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H-1B data current through FY 2026 Q3

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

Employers have filed 1,745 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Software Engineer III positions in Sunnyvale, CA, with a median salary of $142,000. That's 2% higher than the national Software Engineer III H-1B median of $138,880 across all U.S. locations, and 11% lower than the Sunnyvale, CA all-roles H-1B median of $159,000. Software Engineer III ranks #4 among H-1B job titles filed from Sunnyvale, CA.

Headline numbers for Software Engineer III H-1B roles in Sunnyvale, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #80 by filing volume out of the 7,543 job × city combinations we track — one of the largest for Software Engineer III hiring.

$142,000
Median Salary
1,745
Certified Filings
$117,000
10th Percentile
$226,021
90th Percentile

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

The pay distribution for this role spans $109,021 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $117,000 and $180,000, the interquartile range where most experienced Software Engineer IIIs land. The median of $142,000 sits 2% higher than the national Software Engineer III H-1B median.

10th percentile
$117,000
25th percentile
$117,000
Median
$142,000
75th percentile
$180,000
90th percentile
$226,021
Middle 50% of Software Engineer III H-1B salaries in Sunnyvale, CA: $117,000 to $180,000

Top Employers Hiring Software Engineer IIIs in Sunnyvale, CA

WALMART is the largest H-1B sponsor for Software Engineer III in Sunnyvale, CA, with 1,153 certified filings (66% of local Software Engineer III H-1B filings) at a median salary of $132,351. Among the top sponsors, AMAZON pays the highest median at $208,100. The pay spread across top employers is 57%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.

Median Salary Comparison

Pay spread among top employers: 57% ($132,351 at WALMART to $208,100 at AMAZON)

Employer Filings Median Salary
WALMART 1,153 $132,351
AMAZON 525 $208,100
HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE 14 $176,478
AMAZON.COM SERVICES 11 $180,000
AMAZON DATA SERVICES 6 $199,534

How This Salary Compares

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

vs. National Software Engineer III
+2%
2% higher than the national Software Engineer III H-1B median of $138,880.
vs. Sunnyvale, CA Average
-11%
11% lower than the overall H-1B median in Sunnyvale, CA ($159,000).

Software Engineer III H-1B Salaries in Other Cities

The other top metros where Software Engineer III is an active H-1B role. Bentonville, AR has the most filings (2,376) outside Sunnyvale, CA. The highest median among these is Bellevue, WA at $171,996. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.

City Filings Median Salary
Bentonville, AR 2,376 $106,674
Seattle, WA 2,249 $160,000
San Jose, CA 1,360 $155,375
Austin, TX 644 $139,573
Bellevue, WA 639 $171,996
New York, NY 614 $165,600
Dallas, TX 573 $115,000
Plano, TX 510 $136,300
Jersey City, NJ 364 $155,000
Atlanta, GA 361 $125,000

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 III 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 II 1,744 $175,800
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 III in Sunnyvale, CA is $142,000, based on 1,745 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 2% higher than the national Software Engineer III H-1B median of $138,880 across all U.S. locations. It is also 11% lower than the overall H-1B median of $159,000 in Sunnyvale, CA across all job titles.

Salaries span a $109,021 range from the 10th percentile ($117,000) to the 90th percentile ($226,021). The middle 50% of workers earn between $117,000 and $180,000, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.

WALMART is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Sunnyvale, CA, with 1,153 certified filings at a median salary of $132,351. Among the top employers, AMAZON pays the highest median at $208,100. The pay spread across top employers is 57%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions people ask about Software Engineer III H-1B roles in Sunnyvale, CA, answered directly from 1,745 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 III salary in Sunnyvale, CA?

The median H-1B salary for Software Engineer III positions in Sunnyvale, CA is $142,000, based on 1,745 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

10th percentile
$117,000
25th percentile
$117,000
Median
$142,000
75th percentile
$180,000
90th percentile
$226,021

The salary distribution for Software Engineer III roles in Sunnyvale, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $117,000, while the 90th percentile earns $226,021. This $109,021 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 III salaries in Sunnyvale, CA are 12% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.

Which companies hire Software Engineer IIIs in Sunnyvale, CA?

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

These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Software Engineer III roles specifically in Sunnyvale, CA. WALMART leads with 1,153 filings at a median salary of $132,351. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $132,351 to $208,100.

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

To obtain an H-1B visa as a Software Engineer III 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, 1,745 H-1B positions for Software Engineer IIIs 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.