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H-1B data current through FY 2026 Q1

Senior Software Engineer H-1B Salary in Irvine, CA

Employers have filed 383 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Senior Software Engineer positions in Irvine, CA, with a median salary of $140,031. That's 3% higher than the national Senior Software Engineer H-1B median of $135,304 across all U.S. locations, and 23% higher than the Irvine, CA all-roles H-1B median of $113,661. Senior Software Engineer ranks #3 among H-1B job titles filed from Irvine, CA.

Headline numbers for Senior Software Engineer H-1B roles in Irvine, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #690 by filing volume out of the 7,138 job × city combinations we track — one of the largest for Senior Software Engineer hiring.

$140,031
Median Salary
383
Certified Filings
$102,544
10th Percentile
$180,000
90th Percentile

Senior Software Engineer H-1B Salary Range in Irvine, CA

The pay distribution for this role spans $77,456 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $121,680 and $164,700, the interquartile range where most experienced Senior Software Engineers land. The median of $140,031 sits 3% higher than the national Senior Software Engineer H-1B median.

10th percentile
$102,544
25th percentile
$121,680
Median
$140,031
75th percentile
$164,700
90th percentile
$180,000
Middle 50% of Senior Software Engineer H-1B salaries in Irvine, CA: $121,680 to $164,700

Top Employers Hiring Senior Software Engineers in Irvine, CA

BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT is the largest H-1B sponsor for Senior Software Engineer in Irvine, CA, with 27 certified filings (7% of local Senior Software Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $165,000. Among the top sponsors, VIANT TECHNOLOGY pays the highest median at $177,029. The pay spread across top employers is 77%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.

Median Salary Comparison

Pay spread among top employers: 77% ($99,840 at POPULAR TECH to $177,029 at VIANT TECHNOLOGY)

Employer Filings Median Salary
BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT 27 $165,000
POPULAR TECH 24 $99,840
VIANT TECHNOLOGY 13 $177,029
OPTUM SERVICES 9 $140,454
COX AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATE SERVICES 8 $137,917

How This Salary Compares

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

vs. National Senior Software Engineer
+3%
3% higher than the national Senior Software Engineer H-1B median of $135,304.
vs. Irvine, CA Average
+23%
23% higher than the overall H-1B median in Irvine, CA ($113,661).

Senior Software Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities

The other top metros where Senior Software Engineer is an active H-1B role. San Francisco, CA has the most filings (4,884) outside Irvine, CA. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.

City Filings Median Salary
San Francisco, CA 4,884 $180,000
Sunnyvale, CA 4,575 $160,000
New York, NY 3,530 $155,000
San Jose, CA 2,733 $175,000
Austin, TX 2,343 $130,000
Seattle, WA 2,083 $179,546
Charlotte, NC 1,918 $128,232
Mountain View, CA 1,867 $167,149
Bentonville, AR 1,706 $126,363
San Diego, CA 1,673 $121,597

Other H-1B Jobs in Irvine, CA

The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from Irvine, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Senior Software Engineer role here (926 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Software Engineer II at a median of $144,954.

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Software Engineer 926 $125,000
Software Developer 725 $102,544
Software Engineer II 307 $144,954
Accountant 288 $80,000
Architect 282 $109,782
Project Manager 212 $103,355
Software Engineer I 204 $123,000
Consultant 194 $91,790
Research Scientist 173 $81,200
Business Analyst 171 $91,791

Key Insights

The median H-1B salary for Senior Software Engineer in Irvine, CA is $140,031, based on 383 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 3% higher than the national Senior Software Engineer H-1B median of $135,304 across all U.S. locations. It is also 23% higher than the overall H-1B median of $113,661 in Irvine, CA across all job titles.

Salaries span a $77,456 range from the 10th percentile ($102,544) to the 90th percentile ($180,000). The middle 50% of workers earn between $121,680 and $164,700, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.

BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Irvine, CA, with 27 certified filings at a median salary of $165,000. Among the top employers, VIANT TECHNOLOGY pays the highest median at $177,029. The pay spread across top employers is 77%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions people ask about Senior Software Engineer H-1B roles in Irvine, CA, answered directly from 383 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 Software Engineer salary in Irvine, CA?

The median H-1B salary for Senior Software Engineer positions in Irvine, CA is $140,031, based on 383 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

10th percentile
$102,544
25th percentile
$121,680
Median
$140,031
75th percentile
$164,700
90th percentile
$180,000

The salary distribution for Senior Software Engineer roles in Irvine, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $102,544, while the 90th percentile earns $180,000. This $77,456 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.

Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,707, Senior Software Engineer salaries in Irvine, CA are 7% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.

Which companies hire Senior Software Engineers in Irvine, CA?

The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Senior Software Engineer positions in Irvine, CA are:

These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Senior Software Engineer roles specifically in Irvine, CA. BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT leads with 27 filings at a median salary of $165,000. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $99,840 to $177,029.

How do I get an H-1B visa as a Senior Software Engineer in Irvine, CA?

To obtain an H-1B visa as a Senior Software Engineer in Irvine, 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, 383 H-1B positions for Senior Software Engineers in Irvine, 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.