Software Engineer -88% 5-Year Decline
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Market Demand
i
A+
FY 2026
2023
A+
2024
A+
2025
A+
Certified Volume i
3,699
Approved in FY 2026
National Median Salary i
$135,615
Typical yearly pay
PERM Conversion i
16.60%
Transition to residency
10-Year Growth i
49.30%
Decade salary trend
Algorithmic Intelligence Brief
An automated market review of the Software Engineer role.Compensation Strategy & Negotiation Power
This role offers typical industry pay. The starting money is usually +4.6% (+$5,948) above the lowest legal salary. Also, you will see a large $78,778 gap in standard pay between different employers. On top of that, during hiring, companies often allow a 17.8% window for workers to ask for more money. Ultimately, moving up to a senior role brings a large +130.6% pay increase.
Visa Safety & Processing Times
This job is secure for visas, with a high 91.8% success rate. On the other hand, the paperwork clears in a standard 40 days. Lastly, companies rarely drop these visas, keeping a low 1.5% cancellation rate. Despite the safe approvals, keep in mind that the market is mixed, with dependent businesses filing a solid 48.3% of the applications.
Career Mobility & Hiring Structure
The vast majority of these roles (98.3%) are full-time, with very few part-time exceptions. Interestingly, workers are in high demand and often move to new companies. Despite this high movement, companies work hard to keep their current workers, renewing 54.5% of contracts. As a result, companies prefer to hire one by one, keeping large group requests down to 2.1%.
Worksite Reality & Geographic Flexibility
Companies split their team, keeping 72.5% in-house while 27.5% work for outside clients. Additionally, 52.1% of workers are cleared for traveling across different offices. Additionally, working from home is a major benefit here, with 52.3% living out-of-state. Because you can work from home, there is a massive $102,478 pay difference by state.
Green Card Economics & Experience
Many workers end up staying for good, as companies help 25.4% of them apply for permanent residency. Additionally, you do not need many years of work, as companies expect just 24 months of history. Additionally, permanent roles pay +11.8% more money than standard temporary jobs.
Contract Stability & Layoff Risk
Employment here comes with a slight risk, showing a 12.1% history of layoffs while hiring. Even with these layoffs, employers treat this as long-term work, giving 95.5% of visas the maximum 3-year contract. Despite the cuts, experienced workers are safe because the risk is contained, as only 13.1% of the workforce is junior and vulnerable to layoffs.
10-Year Median Salary Trajectory
Comparing national base compensation growth for Software Engineers. temporary H-1B medians vs permanent Green Card (PERM). Positive Market Growth: +49.3%. Compensation for this position has reliably increased over the long term.
Minor Pay Adjustment: +$5,138. The base pay for this job goes up by a small 3.8% after Green Card approval.
Market Overpay Premium i
+$5,948
That is 4.60% above the minimum wage floor.
Standard Pay Range i
$78,778
Typical gap between low and high standard pay.
Career Progression Growth i
130.60%
Pay bump from entry-level to senior expert.
Negotiation Buffer i
17.80%
Average salary range flexibility on job offers.
Top Hiring Employers
Companies sponsoring the most visas for this role.
Company & Median Pay
Total Approvals
Google LLC 11.6% Share
Top Hub: Mountain View, CA | Median: $193,000
428
Meta Platforms, Inc. 11.1% Share
Top Hub: Menlo Park, CA | Median: $224,197
410
Mphasis Corporation 5.7% Share
Top Hub: Austin, TX | Median: $125,000
210
Nvidia Corporation 2.1% Share
Top Hub: Santa Clara, CA | Median: $187,574
77
Intel Corporation 1.4% Share
Top Hub: Hillsboro, OR | Median: $150,998
50
Top Paying Tech Hubs
Cities ranked by highest median salaries.Geographic Wage Gap i
$102,478
(113.20% spread)
Between CA & OK
Salary Percentiles i
Distribution across all federal filings.Talent Sourcing Origin
Where employers source these workers from.Hiring Seasonality (Calendar Quarters)
When employers typically file labor requests for this position.Operational Friction & Mobility
Key indicators for pipeline health, processing speed, and career agility.DOL Processing Speed i
39.6 Days
Average turnaround time
Withdrawal Friction i
1.50%
Canceled or revoked offers
Job Security Rate i
54.50%
Retention vs churn
Mass Staffing Ratio i
2.10%
Bulk vs individual hiring
Mobile Work Density i
52.10%
Multi-location flexibility
Poachability Index i
61.8/ 100
O*NET Wage Level Economics
Salary breakdown scaled by federal experience classifications.O*NET Wage Distribution
Wage Levels Breakdown
| Experience Level | Total Filings | Cohort Size | Minimum Base | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (Level I) | 485 | 13.1% | $60,000 | $97,989 |
| Qualified (Level II) | 1,802 | 48.7% | $62,005 | $117,260 |
| Experienced (Level III) | 542 | 14.7% | $70,000 | $180,710 |
| Fully Competent (Level IV) | 434 | 11.7% | $80,000 | $226,000 |
| Not Disclosed (Blank) | 436 | 11.8% | $85,255 | $169,145 |
Private Wage Survey Reliance: 11.80%
Third-party salary surveys used by employers instead of standard government wage levels.
