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H-1B data current through FY 2026 Q1

Software Dev Engineer II H-1B Salary in Santa Clara, CA

Employers have filed 83 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Software Dev Engineer II positions in Santa Clara, CA, with a median salary of $188,060. That's 12% higher than the national Software Dev Engineer II H-1B median of $167,310 across all U.S. locations, and 24% higher than the Santa Clara, CA all-roles H-1B median of $151,468. Software Dev Engineer II ranks #60 among H-1B job titles filed from Santa Clara, CA.

Headline numbers for Software Dev Engineer II H-1B roles in Santa Clara, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #3,986 by filing volume out of the 6,873 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Software Dev Engineer II hiring.

$188,060
Median Salary
83
Certified Filings
$175,000
10th Percentile
$216,200
90th Percentile

Software Dev Engineer II H-1B Salary Range in Santa Clara, CA

The pay distribution for this role spans $41,200 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $181,900 and $200,900, the interquartile range where most experienced Software Dev Engineer IIs land. The median of $188,060 sits 12% higher than the national Software Dev Engineer II H-1B median.

10th percentile
$175,000
25th percentile
$181,900
Median
$188,060
75th percentile
$200,900
90th percentile
$216,200
Middle 50% of Software Dev Engineer II H-1B salaries in Santa Clara, CA: $181,900 to $200,900

Top Employers Hiring Software Dev Engineer IIs in Santa Clara, CA

AMAZON is the largest H-1B sponsor for Software Dev Engineer II in Santa Clara, CA, with 77 certified filings (93% of local Software Dev Engineer II H-1B filings) at a median salary of $187,741. Among the top sponsors, ELEMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES pays the highest median at $210,000. The pay spread across top employers is 12%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.

Median Salary Comparison
AMAZON
$187,741
OATH HOLDINGS
$190,000

Pay spread among top employers: 12% ($187,741 at AMAZON to $210,000 at ELEMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES)

Employer Filings Median Salary
AMAZON 77 $187,741
AMAZON DATA SERVICES 4 $188,060
OATH HOLDINGS 1 $190,000
ELEMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES 1 $210,000

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 Santa Clara, 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
+12%
12% higher than the national Software Dev Engineer II H-1B median of $167,310.
vs. Santa Clara, CA Average
+24%
24% higher than the overall H-1B median in Santa Clara, CA ($151,468).

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 (889) outside Santa Clara, CA. The highest median among these is New York, NY at $181,500. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.

City Filings Median Salary
Seattle, WA 889 $165,900
Bellevue, WA 241 $167,700
Sunnyvale, CA 225 $174,960
Austin, TX 137 $160,600
New York, NY 84 $181,500
Arlington, VA 62 $159,900
San Francisco, CA 56 $180,000

Other H-1B Jobs in Santa Clara, CA

The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from Santa Clara, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Software Dev Engineer II role here (4,272 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Principal Software Engineer at a median of $200,000.

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Software Engineer 4,272 $148,090
Senior Software Engineer 1,406 $155,965
Component Design Engineer 1,209 $131,470
Hardware Engineer 858 $162,523
Staff Software Engineer 812 $178,198
Software Engineer II 759 $177,800
Architect 688 $163,966
Software Developer 546 $126,000
QA Engineer 531 $123,204
Principal Software Engineer 501 $200,000

Key Insights

The median H-1B salary for Software Dev Engineer II in Santa Clara, CA is $188,060, based on 83 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 12% higher than the national Software Dev Engineer II H-1B median of $167,310 across all U.S. locations. It is also 24% higher than the overall H-1B median of $151,468 in Santa Clara, CA across all job titles.

Salaries span a $41,200 range from the 10th percentile ($175,000) to the 90th percentile ($216,200). The middle 50% of workers earn between $181,900 and $200,900, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.

AMAZON is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Santa Clara, CA, with 77 certified filings at a median salary of $187,741. Among the top employers, ELEMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES pays the highest median at $210,000. The pay spread across top employers is 12%, 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 Santa Clara, CA, answered directly from 83 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 Santa Clara, CA?

The median H-1B salary for Software Dev Engineer II positions in Santa Clara, CA is $188,060, based on 83 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

10th percentile
$175,000
25th percentile
$181,900
Median
$188,060
75th percentile
$200,900
90th percentile
$216,200

The salary distribution for Software Dev Engineer II roles in Santa Clara, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $175,000, while the 90th percentile earns $216,200. This $41,200 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 II salaries in Santa Clara, CA are 44% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.

Which companies hire Software Dev Engineer IIs in Santa Clara, CA?

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

AMAZON
$187,741
OATH HOLDINGS
$190,000

These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Software Dev Engineer II roles specifically in Santa Clara, CA. AMAZON leads with 77 filings at a median salary of $187,741. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $187,741 to $210,000.

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

To obtain an H-1B visa as a Software Dev Engineer II in Santa Clara, 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, 83 H-1B positions for Software Dev Engineer IIs in Santa Clara, 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.