Staff Engineer H-1B Salary in Austin, TX
Employers have filed 273 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Staff Engineer positions in Austin, TX, with a median salary of $154,565. That's 1% higher than the national Staff Engineer H-1B median of $153,130 across all U.S. locations, and 32% higher than the Austin, TX all-roles H-1B median of $116,699. Staff Engineer ranks #38 among H-1B job titles filed from Austin, TX.
Headline numbers for Staff Engineer H-1B roles in Austin, TX, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #1,175 by filing volume out of the 7,543 job × city combinations we track — in the top quartile for Staff Engineer hiring.
Staff Engineer H-1B Salary Range in Austin, TX
The pay distribution for this role spans $73,128 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $137,422 and $164,528, the interquartile range where most experienced Staff Engineers land. The median of $154,565 sits 1% higher than the national Staff Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $106,896
- 25th percentile
- $137,422
- Median
- $154,565
- 75th percentile
- $164,528
- 90th percentile
- $180,024
Top Employers Hiring Staff Engineers in Austin, TX
ARM is the largest H-1B sponsor for Staff Engineer in Austin, TX, with 85 certified filings (31% of local Staff Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $154,565. Among the top sponsors, VMWARE pays the highest median at $185,000. The pay spread across top employers is 32%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 32% ($140,000 at MEDIATEK USA to $185,000 at VMWARE)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| ARM | 85 | $154,565 |
| SAMSUNG AUSTIN SEMICONDUCTOR | 84 | $165,000 |
| SAMSUNG AUSTIN SEMICONDUCTOR | 31 | $161,179 |
| MEDIATEK USA | 8 | $140,000 |
| VMWARE | 7 | $185,000 |
How This Salary Compares
Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Staff 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 Austin, TX, which tells you whether Staff Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.
Staff Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities
The other top metros where Staff Engineer is an active H-1B role. San Jose, CA has the most filings (398) outside Austin, TX. The highest median among these is Palo Alto, CA at $207,500. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | 398 | $180,003 |
| Palo Alto, CA | 282 | $207,500 |
| San Diego, CA | 114 | $144,248 |
| New York, NY | 113 | $200,000 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 110 | $157,831 |
| San Francisco, CA | 99 | $200,000 |
| Houston, TX | 82 | $75,000 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 79 | $183,726 |
| Bellevue, WA | 63 | $95,680 |
Other H-1B Jobs in Austin, TX
The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from Austin, TX, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Staff Engineer role here (6,831 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Software Engineer II at a median of $145,000.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 6,831 | $125,070 |
| Software Developer | 4,436 | $96,866 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 2,477 | $131,600 |
| Architect | 1,804 | $95,850 |
| Software Engineer II | 1,502 | $145,000 |
| Consultant | 1,316 | $101,754 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 940 | $133,058 |
| Project Manager | 901 | $106,811 |
| Software Engineer I | 822 | $123,878 |
| Component Design Engineer | 807 | $110,822 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Staff Engineer in Austin, TX is $154,565, based on 273 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 1% higher than the national Staff Engineer H-1B median of $153,130 across all U.S. locations. It is also 32% higher than the overall H-1B median of $116,699 in Austin, TX across all job titles.
Salaries span a $73,128 range from the 10th percentile ($106,896) to the 90th percentile ($180,024). The middle 50% of workers earn between $137,422 and $164,528, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
ARM is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Austin, TX, with 85 certified filings at a median salary of $154,565. Among the top employers, VMWARE pays the highest median at $185,000. The pay spread across top employers is 32%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions people ask about Staff Engineer H-1B roles in Austin, TX, answered directly from 273 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 Engineer salary in Austin, TX?
The median H-1B salary for Staff Engineer positions in Austin, TX is $154,565, based on 273 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $106,896
- 25th percentile
- $137,422
- Median
- $154,565
- 75th percentile
- $164,528
- 90th percentile
- $180,024
The salary distribution for Staff Engineer roles in Austin, TX shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $106,896, while the 90th percentile earns $180,024. This $73,128 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $126,302, Staff Engineer salaries in Austin, TX are 22% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Staff Engineers in Austin, TX?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Staff Engineer positions in Austin, TX are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Staff Engineer roles specifically in Austin, TX. ARM leads with 85 filings at a median salary of $154,565. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $140,000 to $185,000.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Staff Engineer in Austin, TX?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Staff Engineer in Austin, TX, 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, 273 H-1B positions for Staff Engineers in Austin, TX 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.