Staff Design Engineer H-1B Salary in San Jose, CA
Employers have filed 66 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Staff Design Engineer positions in San Jose, CA, with a median salary of $166,026. That's 7% higher than the national Staff Design Engineer H-1B median of $155,438 across all U.S. locations, and 13% higher than the San Jose, CA all-roles H-1B median of $146,307. Staff Design Engineer ranks #106 among H-1B job titles filed from San Jose, CA.
Headline numbers for Staff Design Engineer H-1B roles in San Jose, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #5,117 by filing volume out of the 6,873 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Staff Design Engineer hiring.
Staff Design Engineer H-1B Salary Range in San Jose, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $50,403 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $155,220 and $172,245, the interquartile range where most experienced Staff Design Engineers land. The median of $166,026 sits 7% higher than the national Staff Design Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $134,597
- 25th percentile
- $155,220
- Median
- $166,026
- 75th percentile
- $172,245
- 90th percentile
- $185,000
Top Employers Hiring Staff Design Engineers in San Jose, CA
XILINX is the largest H-1B sponsor for Staff Design Engineer in San Jose, CA, with 36 certified filings (55% of local Staff Design Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $166,026. Among the top sponsors, ARM pays the highest median at $204,901. The pay spread across top employers is 28%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 28% ($160,000 at UBILINX TECHNOLOGY to $204,901 at ARM)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| XILINX | 36 | $166,026 |
| MICRON | 12 | $173,000 |
| ARM | 3 | $204,901 |
| UBILINX TECHNOLOGY | 3 | $160,000 |
| MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS | 2 | $186,500 |
How This Salary Compares
Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Staff Design 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 San Jose, CA, which tells you whether Staff Design Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.
Other H-1B Jobs in San Jose, CA
The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from San Jose, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Staff Design Engineer role here (8,169 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Staff Software Engineer at a median of $183,646.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 8,169 | $160,000 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 2,528 | $175,000 |
| Software Developer | 1,544 | $120,578 |
| Software Engineer III | 1,299 | $155,000 |
| Product Manager | 918 | $167,632 |
| Software Engineer II | 842 | $133,000 |
| Accountant | 805 | $108,000 |
| Data Scientist | 805 | $158,952 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 802 | $183,646 |
| Architect | 770 | $144,800 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Staff Design Engineer in San Jose, CA is $166,026, based on 66 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 7% higher than the national Staff Design Engineer H-1B median of $155,438 across all U.S. locations. It is also 13% higher than the overall H-1B median of $146,307 in San Jose, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $50,403 range from the 10th percentile ($134,597) to the 90th percentile ($185,000). The middle 50% of workers earn between $155,220 and $172,245, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
XILINX is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Jose, CA, with 36 certified filings at a median salary of $166,026. Among the top employers, ARM pays the highest median at $204,901. The pay spread across top employers is 28%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions people ask about Staff Design Engineer H-1B roles in San Jose, CA, answered directly from 66 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 Staff Design Engineer salary in San Jose, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Staff Design Engineer positions in San Jose, CA is $166,026, based on 66 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $134,597
- 25th percentile
- $155,220
- Median
- $166,026
- 75th percentile
- $172,245
- 90th percentile
- $185,000
The salary distribution for Staff Design Engineer roles in San Jose, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $134,597, while the 90th percentile earns $185,000. This $50,403 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,541, Staff Design Engineer salaries in San Jose, CA are 27% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Staff Design Engineers in San Jose, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Staff Design Engineer positions in San Jose, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Staff Design Engineer roles specifically in San Jose, CA. XILINX leads with 36 filings at a median salary of $166,026. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $160,000 to $204,901.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Staff Design Engineer in San Jose, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Staff Design Engineer in San Jose, CA, you'll need a sponsoring employer. The process involves several steps:
- Secure a job offer from a U.S. employer willing to sponsor your H-1B visa
- The employer files a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor
- Once the LCA is certified, the employer files an H-1B petition with USCIS
- If selected in the H-1B lottery (if applicable) and approved, you can begin work
Based on our data, 66 H-1B positions for Staff Design Engineers in San Jose, 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.