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H-1B data current through FY 2026 Q1

Software Engineer H-1B Salary in Sacramento, CA

Employers have filed 163 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Software Engineer positions in Sacramento, CA, with a median salary of $108,514. That's 18% lower than the national Software Engineer H-1B median of $133,000 across all U.S. locations, and 4% higher than the Sacramento, CA all-roles H-1B median of $104,000. Software Engineer ranks #2 among H-1B job titles filed from Sacramento, CA.

Headline numbers for Software Engineer H-1B roles in Sacramento, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #1,910 by filing volume out of the 6,873 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Software Engineer hiring.

$108,514
Median Salary
163
Certified Filings
$90,000
10th Percentile
$134,550
90th Percentile

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

The pay distribution for this role spans $44,550 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $96,678 and $121,451, the interquartile range where most experienced Software Engineers land. The median of $108,514 sits 18% lower than the national Software Engineer H-1B median.

10th percentile
$90,000
25th percentile
$96,678
Median
$108,514
75th percentile
$121,451
90th percentile
$134,550
Middle 50% of Software Engineer H-1B salaries in Sacramento, CA: $96,678 to $121,451

Top Employers Hiring Software Engineers in Sacramento, CA

R SYSTEMS is the largest H-1B sponsor for Software Engineer in Sacramento, CA, with 6 certified filings (4% of local Software Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $105,000. Among the top sponsors, MICROSOFT pays the highest median at $133,380. The pay spread across top employers is 49%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.

Median Salary Comparison
R SYSTEMS
$105,000
MICROSOFT
$133,380
NATSOFT
$89,814

Pay spread among top employers: 49% ($89,814 at NATSOFT to $133,380 at MICROSOFT)

Employer Filings Median Salary
R SYSTEMS 6 $105,000
STAT9 TECHNOLOGIES 5 $109,595
MICROSOFT 5 $133,380
WEST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES 5 $100,339
NATSOFT 4 $89,814

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 Sacramento, CA, which tells you whether Software Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.

vs. National Software Engineer
-18%
18% lower than the national Software Engineer H-1B median of $133,000.
vs. Sacramento, CA Average
+4%
4% higher than the overall H-1B median in Sacramento, CA ($104,000).

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 (23,374) outside Sacramento, CA. The highest median among these is Menlo Park, CA at $190,000. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.

City Filings Median Salary
Redmond, WA 23,374 $155,289
Mountain View, CA 19,967 $167,000
Sunnyvale, CA 15,458 $167,000
San Francisco, CA 12,596 $165,000
New York, NY 11,602 $160,000
Seattle, WA 9,911 $158,500
San Jose, CA 8,169 $160,000
Menlo Park, CA 8,126 $190,000
Bellevue, WA 7,788 $161,250
Austin, TX 6,127 $125,000

Other H-1B Jobs in Sacramento, CA

The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from Sacramento, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Developer is the busiest non-Software Engineer role here (594 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Manager at a median of $137,800.

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Software Developer 594 $100,500
Assistant Professor 123 $95,796
Consultant 100 $101,000
Senior Software Engineer 91 $122,346
Architect 87 $115,000
Project Manager 82 $110,000
Senior Consultant 78 $109,600
Manager 77 $137,800
Senior Software Developer 67 $120,640
Research Scientist 64 $72,800

Key Insights

The median H-1B salary for Software Engineer in Sacramento, CA is $108,514, based on 163 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 18% lower than the national Software Engineer H-1B median of $133,000 across all U.S. locations. It is also 4% higher than the overall H-1B median of $104,000 in Sacramento, CA across all job titles.

Salaries span a $44,550 range from the 10th percentile ($90,000) to the 90th percentile ($134,550). The middle 50% of workers earn between $96,678 and $121,451, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.

R SYSTEMS is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Sacramento, CA, with 6 certified filings at a median salary of $105,000. Among the top employers, MICROSOFT pays the highest median at $133,380. The pay spread across top employers is 49%, 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 Sacramento, CA, answered directly from 163 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 Sacramento, CA?

The median H-1B salary for Software Engineer positions in Sacramento, CA is $108,514, based on 163 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

10th percentile
$90,000
25th percentile
$96,678
Median
$108,514
75th percentile
$121,451
90th percentile
$134,550

The salary distribution for Software Engineer roles in Sacramento, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $90,000, while the 90th percentile earns $134,550. This $44,550 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.

Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,541, Software Engineer salaries in Sacramento, CA are 17% lower, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.

Which companies hire Software Engineers in Sacramento, CA?

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

R SYSTEMS
$105,000
MICROSOFT
$133,380
NATSOFT
$89,814

These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Software Engineer roles specifically in Sacramento, CA. R SYSTEMS leads with 6 filings at a median salary of $105,000. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $89,814 to $133,380.

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

To obtain an H-1B visa as a Software Engineer in Sacramento, 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, 163 H-1B positions for Software Engineers in Sacramento, 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.