Staff Engineer H-1B Salary in Sunnyvale, CA
Employers have filed 72 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Staff Engineer positions in Sunnyvale, CA, with a median salary of $180,500. That's 17% higher than the national Staff Engineer H-1B median of $154,565 across all U.S. locations, and 15% higher than the Sunnyvale, CA all-roles H-1B median of $157,477. Staff Engineer ranks #98 among H-1B job titles filed from Sunnyvale, CA.
Headline numbers for Staff Engineer H-1B roles in Sunnyvale, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #4,831 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 Sunnyvale, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $93,158 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $165,422 and $200,400, the interquartile range where most experienced Staff Engineers land. The median of $180,500 sits 17% higher than the national Staff Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $133,000
- 25th percentile
- $165,422
- Median
- $180,500
- 75th percentile
- $200,400
- 90th percentile
- $226,158
Top Employers Hiring Staff Engineers in Sunnyvale, CA
ILLUMIO is the largest H-1B sponsor for Staff Engineer in Sunnyvale, CA, with 23 certified filings (32% of local Staff Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $167,149. Among the top sponsors, ALIBABA GROUP (U.S.) pays the highest median at $192,000. The pay spread across top employers is 30%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 30% ($147,534 at DOLBY LABORATORIES to $192,000 at ALIBABA GROUP (U.S.))
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| ILLUMIO | 23 | $167,149 |
| ALIBABA GROUP (U.S.) | 12 | $190,000 |
| DOLBY LABORATORIES | 4 | $147,534 |
| FISERV SOLUTIONS | 4 | $184,827 |
| ALIBABA GROUP (U.S.) | 3 | $192,000 |
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 Sunnyvale, 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 Sunnyvale, 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 |
| San Diego, CA | 105 | $144,000 |
| New York, NY | 101 | $200,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 94 | $200,000 |
| Houston, TX | 71 | $72,000 |
| Bellevue, WA | 59 | $95,680 |
Other H-1B Jobs in Sunnyvale, CA
The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from Sunnyvale, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Staff Engineer role here (16,285 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Staff Software Engineer at a median of $184,080.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 16,285 | $168,000 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 4,575 | $160,000 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 2,146 | $184,080 |
| Software Engineer II | 1,701 | $175,800 |
| Software Engineer III | 1,661 | $142,800 |
| Program Manager | 1,248 | $161,000 |
| Software Developer | 974 | $120,931 |
| Software Engineer I | 697 | $143,200 |
| Project Manager | 689 | $139,443 |
| QA Engineer | 678 | $134,000 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Staff Engineer in Sunnyvale, CA is $180,500, based on 72 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 17% higher than the national Staff Engineer H-1B median of $154,565 across all U.S. locations. It is also 15% higher than the overall H-1B median of $157,477 in Sunnyvale, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $93,158 range from the 10th percentile ($133,000) to the 90th percentile ($226,158). The middle 50% of workers earn between $165,422 and $200,400, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
ILLUMIO is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Sunnyvale, CA, with 23 certified filings at a median salary of $167,149. Among the top employers, ALIBABA GROUP (U.S.) pays the highest median at $192,000. The pay spread across top employers is 30%, 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 Sunnyvale, CA, answered directly from 72 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 Sunnyvale, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Staff Engineer positions in Sunnyvale, CA is $180,500, based on 72 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $133,000
- 25th percentile
- $165,422
- Median
- $180,500
- 75th percentile
- $200,400
- 90th percentile
- $226,158
The salary distribution for Staff Engineer roles in Sunnyvale, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $133,000, while the 90th percentile earns $226,158. This $93,158 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 Sunnyvale, CA are 38% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Staff Engineers in Sunnyvale, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Staff Engineer positions in Sunnyvale, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Staff Engineer roles specifically in Sunnyvale, CA. ILLUMIO leads with 23 filings at a median salary of $167,149. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $147,534 to $192,000.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Staff Engineer in Sunnyvale, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Staff Engineer in Sunnyvale, 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, 72 H-1B positions for Staff Engineers in Sunnyvale, 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.