Staff Software Engineer H-1B Salary in San Jose, CA
Employers have filed 909 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Staff Software Engineer positions in San Jose, CA, with a median salary of $185,000. That's 9% higher than the national Staff Software Engineer H-1B median of $170,000 across all U.S. locations, and 23% higher than the San Jose, CA all-roles H-1B median of $150,000. Staff Software Engineer ranks #8 among H-1B job titles filed from San Jose, CA.
Headline numbers for Staff Software Engineer H-1B roles in San Jose, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #224 by filing volume out of the 7,543 job × city combinations we track — one of the largest for Staff Software Engineer hiring.
Staff Software Engineer H-1B Salary Range in San Jose, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $87,650 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $162,819 and $210,000, the interquartile range where most experienced Staff Software Engineers land. The median of $185,000 sits 9% higher than the national Staff Software Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $144,350
- 25th percentile
- $162,819
- Median
- $185,000
- 75th percentile
- $210,000
- 90th percentile
- $232,000
Top Employers Hiring Staff Software Engineers in San Jose, CA
ZSCALER is the largest H-1B sponsor for Staff Software Engineer in San Jose, CA, with 177 certified filings (19% of local Staff Software Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $184,080. Among the top sponsors, BILL OPERATIONS pays the highest median at $220,000. The pay spread across top employers is 40%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 40% ($157,477 at QUALCOMM ATHEROS to $220,000 at BILL OPERATIONS)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| ZSCALER | 177 | $184,080 |
| PAYPAL | 111 | $215,181 |
| NETAPP | 95 | $165,000 |
| QUALCOMM ATHEROS | 47 | $157,477 |
| BILL OPERATIONS | 35 | $220,000 |
How This Salary Compares
Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Staff Software 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 Software Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.
Staff Software Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities
The other top metros where Staff Software Engineer is an active H-1B role. Sunnyvale, CA has the most filings (2,257) outside San Jose, CA. The highest median among these is San Francisco, CA at $210,000. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale, CA | 2,257 | $184,080 |
| San Diego, CA | 1,460 | $146,328 |
| San Francisco, CA | 1,099 | $210,000 |
| Austin, TX | 940 | $133,058 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 898 | $179,396 |
| Mountain View, CA | 761 | $207,778 |
| Bentonville, AR | 485 | $146,574 |
| Palo Alto, CA | 423 | $210,000 |
| Seattle, WA | 370 | $207,000 |
| New York, NY | 357 | $203,554 |
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 Software 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 |
| Software Engineer II | 899 | $133,875 |
| Accountant | 859 | $109,453 |
| Architect | 824 | $147,160 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Staff Software Engineer in San Jose, CA is $185,000, based on 909 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 9% higher than the national Staff Software Engineer H-1B median of $170,000 across all U.S. locations. It is also 23% higher than the overall H-1B median of $150,000 in San Jose, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $87,650 range from the 10th percentile ($144,350) to the 90th percentile ($232,000). The middle 50% of workers earn between $162,819 and $210,000, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
ZSCALER is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Jose, CA, with 177 certified filings at a median salary of $184,080. Among the top employers, BILL OPERATIONS pays the highest median at $220,000. The pay spread across top employers is 40%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions people ask about Staff Software Engineer H-1B roles in San Jose, CA, answered directly from 909 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 Software Engineer salary in San Jose, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Staff Software Engineer positions in San Jose, CA is $185,000, based on 909 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $144,350
- 25th percentile
- $162,819
- Median
- $185,000
- 75th percentile
- $210,000
- 90th percentile
- $232,000
The salary distribution for Staff Software Engineer roles in San Jose, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $144,350, while the 90th percentile earns $232,000. This $87,650 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $126,302, Staff Software Engineer salaries in San Jose, CA are 46% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Staff Software Engineers in San Jose, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Staff Software Engineer positions in San Jose, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Staff Software Engineer roles specifically in San Jose, CA. ZSCALER leads with 177 filings at a median salary of $184,080. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $157,477 to $220,000.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Staff Software Engineer in San Jose, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Staff Software 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, 909 H-1B positions for Staff Software 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.