- Aon261 filings (7.1%)
- Aon Plc37 filings (1.0%)
- Willis Towers Watson34 filings (0.9%)
- Radford Mclagan Compensation Database24 filings (0.6%)
- Willis Tower Watson13 filings (0.4%)
Acquisition & Industry Allocation
Talent pipeline metrics and top hiring sectors for Software Engineers.Talent Pipeline
Fresh Hires (38.2%)Transfers/Poached (61.8%)
Green Card (PERM) Conversion i
16.60% of active filings transition to residency.
12.10% Layoff Audit Risk
0.00% Require Foreign Language
Median 24 Months Experience Req
11.80% Over Prevailing Wage
Recruitment Channels i
Industry Sector Allocation
Primary Sector & Median Pay
Total Filings
Professional, Scientific, And Tech Services 65.8% Sector Share
Top Sponsor: Google LLC | Median: $120,973
2,434
Information & Tech 18.3% Sector Share
Top Sponsor: Meta Platforms, Inc. | Median: $215,731
678
Manufacturing 6.6% Sector Share
Top Sponsor: Nvidia Corporation | Median: $153,747
243
Finance & Insurance 5.6% Sector Share
Top Sponsor: U.S. Bank National Association | Median: $142,592
208
Unspecified / Blank 1.6% Sector Share
Top Sponsor: Concentrix Cvg Customer Management Group Inc. | Median: $116,993
59
Historical Market Demand -88% 5-Year Decline Contracting i
-88% 5-Year Decline
Green Card (PERM) Sponsorships Moderate Fluctuations Wage i
Historical permanent residency sponsorships and salaries for this role.Noticing a difference in dates? Salary metrics reflect real-time DOL filings, while approval metrics rely on finalized USCIS historical data. View timelines
Top Sponsoring Employers
A detailed ledger of the companies hiring Software Engineers.| Sponsoring Employer | Market Share i | LCA Count | Median Salary | Vs National Avg i |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google LLC | 11.6% | 428 | $193,000 | +42.3% Avg |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. | 11.1% | 410 | $224,197 | +65.3% Avg |
| Mphasis Corporation | 5.7% | 210 | $125,000 | -7.8% Avg |
| Nvidia Corporation | 2.1% | 77 | $187,574 | +38.3% Avg |
| Intel Corporation | 1.4% | 50 | $150,998 | +11.3% Avg |
| Msr Technology Group LLC | 1.1% | 41 | $127,462 | -6.0% Avg |
| Skilltune Technologies Inc. | 0.9% | 34 | $91,242 | -32.7% Avg |
| Doordash, Inc. | 0.9% | 33 | $170,600 | +25.8% Avg |
| U.S. Bank National Association | 0.9% | 32 | $112,923 | -16.7% Avg |
| Netflix, Inc. | 0.7% | 25 | $264,514 | +95.0% Avg |
| Cisco Systems, Inc. | 0.7% | 25 | $139,687 | +3.0% Avg |
| Intraedge, Inc. | 0.7% | 25 | $111,072 | -18.1% Avg |
| Natsoft Corporation | 0.6% | 24 | $131,799 | -2.8% Avg |
| Linkedin Corporation | 0.6% | 23 | $149,240 | +10.0% Avg |
| Snowflake Inc. | 0.6% | 23 | $161,637 | +19.2% Avg |
| Uber Technologies, Inc. | 0.6% | 23 | $183,500 | +35.3% Avg |
| Costco Wholesale Corporation | 0.6% | 21 | $150,800 | +11.2% Avg |
| Indeed, Inc. | 0.5% | 20 | $110,635 | -18.4% Avg |
| Stripe, Inc. | 0.5% | 19 | $180,710 | +33.3% Avg |
| Quadrant Technologies LLC | 0.5% | 17 | $149,240 | +10.0% Avg |
| American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. | 0.5% | 17 | $130,000 | -4.1% Avg |
| Lowe'S Companies, Inc. | 0.4% | 15 | $112,424 | -17.1% Avg |
| Waymo LLC | 0.4% | 14 | $202,000 | +49.0% Avg |
| Ford Motor Company | 0.4% | 14 | $135,000 | Market Rate |
| Northstar Group, Inc. | 0.4% | 14 | $112,923 | -16.7% Avg |
| Satin Solutions LLC | 0.4% | 13 | $98,400 | -27.4% Avg |
| Brains Technology Solutions, Inc. | 0.3% | 12 | $112,944 | -16.7% Avg |
| Cgi Technologies And Solutions Inc. | 0.3% | 11 | $112,923 | -16.7% Avg |
| Adaequare Inc. | 0.3% | 11 | $130,000 | -4.1% Avg |
| Mitchell/Martin, Inc. | 0.3% | 11 | $141,440 | +4.3% Avg |
| Elite It Technologies LLC | 0.3% | 11 | $113,000 | -16.7% Avg |
| Response Informatics, Inc. | 0.3% | 10 | $89,773 | -33.8% Avg |
| Docusign Inc. | 0.3% | 10 | $161,637 | +19.2% Avg |
| Gp Technologies LLC | 0.3% | 10 | $96,255 | -29.0% Avg |
| Intuit Inc. | 0.3% | 10 | $144,342 | +6.4% Avg |
