Senior Systems Engineer H-1B Salary in San Francisco, CA
Employers have filed 124 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Senior Systems Engineer positions in San Francisco, CA, with a median salary of $170,914. That's 42% higher than the national Senior Systems Engineer H-1B median of $120,000 across all U.S. locations, and 11% higher than the San Francisco, CA all-roles H-1B median of $154,523. Senior Systems Engineer ranks #65 among H-1B job titles filed from San Francisco, CA.
Headline numbers for Senior Systems Engineer H-1B roles in San Francisco, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #2,598 by filing volume out of the 6,873 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Senior Systems Engineer hiring.
Senior Systems Engineer H-1B Salary Range in San Francisco, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $78,000 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $148,720 and $185,300, the interquartile range where most experienced Senior Systems Engineers land. The median of $170,914 sits 42% higher than the national Senior Systems Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $130,000
- 25th percentile
- $148,720
- Median
- $170,914
- 75th percentile
- $185,300
- 90th percentile
- $208,000
Top Employers Hiring Senior Systems Engineers in San Francisco, CA
CRUISE is the largest H-1B sponsor for Senior Systems Engineer in San Francisco, CA, with 27 certified filings (22% of local Senior Systems Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $176,200. Among the top sponsors, SALESFORCE pays the highest median at $190,000. The pay spread across top employers is 21%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 21% ($157,477 at UNITY TECHNOLOGIES SF to $190,000 at SALESFORCE)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| CRUISE | 27 | $176,200 |
| SALESFORCE | 17 | $190,000 |
| UBER | 11 | $174,200 |
| UNITY TECHNOLOGIES SF | 3 | $157,477 |
| RELEVANCE LAB | 3 | $166,000 |
How This Salary Compares
Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Senior Systems 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 Francisco, CA, which tells you whether Senior Systems Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.
Senior Systems Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities
The other top metros where Senior Systems Engineer is an active H-1B role. San Diego, CA has the most filings (216) outside San Francisco, CA. The highest median among these is Sunnyvale, CA at $150,000. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | 216 | $114,400 |
| Austin, TX | 182 | $119,000 |
| Dallas, TX | 174 | $128,315 |
| San Jose, CA | 133 | $135,000 |
| Atlanta, GA | 125 | $120,000 |
| Plano, TX | 110 | $140,000 |
| Alpharetta, GA | 107 | $104,500 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 106 | $142,563 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 93 | $103,314 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 88 | $150,000 |
Other H-1B Jobs in San Francisco, CA
The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from San Francisco, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Senior Systems Engineer role here (12,596 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Engineering Manager at a median of $210,850.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 12,596 | $165,000 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 4,749 | $180,000 |
| Data Scientist | 1,498 | $150,000 |
| Product Manager | 1,449 | $163,973 |
| Engineering Manager | 1,070 | $210,850 |
| Software Engineer II | 1,047 | $164,000 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 991 | $207,000 |
| Accountant | 980 | $106,000 |
| Consultant | 946 | $120,000 |
| Associate | 811 | $135,000 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Senior Systems Engineer in San Francisco, CA is $170,914, based on 124 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 42% higher than the national Senior Systems Engineer H-1B median of $120,000 across all U.S. locations. It is also 11% higher than the overall H-1B median of $154,523 in San Francisco, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $78,000 range from the 10th percentile ($130,000) to the 90th percentile ($208,000). The middle 50% of workers earn between $148,720 and $185,300, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
CRUISE is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Francisco, CA, with 27 certified filings at a median salary of $176,200. Among the top employers, SALESFORCE pays the highest median at $190,000. The pay spread across top employers is 21%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions people ask about Senior Systems Engineer H-1B roles in San Francisco, CA, answered directly from 124 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 Systems Engineer salary in San Francisco, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Senior Systems Engineer positions in San Francisco, CA is $170,914, based on 124 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $130,000
- 25th percentile
- $148,720
- Median
- $170,914
- 75th percentile
- $185,300
- 90th percentile
- $208,000
The salary distribution for Senior Systems Engineer roles in San Francisco, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $130,000, while the 90th percentile earns $208,000. This $78,000 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,541, Senior Systems Engineer salaries in San Francisco, CA are 31% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Senior Systems Engineers in San Francisco, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Senior Systems Engineer positions in San Francisco, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Senior Systems Engineer roles specifically in San Francisco, CA. CRUISE leads with 27 filings at a median salary of $176,200. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $157,477 to $190,000.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Senior Systems Engineer in San Francisco, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Senior Systems Engineer in San Francisco, 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, 124 H-1B positions for Senior Systems Engineers in San Francisco, 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.