Staff QA Engineer H-1B Salary in Sunnyvale, CA
Employers have filed 100 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Staff QA Engineer positions in Sunnyvale, CA, with a median salary of $155,000. That's 11% higher than the national Staff QA Engineer H-1B median of $140,000 across all U.S. locations, and 3% lower than the Sunnyvale, CA all-roles H-1B median of $159,000. Staff QA Engineer ranks #69 among H-1B job titles filed from Sunnyvale, CA.
Headline numbers for Staff QA Engineer H-1B roles in Sunnyvale, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #3,593 by filing volume out of the 7,543 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Staff QA Engineer hiring.
Staff QA Engineer H-1B Salary Range in Sunnyvale, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $58,354 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $141,400 and $170,248, the interquartile range where most experienced Staff QA Engineers land. The median of $155,000 sits 11% higher than the national Staff QA Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $125,372
- 25th percentile
- $141,400
- Median
- $155,000
- 75th percentile
- $170,248
- 90th percentile
- $183,726
Top Employers Hiring Staff QA Engineers in Sunnyvale, CA
FORTINET is the largest H-1B sponsor for Staff QA Engineer in Sunnyvale, CA, with 43 certified filings (43% of local Staff QA Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $154,796. Among the top sponsors, WALMART pays the highest median at $182,449. The pay spread across top employers is 64%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 64% ($111,256 at RUCKUS WIRELESS to $182,449 at WALMART)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| FORTINET | 43 | $154,796 |
| WALMART | 11 | $182,449 |
| RUCKUS WIRELESS | 9 | $111,256 |
| INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS | 7 | $170,000 |
| NOKIA OF AMERICA | 5 | $171,355 |
How This Salary Compares
Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Staff QA 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 QA Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.
Staff QA Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities
The other top metros where Staff QA Engineer is an active H-1B role. San Diego, CA has the most filings (464) outside Sunnyvale, CA. The highest median among these is Santa Clara, CA at $166,500. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | 464 | $133,370 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 178 | $166,500 |
| Austin, TX | 143 | $117,917 |
| San Jose, CA | 112 | $150,000 |
| Fremont, CA | 82 | $166,000 |
| Foster City, CA | 58 | $139,180 |
| Palo Alto, CA | 57 | $164,300 |
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 QA Engineer role here (17,432 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 | 17,432 | $168,000 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 4,872 | $160,000 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 2,257 | $184,080 |
| Software Engineer III | 1,745 | $142,000 |
| Software Engineer II | 1,744 | $175,800 |
| Program Manager | 1,303 | $162,000 |
| Software Developer | 1,004 | $121,000 |
| QA Engineer | 723 | $135,000 |
| Project Manager | 707 | $139,443 |
| Software Engineer I | 703 | $144,000 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Staff QA Engineer in Sunnyvale, CA is $155,000, based on 100 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 11% higher than the national Staff QA Engineer H-1B median of $140,000 across all U.S. locations. It is also 3% lower than the overall H-1B median of $159,000 in Sunnyvale, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $58,354 range from the 10th percentile ($125,372) to the 90th percentile ($183,726). The middle 50% of workers earn between $141,400 and $170,248, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
FORTINET is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Sunnyvale, CA, with 43 certified filings at a median salary of $154,796. Among the top employers, WALMART pays the highest median at $182,449. The pay spread across top employers is 64%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions people ask about Staff QA Engineer H-1B roles in Sunnyvale, CA, answered directly from 100 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 QA Engineer salary in Sunnyvale, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Staff QA Engineer positions in Sunnyvale, CA is $155,000, based on 100 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $125,372
- 25th percentile
- $141,400
- Median
- $155,000
- 75th percentile
- $170,248
- 90th percentile
- $183,726
The salary distribution for Staff QA Engineer roles in Sunnyvale, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $125,372, while the 90th percentile earns $183,726. This $58,354 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $126,302, Staff QA Engineer salaries in Sunnyvale, CA are 23% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Staff QA Engineers in Sunnyvale, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Staff QA Engineer positions in Sunnyvale, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Staff QA Engineer roles specifically in Sunnyvale, CA. FORTINET leads with 43 filings at a median salary of $154,796. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $111,256 to $182,449.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Staff QA Engineer in Sunnyvale, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Staff QA 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, 100 H-1B positions for Staff QA 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.