| Kla Corporation | 0.3% | 10 | $154,539 | +14.0% Avg |
| Miracle Software Systems, Inc. | 0.2% | 9 | $120,000 | -11.5% Avg |
| Databricks, Inc. | 0.2% | 9 | $152,712 | +12.6% Avg |
| Resolve Ai, Inc. | 0.2% | 9 | $200,000 | +47.5% Avg |
| Hitachi Digital Services LLC | 0.2% | 9 | $112,923 | -16.7% Avg |
| Hcl Global Systems Inc. | 0.2% | 9 | $110,594 | -18.5% Avg |
| Innovative Consulting Solutions LLC | 0.2% | 8 | $112,923 | -16.7% Avg |
| I-Link Solutions, Inc. | 0.2% | 8 | $110,240 | -18.7% Avg |
| Tech Mahindra (Americas), Inc. | 0.2% | 8 | $131,344 | -3.1% Avg |
| Atlassian Us, Inc. | 0.2% | 8 | $187,500 | +38.3% Avg |
| Sigma Software LLC | 0.2% | 8 | $107,630 | -20.6% Avg |
| Softworld Technologies LLC | 0.2% | 8 | $103,500 | -23.7% Avg |
| Optum Services, Inc. | 0.2% | 8 | $124,258 | -8.4% Avg |
| Carnegie Software Corporation | 0.2% | 8 | $86,653 | -36.1% Avg |
| Tiktok Inc. | 0.2% | 7 | $194,400 | +43.3% Avg |
| Applab Systems Inc. | 0.2% | 7 | $108,222 | -20.2% Avg |
| Citadel Enterprise Americas Services LLC | 0.2% | 7 | $200,000 | +47.5% Avg |
| Clarkstech LLC | 0.2% | 7 | $103,210 | -23.9% Avg |
| Qualtrics, LLC | 0.2% | 7 | $162,000 | +19.5% Avg |
| Coinbase, Inc. | 0.2% | 7 | $179,300 | +32.2% Avg |
Top Worksite Cities
A granular breakdown of compensation across different US geographic markets.| Worksite City | State | Talent Density i | Median Salary | Top Premium Payer i |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Menlo Park | CA | 5.8% | $227,339 | $227,920 |
| Sunnyvale | CA | 5.7% | $193,000 | $227,920 |
| Mountain View | CA | 5.1% | $194,630 | $264,514 |
| New York | NY | 4.8% | $189,592 | $350,000 |
| San Francisco | CA | 4.2% | $188,000 | $325,000 |
| Seattle | WA | 3.5% | $176,361 | $354,000 |
| Bellevue | WA | 2.8% | $209,819 | $251,000 |
| Charlotte | NC | 2.6% | $112,424 | $145,000 |
| Austin | TX | 2.3% | $115,000 | $240,000 |
| Santa Clara | CA | 2.1% | $183,956 | $264,514 |
| Plano | TX | 2.1% | $112,923 | $147,680 |
| Irving | TX | 2.0% | $112,923 | $135,000 |
| Phoenix | AZ | 1.6% | $111,072 | $137,000 |
| Chicago | IL | 1.6% | $108,077 | $200,000 |
| San Jose | CA | 1.4% | $180,000 | $283,000 |
| Atlanta | GA | 1.4% | $109,283 | $166,000 |
| Houston | TX | 1.1% | $105,976 | $190,000 |
| Dallas | TX | 1.1% | $112,923 | $240,000 |
| Redmond | WA | 0.9% | $149,240 | $218,610 |
| Kirkland | WA | 0.9% | $174,000 | $179,300 |
| Princeton | NJ | 0.8% | $88,213 | $200,000 |
| Frisco | TX | 0.7% | $113,000 | $146,000 |
| Jersey City | NJ | 0.7% | $131,997 | $230,000 |
| Hillsboro | OR | 0.7% | $152,880 | $175,000 |
| Burlingame | CA | 0.7% | $232,000 | Market Rate |
| Los Gatos | CA | 0.6% | $264,514 | Market Rate |
| Issaquah | WA | 0.6% | $150,020 | $185,000 |
| Dearborn | MI | 0.6% | $123,000 | $156,000 |
| Columbus | OH | 0.5% | $106,815 | $170,000 |
| Aubrey | TX | 0.5% | $112,923 | $137,600 |
| San Bruno | CA | 0.5% | $193,000 | Market Rate |
| Alpharetta | GA | 0.5% | $109,283 | $145,000 |
| Palo Alto | CA | 0.5% | $160,000 | $300,000 |
| Chandler | AZ | 0.5% | $111,072 | $184,000 |
| Fremont | CA | 0.5% | $150,000 | $258,524 |
| Reston | VA | 0.5% | $120,016 | $220,500 |
| San Antonio | TX | 0.4% | $106,579 | $145,000 |
| Los Angeles | CA | 0.4% | $129,667 | $218,692 |
| San Mateo | CA | 0.4% | $185,000 | $235,000 |
| Cambridge | MA | 0.4% | $169,600 | $236,904 |
| Wilmington | DE | 0.4% | $122,634 | $132,184 |
| Westlake | TX | 0.4% | $121,500 | $134,971 |
| San Diego | CA | 0.4% | $130,187 | $232,000 |
| Pittsburgh | PA | 0.4% | $135,000 | $184,000 |
| Celina | TX | 0.4% | $112,923 | $120,000 |
| Foster City | CA | 0.4% | $168,000 | $214,000 |
| Boston | MA | 0.4% | $122,970 | $154,606 |
| Edison | NJ | 0.3% | $131,997 | $189,800 |
| Cumming | GA | 0.3% | $109,283 | $310,033 |
| Leander | TX | 0.3% | $114,754 | $174,330 |
| Katy | TX | 0.3% | $126,418 | $190,077 |
| Mclean | VA | 0.3% | $126,090 | $151,500 |
| Morrisville | NC | 0.3% | $131,750 | $224,000 |
