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H-1B data current through FY 2026 Q3

Software Engineer H-1B Salary in Cupertino, CA

Employers have filed 6,074 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Software Engineer positions in Cupertino, CA, with a median salary of $186,142. That's 38% higher than the national Software Engineer H-1B median of $135,000 across all U.S. locations, and 9% higher than the Cupertino, CA all-roles H-1B median of $170,700. Software Engineer ranks #1 among H-1B job titles filed from Cupertino, CA.

Headline numbers for Software Engineer H-1B roles in Cupertino, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #15 by filing volume out of the 7,543 job × city combinations we track — one of the largest for Software Engineer hiring.

$186,142
Median Salary
6,074
Certified Filings
$146,182
10th Percentile
$226,158
90th Percentile

Software Engineer H-1B Salary Range in Cupertino, CA

The pay distribution for this role spans $79,976 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $163,003 and $205,482, the interquartile range where most experienced Software Engineers land. The median of $186,142 sits 38% higher than the national Software Engineer H-1B median.

10th percentile
$146,182
25th percentile
$163,003
Median
$186,142
75th percentile
$205,482
90th percentile
$226,158
Middle 50% of Software Engineer H-1B salaries in Cupertino, CA: $163,003 to $205,482

Top Employers Hiring Software Engineers in Cupertino, CA

APPLE is the largest H-1B sponsor for Software Engineer in Cupertino, CA, with 5,751 certified filings (95% of local Software Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $188,000. Among the top sponsors, APPLE PAYMENTS SERVICES pays the highest median at $205,132. The pay spread across top employers is 60%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.

Median Salary Comparison

Pay spread among top employers: 60% ($128,000 at L&T TECHNOLOGY SERVICES to $205,132 at APPLE PAYMENTS SERVICES)

Employer Filings Median Salary
APPLE 5,751 $188,000
JUNIPER NETWORKS 59 $133,432
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION 22 $170,872
L&T TECHNOLOGY SERVICES 14 $128,000
APPLE PAYMENTS SERVICES 12 $205,132

How This Salary Compares

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

vs. National Software Engineer
+38%
38% higher than the national Software Engineer H-1B median of $135,000.
vs. Cupertino, CA Average
+9%
9% higher than the overall H-1B median in Cupertino, CA ($170,700).

Software Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities

The other top metros where Software Engineer is an active H-1B role. Redmond, WA has the most filings (25,202) outside Cupertino, CA. The highest median among these is Menlo Park, CA at $190,807. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.

City Filings Median Salary
Redmond, WA 25,202 $157,000
Mountain View, CA 21,815 $168,000
Sunnyvale, CA 17,432 $168,000
San Francisco, CA 13,951 $167,710
New York, NY 13,246 $163,884
Seattle, WA 10,788 $160,000
San Jose, CA 9,425 $162,485
Menlo Park, CA 9,125 $190,807
Bellevue, WA 8,681 $163,862
Austin, TX 6,831 $125,070

Other H-1B Jobs in Cupertino, CA

The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from Cupertino, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Project Manager is the busiest non-Software Engineer role here (646 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Machine Learning Engineer at a median of $191,924.

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Project Manager 646 $165,875
Machine Learning Engineer 549 $191,924
Hardware Development Engineer 491 $160,222
QA Engineer 487 $145,000
Program Manager 417 $158,995
Software Engineer II 397 $180,000
Systems Engineer 379 $176,213
Data Scientist 330 $177,025
Asic Design Engineer 326 $158,226
Tools & Automation Engineer 296 $160,000

Key Insights

The median H-1B salary for Software Engineer in Cupertino, CA is $186,142, based on 6,074 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 38% higher than the national Software Engineer H-1B median of $135,000 across all U.S. locations. It is also 9% higher than the overall H-1B median of $170,700 in Cupertino, CA across all job titles.

Salaries span a $79,976 range from the 10th percentile ($146,182) to the 90th percentile ($226,158). The middle 50% of workers earn between $163,003 and $205,482, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.

APPLE is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Cupertino, CA, with 5,751 certified filings at a median salary of $188,000. Among the top employers, APPLE PAYMENTS SERVICES pays the highest median at $205,132. The pay spread across top employers is 60%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions people ask about Software Engineer H-1B roles in Cupertino, CA, answered directly from 6,074 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 salary in Cupertino, CA?

The median H-1B salary for Software Engineer positions in Cupertino, CA is $186,142, based on 6,074 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

10th percentile
$146,182
25th percentile
$163,003
Median
$186,142
75th percentile
$205,482
90th percentile
$226,158

The salary distribution for Software Engineer roles in Cupertino, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $146,182, while the 90th percentile earns $226,158. This $79,976 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 salaries in Cupertino, CA are 47% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.

Which companies hire Software Engineers in Cupertino, CA?

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

These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Software Engineer roles specifically in Cupertino, CA. APPLE leads with 5,751 filings at a median salary of $188,000. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $128,000 to $205,132.

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

To obtain an H-1B visa as a Software Engineer in Cupertino, 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, 6,074 H-1B positions for Software Engineers in Cupertino, 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.