Staff Engineer H-1B Salary in San Diego, CA
Employers have filed 105 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Staff Engineer positions in San Diego, CA, with a median salary of $144,000. That's 7% lower than the national Staff Engineer H-1B median of $154,565 across all U.S. locations, and 20% higher than the San Diego, CA all-roles H-1B median of $120,224. Staff Engineer ranks #44 among H-1B job titles filed from San Diego, CA.
Headline numbers for Staff Engineer H-1B roles in San Diego, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #3,213 by filing volume out of the 7,138 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Staff Engineer hiring.
Staff Engineer H-1B Salary Range in San Diego, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $77,154 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $125,000 and $166,000, the interquartile range where most experienced Staff Engineers land. The median of $144,000 sits 7% lower than the national Staff Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $100,000
- 25th percentile
- $125,000
- Median
- $144,000
- 75th percentile
- $166,000
- 90th percentile
- $177,154
Top Employers Hiring Staff Engineers in San Diego, CA
SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR is the largest H-1B sponsor for Staff Engineer in San Diego, CA, with 29 certified filings (28% of local Staff Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $144,248. Among the top sponsors, ZEKU pays the highest median at $180,000. The pay spread across top employers is 148%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 148% ($72,634 at BTI SOLUTIONS to $180,000 at ZEKU)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR | 29 | $144,248 |
| MEDIATEK USA | 22 | $144,000 |
| ARM | 12 | $166,941 |
| BTI SOLUTIONS | 7 | $72,634 |
| ZEKU | 7 | $180,000 |
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 San Diego, CA, 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 (367) outside San Diego, CA. 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 | 367 | $180,000 |
| Palo Alto, CA | 282 | $207,500 |
| Austin, TX | 256 | $154,565 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 106 | $157,793 |
| New York, NY | 101 | $200,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 94 | $200,000 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 72 | $180,500 |
| Houston, TX | 71 | $72,000 |
| Bellevue, WA | 59 | $95,680 |
Other H-1B Jobs in San Diego, CA
The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from San Diego, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Staff Engineer role here (2,748 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Staff Software Engineer at a median of $146,328.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 2,748 | $125,000 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 1,673 | $121,597 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 1,436 | $146,328 |
| QA Engineer | 767 | $96,742 |
| Senior QA Engineer | 613 | $111,322 |
| Software Developer | 553 | $111,322 |
| Staff QA Engineer | 456 | $133,370 |
| Software Engineer II | 363 | $130,000 |
| Senior Asics Engineer | 349 | $108,930 |
| Systems Engineer | 330 | $108,971 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Staff Engineer in San Diego, CA is $144,000, based on 105 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 7% lower than the national Staff Engineer H-1B median of $154,565 across all U.S. locations. It is also 20% higher than the overall H-1B median of $120,224 in San Diego, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $77,154 range from the 10th percentile ($100,000) to the 90th percentile ($177,154). The middle 50% of workers earn between $125,000 and $166,000, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Diego, CA, with 29 certified filings at a median salary of $144,248. Among the top employers, ZEKU pays the highest median at $180,000. The pay spread across top employers is 148%, 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 San Diego, CA, answered directly from 105 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 San Diego, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Staff Engineer positions in San Diego, CA is $144,000, based on 105 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $100,000
- 25th percentile
- $125,000
- Median
- $144,000
- 75th percentile
- $166,000
- 90th percentile
- $177,154
The salary distribution for Staff Engineer roles in San Diego, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $100,000, while the 90th percentile earns $177,154. This $77,154 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,707, Staff Engineer salaries in San Diego, CA are 10% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Staff Engineers in San Diego, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Staff Engineer positions in San Diego, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Staff Engineer roles specifically in San Diego, CA. SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR leads with 29 filings at a median salary of $144,248. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $72,634 to $180,000.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Staff Engineer in San Diego, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Staff Engineer in San Diego, 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, 105 H-1B positions for Staff Engineers in San Diego, 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.