| Irvine | CA | 0.3% | $150,700 | $180,710 |
| Mckinney | TX | 0.3% | $112,923 | $158,000 |
Historical Compensation Averages
Year-over-year salary data comparing historical averages.| Fiscal Year | YoY Growth i | Maximum | Median | Average | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | In Progress | $500,000 | $134,326 | $143,274 | $35.00/hr |
| 2025 | +1.5% | $520,000 | $131,997 | $138,054 | $22.00/hr |
| 2024 | Flat | $423,000 | $130,000 | $135,263 | $27.00/hr |
| 2023 | +3.2% | $520,000 | $130,000 | $131,659 | $22.00/hr |
| 2022 | +11.4% | $545,000 | $126,000 | $126,771 | $29.00/hr |
| 2021 | +4.7% | $500,000 | $113,110 | $116,481 | $29.00/hr |
| 2020 | +12.1% | $349,440 | $108,000 | $111,611 | $21.00/hr |
| 2019 | +2.5% | $350,000 | $96,366 | $101,248 | $24.00/hr |
| 2018 | +4.4% | $360,000 | $94,000 | $99,215 | $18.00/hr |
| 2017 | Flat | $250,000 | $90,000 | $93,416 | $12.00/hr |
| 2016 | N/A | $250,000 | $90,000 | $93,627 | $18.00/hr |
Live LCA Filing Ledger (FY 2026)
Raw, unedited federal disclosures showing individual labor applications filed.| Decision Date | Employer | Location | Base Pay | Wage Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 30, 2025 | Career Connect Technologies LLC | New York, NY | $95,493 | Level I | Certified - Withdrawn |
| Dec 30, 2025 | K2 Partnering Solutions, Inc. | Gilbert, AZ | $119,995 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Coinbase, Inc. | New York, NY | $179,300 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Google LLC | Mountain View, CA | $230,000 | Level III | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Msr Technology Group LLC | Acworth, GA | $109,283 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Vedhops It Services LLC | Saint Charles, MO | $79,899 | Level I | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Meta Platforms, Inc. | Menlo Park, CA | $220,685 | N/A | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Vedhops It Services LLC | Aubrey, TX | $90,896 | Level I | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Elite It Technologies LLC | Sunnyvale, CA | $121,491 | N/A | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Nvidia Corporation | Redmond, WA | $224,000 | Level IV | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Cloud Social Technologies LLC | Chicago, IL | $85,467 | Level I | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Mphasis Corporation | Atlanta, GA | $122,664 | Level III | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Mphasis Corporation | Westlake, TX | $105,000 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Rpa Technologies LLC | San Jose, CA | $94,162 | Level I | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Linkedin Corporation | Sunnyvale, CA | $148,740 | N/A | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Satin Solutions LLC | North Brunswick, NJ | $98,400 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Coinbase, Inc. | San Francisco, CA | $151,500 | N/A | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Mphasis Corporation | Collierville, TN | $74,339 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Google LLC | Sunnyvale, CA | $267,000 | Level IV | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Linkedin Corporation | Sunnyvale, CA | $148,740 | N/A | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Machine Intelligence LLC | Chicago, IL | $85,467 | Level I | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Usg, Inc. | Minneapolis, MN | $106,000 | Level II | Certified - Withdrawn |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Google LLC | San Bruno, CA | $162,000 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Nvidia Corporation | Redmond, WA | $212,202 | Level IV | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Mphasis Corporation | Jersey City, NJ | $98,301 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Meta Platforms, Inc. | Menlo Park, CA | $188,648 