Skip to main content
H-1B data current through FY 2026 Q3

Software Engineer II H-1B Salary in Sunnyvale, CA

Employers have filed 1,744 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Software Engineer II positions in Sunnyvale, CA, with a median salary of $175,800. That's 22% higher than the national Software Engineer II H-1B median of $144,200 across all U.S. locations, and 11% higher than the Sunnyvale, CA all-roles H-1B median of $159,000. Software Engineer II ranks #5 among H-1B job titles filed from Sunnyvale, CA.

Headline numbers for Software Engineer II H-1B roles in Sunnyvale, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #81 by filing volume out of the 7,543 job × city combinations we track — one of the largest for Software Engineer II hiring.

$175,800
Median Salary
1,744
Certified Filings
$130,894
10th Percentile
$205,800
90th Percentile

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

The pay distribution for this role spans $74,906 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $152,400 and $187,741, the interquartile range where most experienced Software Engineer IIs land. The median of $175,800 sits 22% higher than the national Software Engineer II H-1B median.

10th percentile
$130,894
25th percentile
$152,400
Median
$175,800
75th percentile
$187,741
90th percentile
$205,800
Middle 50% of Software Engineer II H-1B salaries in Sunnyvale, CA: $152,400 to $187,741

Top Employers Hiring Software Engineer IIs in Sunnyvale, CA

AMAZON is the largest H-1B sponsor for Software Engineer II in Sunnyvale, CA, with 1,525 certified filings (87% of local Software Engineer II H-1B filings) at a median salary of $178,000. The pay spread across top employers is 48%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.

Median Salary Comparison
AMAZON
$178,000
WALMART
$120,000

Pay spread among top employers: 48% ($120,000 at WALMART to $178,000 at AMAZON)

Employer Filings Median Salary
AMAZON 1,525 $178,000
AMAZON.COM SERVICES 41 $159,400
WALMART 33 $120,000
UBER TECHNOLOGIES 27 $149,000
HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE 26 $147,512

How This Salary Compares

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

vs. National Software Engineer II
+22%
22% higher than the national Software Engineer II H-1B median of $144,200.
vs. Sunnyvale, CA Average
+11%
11% higher than the overall H-1B median in Sunnyvale, CA ($159,000).

Software Engineer II H-1B Salaries in Other Cities

The other top metros where Software Engineer II is an active H-1B role. Seattle, WA has the most filings (8,347) outside Sunnyvale, CA. The highest median among these is Santa Clara, CA at $179,200. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.

City Filings Median Salary
Seattle, WA 8,347 $150,000
New York, NY 1,832 $160,500
Bellevue, WA 1,543 $154,400
Austin, TX 1,502 $145,000
San Francisco, CA 1,125 $165,000
Boston, MA 972 $146,300
San Jose, CA 899 $133,875
Santa Clara, CA 841 $179,200
East Palo Alto, CA 791 $178,700
Palo Alto, CA 695 $172,931

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 Engineer II role here (17,432 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 17,432 $168,000
Senior Software Engineer 4,872 $160,000
Staff Software Engineer 2,257 $184,080
Software Engineer III 1,745 $142,000
Program Manager 1,303 $162,000
Software Developer 1,004 $121,000
QA Engineer 723 $135,000
Project Manager 707 $139,443
Software Engineer I 703 $144,000
Data Scientist 660 $147,900

Key Insights

The median H-1B salary for Software Engineer II in Sunnyvale, CA is $175,800, based on 1,744 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 22% higher than the national Software Engineer II H-1B median of $144,200 across all U.S. locations. It is also 11% higher than the overall H-1B median of $159,000 in Sunnyvale, CA across all job titles.

Salaries span a $74,906 range from the 10th percentile ($130,894) to the 90th percentile ($205,800). The middle 50% of workers earn between $152,400 and $187,741, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.

AMAZON is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Sunnyvale, CA, with 1,525 certified filings at a median salary of $178,000. The pay spread across top employers is 48%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions people ask about Software Engineer II H-1B roles in Sunnyvale, CA, answered directly from 1,744 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 Engineer II salary in Sunnyvale, CA?

The median H-1B salary for Software Engineer II positions in Sunnyvale, CA is $175,800, based on 1,744 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

10th percentile
$130,894
25th percentile
$152,400
Median
$175,800
75th percentile
$187,741
90th percentile
$205,800

The salary distribution for Software Engineer II roles in Sunnyvale, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $130,894, while the 90th percentile earns $205,800. This $74,906 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.

Compared to the national H-1B median of $126,302, Software Engineer II salaries in Sunnyvale, CA are 39% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.

Which companies hire Software Engineer IIs in Sunnyvale, CA?

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

AMAZON
$178,000
WALMART
$120,000

These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Software Engineer II roles specifically in Sunnyvale, CA. AMAZON leads with 1,525 filings at a median salary of $178,000. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $120,000 to $178,000.

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

To obtain an H-1B visa as a Software Engineer II 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, 1,744 H-1B positions for Software Engineer IIs 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.