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Software Dev Engineer I H-1B Salary in Sunnyvale, CA

Employers have filed 80 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Software Dev Engineer I positions in Sunnyvale, CA, with a median salary of $148,400. That's 15% higher than the national Software Dev Engineer I H-1B median of $129,000 across all U.S. locations, and 6% lower than the Sunnyvale, CA all-roles H-1B median of $157,269. Software Dev Engineer I ranks #84 among H-1B job titles filed from Sunnyvale, CA.

Headline numbers for Software Dev Engineer I H-1B roles in Sunnyvale, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #4,171 by filing volume out of the 6,873 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Software Dev Engineer I hiring.

$148,400
Median Salary
80
Certified Filings
$128,000
10th Percentile
$153,500
90th Percentile

Software Dev Engineer I H-1B Salary Range in Sunnyvale, CA

The pay distribution for this role spans $25,500 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $135,000 and $148,400, the interquartile range where most experienced Software Dev Engineer Is land. The median of $148,400 sits 15% higher than the national Software Dev Engineer I H-1B median.

10th percentile
$128,000
25th percentile
$135,000
Median
$148,400
75th percentile
$148,400
90th percentile
$153,500
Middle 50% of Software Dev Engineer I H-1B salaries in Sunnyvale, CA: $135,000 to $148,400

Top Employers Hiring Software Dev Engineer Is in Sunnyvale, CA

AMAZON is the largest H-1B sponsor for Software Dev Engineer I in Sunnyvale, CA, with 56 certified filings (70% of local Software Dev Engineer I H-1B filings) at a median salary of $148,400. The pay spread across top employers is 13%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.

Median Salary Comparison
AMAZON
$148,400
OATH HOLDINGS
$133,746
YAHOO HOLDINGS
$130,873

Pay spread among top employers: 13% ($130,873 at YAHOO HOLDINGS to $148,400 at AMAZON)

Employer Filings Median Salary
AMAZON 56 $148,400
OATH HOLDINGS 22 $133,746
YAHOO HOLDINGS 2 $130,873

How This Salary Compares

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

vs. National Software Dev Engineer I
+15%
15% higher than the national Software Dev Engineer I H-1B median of $129,000.
vs. Sunnyvale, CA Average
-6%
6% lower than the overall H-1B median in Sunnyvale, CA ($157,269).

Software Dev Engineer I H-1B Salaries in Other Cities

The other top metros where Software Dev Engineer I is an active H-1B role. Seattle, WA has the most filings (936) outside Sunnyvale, CA. The highest median among these is East Palo Alto, CA at $148,400. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.

City Filings Median Salary
Seattle, WA 936 $129,000
Bellevue, WA 190 $129,000
Austin, TX 97 $129,000
Arlington, VA 76 $129,000
New York, NY 64 $141,900
East Palo Alto, CA 63 $148,400
Santa Clara, CA 56 $148,400

Other H-1B Jobs in Sunnyvale, CA

The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from Sunnyvale, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Software Dev Engineer I role here (15,458 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Staff Software Engineer at a median of $184,080.

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Software Engineer 15,458 $167,000
Senior Software Engineer 4,316 $159,370
Staff Software Engineer 2,039 $184,080
Software Engineer II 1,651 $176,000
Software Engineer III 1,612 $142,391
Program Manager 1,215 $161,000
Software Developer 943 $120,600
Project Manager 681 $137,363
Software Engineer I 680 $142,400
QA Engineer 655 $133,718

Key Insights

The median H-1B salary for Software Dev Engineer I in Sunnyvale, CA is $148,400, based on 80 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 15% higher than the national Software Dev Engineer I H-1B median of $129,000 across all U.S. locations. It is also 6% lower than the overall H-1B median of $157,269 in Sunnyvale, CA across all job titles.

Salaries span a $25,500 range from the 10th percentile ($128,000) to the 90th percentile ($153,500). The middle 50% of workers earn between $135,000 and $148,400, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.

AMAZON is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Sunnyvale, CA, with 56 certified filings at a median salary of $148,400. The pay spread across top employers is 13%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions people ask about Software Dev Engineer I H-1B roles in Sunnyvale, CA, answered directly from 80 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 Software Dev Engineer I salary in Sunnyvale, CA?

The median H-1B salary for Software Dev Engineer I positions in Sunnyvale, CA is $148,400, based on 80 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

10th percentile
$128,000
25th percentile
$135,000
Median
$148,400
75th percentile
$148,400
90th percentile
$153,500

The salary distribution for Software Dev Engineer I roles in Sunnyvale, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $128,000, while the 90th percentile earns $153,500. This $25,500 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.

Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,541, Software Dev Engineer I salaries in Sunnyvale, CA are 14% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.

Which companies hire Software Dev Engineer Is in Sunnyvale, CA?

The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Software Dev Engineer I positions in Sunnyvale, CA are:

AMAZON
$148,400
OATH HOLDINGS
$133,746
YAHOO HOLDINGS
$130,873

These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Software Dev Engineer I roles specifically in Sunnyvale, CA. AMAZON leads with 56 filings at a median salary of $148,400. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $130,873 to $148,400.

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

To obtain an H-1B visa as a Software Dev Engineer I in Sunnyvale, 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, 80 H-1B positions for Software Dev Engineer Is in Sunnyvale, 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.