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Meta Platforms, Inc. | Menlo Park, CA | $225,530 | Level IV | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Meta Platforms, Inc. | Menlo Park, CA | $184,896 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Ancestry.com Operations Inc. | Chicago, IL | $120,000 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Google LLC | Austin, TX | $164,000 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Meta Platforms, Inc. | Menlo Park, CA | $182,002 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Google LLC | Mountain View, CA | $275,000 | Level IV | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Google LLC | Kirkland, WA | $205,000 | Level III | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Innovative Consulting Solutions LLC | Celina, TX | $112,923 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Augmented Reality Technologies LLC | Chicago, IL | $85,467 | Level I | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Pride Technologies LLC | Edison, NJ | $189,800 | Level III | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Mphasis Corporation | Jersey City, NJ | $98,301 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Cache Financials Inc. | Sunnyvale, CA | $200,000 | Level I | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Ecom Strategies LLC | Atlanta, GA | $85,800 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Augmented Reality Technologies LLC | Chicago, IL | $85,467 | Level I | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Rpa Technologies LLC | Dearborn, MI | $68,141 | Level I | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Meta Platforms, Inc. | Burlingame, CA | $232,000 | Level IV | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Ai Technologies LLC | Santa Clara, CA | $94,162 | Level I | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Augmented Reality Technologies LLC | Chicago, IL | $85,467 | Level I | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Linkedin Corporation | Sunnyvale, CA | $148,740 | N/A | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Hs Solutions Inc. | Berkeley, CA | $109,970 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Meta Platforms, Inc. | Menlo Park, CA | $185,644 | N/A | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Northstar Group, Inc. | Reston, VA | $126,090 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Waymo LLC | Mountain View, CA | $200,000 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Augmented Reality Technologies LLC | Chicago, IL | $85,467 | Level I | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Nvidia Corporation | Santa Clara, CA | $187,574 | N/A | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Ecom Strategies LLC | Atlanta, GA | $85,800 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Hm Health Solutions, Inc. | Irving, TX | $119,351 | Level II | Certified |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Usg, Inc. | Minneapolis, MN | $106,000 | Level II | Certified - Withdrawn |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Donato Technologies Inc. | Maryland Heights, MO | $97,386 | Level II | Certified |
Role Specific Intelligence (FAQ)
Common questions and insights about the Software Engineer role.Is it easy to get a Green Card as a Software Engineer professional?
There is a proven track record for permanent residency in this field, highlighted by 614 recent Green Card filings from U.S. employers.
Where do most Software Engineer candidates work on an H-1B?
Google LLC files the highest volume of labor condition applications for this role, with 428 recent filings.
Are Software Engineer roles remote-friendly?
Yes. Location tracking reveals that 52.3% of these workers do not live in the same state as their petitioning employer.
What is the highest paying city for Software Engineer professionals?
Los Gatos, CA currently leads the nation by paying a median of $264,514 for this position.