego, CA has the most filings (630) outside Santa Clara, CA. The highest median among these is Sunnyvale, CA at $145,725. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | 630 | $111,322 |
| Austin, TX | 380 | $110,000 |
| Fremont, CA | 266 | $140,400 |
| San Jose, CA | 262 | $141,960 |
| Natick, MA | 237 | $119,200 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 201 | $145,725 |
| New York, NY | 181 | $125,000 |
| Irving, TX | 167 | $102,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 164 | $144,040 |
| Warsaw, IN | 164 | $83,336 |
Other H-1B Jobs in Santa Clara, CA
The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from Santa Clara, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Senior QA Engineer role here (4,674 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Principal Software Engineer at a median of $201,053.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 4,674 | $150,000 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 1,527 | $157,477 |
| Component Design Engineer | 1,298 | $133,400 |
| Hardware Engineer | 932 | $163,778 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 898 | $179,396 |
| Software Engineer II | 841 | $179,200 |
| Architect | 757 | $163,800 |
| QA Engineer | 594 | $125,000 |
| Software Developer | 571 | $127,000 |
| Principal Software Engineer | 557 | $201,053 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Senior QA Engineer in Santa Clara, CA is $142,438, based on 306 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 27% higher than the national Senior QA Engineer H-1B median of $112,216 across all U.S. locations. It is also 8% lower than the overall H-1B median of $155,000 in Santa Clara, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $55,989 range from the 10th percentile ($116,043) to the 90th percentile ($172,032). The middle 50% of workers earn between $130,894 and $151,305, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
SERVICENOW is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Santa Clara, CA, with 114 certified filings at a median salary of $144,852. Among the top employers, PALO ALTO NETWORKS pays the highest median at $170,000. The pay spread across top employers is 41%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions people ask about Senior QA Engineer H-1B roles in Santa Clara, CA, answered directly from 306 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 QA Engineer salary in Santa Clara, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Senior QA Engineer positions in Santa Clara, CA is $142,438, based on 306 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $116,043
- 25th percentile
- $130,894
- Median
- $142,438
- 75th percentile
- $151,305
- 90th percentile
- $172,032
The salary distribution for Senior QA Engineer roles in Santa Clara, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $116,043, while the 90th percentile earns $172,032. This $55,989 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $126,302, Senior QA Engineer salaries in Santa Clara, CA are 13% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Senior QA Engineers in Santa Clara, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Senior QA Engineer positions in Santa Clara, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Senior QA Engineer roles specifically in Santa Clara, CA. SERVICENOW leads with 114 filings at a median salary of $144,852. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $120,578 to $170,000.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Senior QA Engineer in Santa Clara, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Senior QA Engineer in Santa Clara, 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, 306 H-1B positions for Senior QA Engineers in Santa Clara, 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.