Staff Engineer H-1B Salary in San Francisco, CA
Employers have filed 99 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Staff Engineer positions in San Francisco, CA, with a median salary of $200,000. That's 31% higher than the national Staff Engineer H-1B median of $153,130 across all U.S. locations, and 27% higher than the San Francisco, CA all-roles H-1B median of $156,959. Staff Engineer ranks #85 among H-1B job titles filed from San Francisco, CA.
Headline numbers for Staff Engineer H-1B roles in San Francisco, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #3,643 by filing volume out of the 7,543 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Staff Engineer hiring.
Staff Engineer H-1B Salary Range in San Francisco, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $120,000 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $170,918 and $220,000, the interquartile range where most experienced Staff Engineers land. The median of $200,000 sits 31% higher than the national Staff Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $145,000
- 25th percentile
- $170,918
- Median
- $200,000
- 75th percentile
- $220,000
- 90th percentile
- $265,000
Top Employers Hiring Staff Engineers in San Francisco, CA
SHIPT is the largest H-1B sponsor for Staff Engineer in San Francisco, CA, with 11 certified filings (11% of local Staff Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $184,662. Among the top sponsors, LYFT pays the highest median at $221,100. The pay spread across top employers is 46%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 46% ($151,363 at STRIPE to $221,100 at LYFT)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| SHIPT | 11 | $184,662 |
| 7 | $217,300 | |
| LYFT | 6 | $221,100 |
| STRIPE | 6 | $151,363 |
| SIFT SCIENCE | 4 | $217,750 |
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 Francisco, 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 (398) outside San Francisco, 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 | 398 | $180,003 |
| Palo Alto, CA | 282 | $207,500 |
| Austin, TX | 273 | $154,565 |
| San Diego, CA | 114 | $144,248 |
| New York, NY | 113 | $200,000 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 110 | $157,831 |
| Houston, TX | 82 | $75,000 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 79 | $183,726 |
| Bellevue, WA | 63 | $95,680 |
Other H-1B Jobs in San Francisco, CA
The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from San Francisco, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Staff Engineer role here (13,951 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Engineering Manager at a median of $212,472.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 13,951 | $167,710 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 5,106 | $180,960 |
| Data Scientist | 1,623 | $151,882 |
| Product Manager | 1,588 | $165,000 |
| Software Engineer II | 1,125 | $165,000 |
| Engineering Manager | 1,118 | $212,472 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 1,099 | $210,000 |
| Accountant | 1,052 | $108,500 |
| Consultant | 1,010 | $120,994 |
| Associate | 908 | $140,900 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Staff Engineer in San Francisco, CA is $200,000, based on 99 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 31% higher than the national Staff Engineer H-1B median of $153,130 across all U.S. locations. It is also 27% higher than the overall H-1B median of $156,959 in San Francisco, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $120,000 range from the 10th percentile ($145,000) to the 90th percentile ($265,000). The middle 50% of workers earn between $170,918 and $220,000, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
SHIPT is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Francisco, CA, with 11 certified filings at a median salary of $184,662. Among the top employers, LYFT pays the highest median at $221,100. The pay spread across top employers is 46%, 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 Francisco, CA, answered directly from 99 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 Francisco, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Staff Engineer positions in San Francisco, CA is $200,000, based on 99 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $145,000
- 25th percentile
- $170,918
- Median
- $200,000
- 75th percentile
- $220,000
- 90th percentile
- $265,000
The salary distribution for Staff Engineer roles in San Francisco, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $145,000, while the 90th percentile earns $265,000. This $120,000 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 San Francisco, CA are 58% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Staff Engineers in San Francisco, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Staff Engineer positions in San Francisco, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Staff Engineer roles specifically in San Francisco, CA. SHIPT leads with 11 filings at a median salary of $184,662. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $151,363 to $221,100.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Staff Engineer in San Francisco, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Staff Engineer in San Francisco, 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, 99 H-1B positions for Staff Engineers in San Francisco, 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.