Staff Engineer H-1B Salary in San Jose, CA
Employers have filed 398 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Staff Engineer positions in San Jose, CA, with a median salary of $180,003. That's 18% higher than the national Staff Engineer H-1B median of $153,130 across all U.S. locations, and 20% higher than the San Jose, CA all-roles H-1B median of $150,000. Staff Engineer ranks #25 among H-1B job titles filed from San Jose, CA.
Headline numbers for Staff Engineer H-1B roles in San Jose, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #711 by filing volume out of the 7,543 job × city combinations we track — one of the largest for Staff Engineer hiring.
Staff Engineer H-1B Salary Range in San Jose, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $84,780 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $165,000 and $204,901, the interquartile range where most experienced Staff Engineers land. The median of $180,003 sits 18% higher than the national Staff Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $141,378
- 25th percentile
- $165,000
- Median
- $180,003
- 75th percentile
- $204,901
- 90th percentile
- $226,158
Top Employers Hiring Staff Engineers in San Jose, CA
SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR is the largest H-1B sponsor for Staff Engineer in San Jose, CA, with 77 certified filings (19% of local Staff Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $177,341. Among the top sponsors, NUTANIX pays the highest median at $226,158. The pay spread across top employers is 50%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 50% ($151,000 at MEDIATEK USA to $226,158 at NUTANIX)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR | 77 | $177,341 |
| NUTANIX | 55 | $172,640 |
| NUTANIX | 52 | $226,158 |
| MEDIATEK USA | 38 | $151,000 |
| SAMSUNG AUSTIN SEMICONDUCTOR | 37 | $185,477 |
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 Jose, 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. Palo Alto, CA has the most filings (282) outside San Jose, CA. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 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 Engineer role here (9,425 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Machine Learning Engineer at a median of $186,874.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 9,425 | $162,485 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 2,894 | $176,033 |
| Software Developer | 1,620 | $120,640 |
| Software Engineer III | 1,360 | $155,375 |
| Product Manager | 1,140 | $173,157 |
| Machine Learning Engineer | 981 | $186,874 |
| Data Scientist | 963 | $165,000 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 909 | $185,000 |
| Software Engineer II | 899 | $133,875 |
| Accountant | 859 | $109,453 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Staff Engineer in San Jose, CA is $180,003, based on 398 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 18% higher than the national Staff Engineer H-1B median of $153,130 across all U.S. locations. It is also 20% higher than the overall H-1B median of $150,000 in San Jose, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $84,780 range from the 10th percentile ($141,378) to the 90th percentile ($226,158). The middle 50% of workers earn between $165,000 and $204,901, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Jose, CA, with 77 certified filings at a median salary of $177,341. Among the top employers, NUTANIX pays the highest median at $226,158. The pay spread across top employers is 50%, 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 Jose, CA, answered directly from 398 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 Jose, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Staff Engineer positions in San Jose, CA is $180,003, based on 398 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $141,378
- 25th percentile
- $165,000
- Median
- $180,003
- 75th percentile
- $204,901
- 90th percentile
- $226,158
The salary distribution for Staff Engineer roles in San Jose, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $141,378, while the 90th percentile earns $226,158. This $84,780 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 Jose, CA are 43% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Staff Engineers in San Jose, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Staff Engineer positions in San Jose, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Staff Engineer roles specifically in San Jose, CA. SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR leads with 77 filings at a median salary of $177,341. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $151,000 to $226,158.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Staff Engineer in San Jose, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Staff 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, 398 H-1B positions for Staff 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.