Senior Software Engineer H-1B Salary in Oakland, CA
Employers have filed 302 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Senior Software Engineer positions in Oakland, CA, with a median salary of $167,710. That's 22% higher than the national Senior Software Engineer H-1B median of $137,000 across all U.S. locations, and 30% higher than the Oakland, CA all-roles H-1B median of $129,307. Senior Software Engineer ranks #2 among H-1B job titles filed from Oakland, CA.
Headline numbers for Senior Software Engineer H-1B roles in Oakland, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #1,021 by filing volume out of the 7,543 job × city combinations we track — in the top quartile for Senior Software Engineer hiring.
Senior Software Engineer H-1B Salary Range in Oakland, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $128,054 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $145,246 and $195,000, the interquartile range where most experienced Senior Software Engineers land. The median of $167,710 sits 22% higher than the national Senior Software Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $130,000
- 25th percentile
- $145,246
- Median
- $167,710
- 75th percentile
- $195,000
- 90th percentile
- $258,054
Top Employers Hiring Senior Software Engineers in Oakland, CA
DELTA DENTAL OF CALIFORNIA is the largest H-1B sponsor for Senior Software Engineer in Oakland, CA, with 50 certified filings (17% of local Senior Software Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $145,246. Among the top sponsors, CREDIT KARMA pays the highest median at $258,159. The pay spread across top employers is 78%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 78% ($145,246 at DELTA DENTAL OF CALIFORNIA to $258,159 at CREDIT KARMA)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| DELTA DENTAL OF CALIFORNIA | 50 | $145,246 |
| CREDIT KARMA | 47 | $258,159 |
| MARQETA | 45 | $170,000 |
| SIRIUS XM RADIO | 30 | $170,000 |
| FIVETRAN | 12 | $187,574 |
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 Oakland, CA, which tells you whether Senior Software Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.
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 (5,106) outside Oakland, CA. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 5,106 | $180,960 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 4,872 | $160,000 |
| New York, NY | 3,771 | $160,000 |
| San Jose, CA | 2,894 | $176,033 |
| Austin, TX | 2,477 | $131,600 |
| Seattle, WA | 2,204 | $180,000 |
| Charlotte, NC | 1,993 | $128,232 |
| Mountain View, CA | 1,959 | $168,000 |
| Bentonville, AR | 1,870 | $127,654 |
| San Diego, CA | 1,707 | $121,597 |
Other H-1B Jobs in Oakland, CA
The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from Oakland, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Senior Software Engineer role here (328 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Data Scientist at a median of $155,000.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 328 | $149,200 |
| Software Developer | 143 | $121,763 |
| Architect | 117 | $105,560 |
| Consultant | 94 | $115,066 |
| Project Manager | 71 | $130,000 |
| Data Scientist | 71 | $155,000 |
| Speech Language Pathologist | 65 | $101,380 |
| Manager | 60 | $125,362 |
| Manager - Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | 56 | $148,450 |
| Transportation Engineer (Civil) | 51 | $92,952 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Senior Software Engineer in Oakland, CA is $167,710, based on 302 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 22% higher than the national Senior Software Engineer H-1B median of $137,000 across all U.S. locations. It is also 30% higher than the overall H-1B median of $129,307 in Oakland, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $128,054 range from the 10th percentile ($130,000) to the 90th percentile ($258,054). The middle 50% of workers earn between $145,246 and $195,000, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
DELTA DENTAL OF CALIFORNIA is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Oakland, CA, with 50 certified filings at a median salary of $145,246. Among the top employers, CREDIT KARMA pays the highest median at $258,159. The pay spread across top employers is 78%, 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 Oakland, CA, answered directly from 302 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 Oakland, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Senior Software Engineer positions in Oakland, CA is $167,710, based on 302 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $130,000
- 25th percentile
- $145,246
- Median
- $167,710
- 75th percentile
- $195,000
- 90th percentile
- $258,054
The salary distribution for Senior Software Engineer roles in Oakland, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $130,000, while the 90th percentile earns $258,054. This $128,054 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $126,302, Senior Software Engineer salaries in Oakland, CA are 33% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Senior Software Engineers in Oakland, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Senior Software Engineer positions in Oakland, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Senior Software Engineer roles specifically in Oakland, CA. DELTA DENTAL OF CALIFORNIA leads with 50 filings at a median salary of $145,246. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $145,246 to $258,159.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Senior Software Engineer in Oakland, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Senior Software Engineer in Oakland, 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, 302 H-1B positions for Senior Software Engineers in Oakland, 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.