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H-1B data current through FY 2026 Q3

Software Dev Engineer II H-1B Salary in San Francisco, CA

Employers have filed 86 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Software Dev Engineer II positions in San Francisco, CA, with a median salary of $182,000. That's 6% higher than the national Software Dev Engineer II H-1B median of $171,300 across all U.S. locations, and 16% higher than the San Francisco, CA all-roles H-1B median of $156,959. Software Dev Engineer II ranks #90 among H-1B job titles filed from San Francisco, CA.

Headline numbers for Software Dev Engineer II H-1B roles in San Francisco, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #4,218 by filing volume out of the 7,543 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Software Dev Engineer II hiring.

$182,000
Median Salary
86
Certified Filings
$165,000
10th Percentile
$215,300
90th Percentile

Software Dev Engineer II H-1B Salary Range in San Francisco, CA

The pay distribution for this role spans $50,300 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $174,960 and $203,500, the interquartile range where most experienced Software Dev Engineer IIs land. The median of $182,000 sits 6% higher than the national Software Dev Engineer II H-1B median.

10th percentile
$165,000
25th percentile
$174,960
Median
$182,000
75th percentile
$203,500
90th percentile
$215,300
Middle 50% of Software Dev Engineer II H-1B salaries in San Francisco, CA: $174,960 to $203,500

Top Employers Hiring Software Dev Engineer IIs in San Francisco, CA

AMAZON is the largest H-1B sponsor for Software Dev Engineer II in San Francisco, CA, with 64 certified filings (74% of local Software Dev Engineer II H-1B filings) at a median salary of $187,800. The pay spread across top employers is 24%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.

Median Salary Comparison
AMAZON
$187,800
YAHOO HOLDINGS
$161,637
OATH HOLDINGS
$151,847

Pay spread among top employers: 24% ($151,847 at OATH HOLDINGS to $187,800 at AMAZON)

Employer Filings Median Salary
AMAZON 64 $187,800
TWITCH INTERACTIVE 16 $180,000
YAHOO HOLDINGS 2 $161,637
AMAZON MEDIA VENTURE 2 $178,300
OATH HOLDINGS 1 $151,847

How This Salary Compares

Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Software Dev Engineer II 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 Software Dev Engineer II pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.

vs. National Software Dev Engineer II
+6%
6% higher than the national Software Dev Engineer II H-1B median of $171,300.
vs. San Francisco, CA Average
+16%
16% higher than the overall H-1B median in San Francisco, CA ($156,959).

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

The other top metros where Software Dev Engineer II is an active H-1B role. Seattle, WA has the most filings (2,391) outside San Francisco, CA. The highest median among these is Palo Alto, CA at $195,000. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.

City Filings Median Salary
Seattle, WA 2,391 $170,000
Bellevue, WA 693 $170,200
Austin, TX 371 $170,000
Sunnyvale, CA 317 $180,500
New York, NY 244 $188,600
Santa Clara, CA 150 $190,144
Arlington, VA 148 $164,600
East Palo Alto, CA 87 $188,200
Boston, MA 75 $161,648
Palo Alto, CA 62 $195,000

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-Software Dev Engineer II role here (13,951 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Engineering Manager at a median of $212,472.

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Software Engineer 13,951 $167,710
Senior Software Engineer 5,106 $180,960
Data Scientist 1,623 $151,882
Product Manager 1,588 $165,000
Software Engineer II 1,125 $165,000
Engineering Manager 1,118 $212,472
Staff Software Engineer 1,099 $210,000
Accountant 1,052 $108,500
Consultant 1,010 $120,994
Associate 908 $140,900

Key Insights

The median H-1B salary for Software Dev Engineer II in San Francisco, CA is $182,000, based on 86 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 6% higher than the national Software Dev Engineer II H-1B median of $171,300 across all U.S. locations. It is also 16% higher than the overall H-1B median of $156,959 in San Francisco, CA across all job titles.

Salaries span a $50,300 range from the 10th percentile ($165,000) to the 90th percentile ($215,300). The middle 50% of workers earn between $174,960 and $203,500, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.

AMAZON is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Francisco, CA, with 64 certified filings at a median salary of $187,800. The pay spread across top employers is 24%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions people ask about Software Dev Engineer II H-1B roles in San Francisco, CA, answered directly from 86 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 II salary in San Francisco, CA?

The median H-1B salary for Software Dev Engineer II positions in San Francisco, CA is $182,000, based on 86 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

10th percentile
$165,000
25th percentile
$174,960
Median
$182,000
75th percentile
$203,500
90th percentile
$215,300

The salary distribution for Software Dev Engineer II roles in San Francisco, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $165,000, while the 90th percentile earns $215,300. This $50,300 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.

Compared to the national H-1B median of $126,302, Software Dev Engineer II salaries in San Francisco, CA are 44% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.

Which companies hire Software Dev Engineer IIs in San Francisco, CA?

The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Software Dev Engineer II positions in San Francisco, CA are:

AMAZON
$187,800
YAHOO HOLDINGS
$161,637
OATH HOLDINGS
$151,847

These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Software Dev Engineer II roles specifically in San Francisco, CA. AMAZON leads with 64 filings at a median salary of $187,800. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $151,847 to $187,800.

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

To obtain an H-1B visa as a Software Dev Engineer II in San Francisco, 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, 86 H-1B positions for Software Dev Engineer IIs 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.