H1BIndex » Jobs » Software Developers

Software Engineering +821% 5-Year Growth

Job Market Trend:-48.1%vs Q1 2025

Top Sponsor: Microsoft Corporation (814 filings)

Highest Pay: Mountain View, CA ($199,500)

Official Federal Category: 15-1252.00 - Software Developers

Market Demand

FY 2026

2023 A

2024 A+

2025 A+

Certified Volume

822

Approved in FY 2026

National Median Salary

$180,710

Typical yearly pay

PERM Conversion

0.10%

Transition to residency

10-Year Growth

119.20%

Decade salary trend

Algorithmic Intelligence Brief

An automated market review of the Software Engineering role.

Active Hiring Pipelines: "A"

There is a steady corporate appetite for Software Engineering roles right now. Companies filed 822 visa requests this period, translating to a solid "A" H1B Index score.

Stable Direct Job

The Information & Tech sector handles this as a direct job. All 822 approved visas are dedicated to the company's own operations, avoiding third-party staffing.

Experienced Salary Growth

Workers who stay in this career path see strong salary growth over time. Reaching the senior expert level usually boosts the starting pay by about +64%.

Secure Job Category

This is a safe job for getting a visa. Roughly 99.9% of these requests pass the review, with only a few facing denial or withdrawal.

Remote-Friendly Job

A significant volume of modern companies allow Software Engineering professionals to work from anywhere. We verified that 24.8% of these specific visa holders are permanently based in an entirely different state.

Role & Industry Structure

Federal classifications for this position.

Work Schedule: Companies like Microsoft Corporation do not hire part-time for this role. Every approved visa is for a full-time job.

Business Categories: Companies working in Information & Tech supply 99.3% of the total labor demand.

Wage Insights: Workers in this role earn a median pay of $180,710, with the absolute highest recorded salary hitting $325,000.

Academic Background: Companies in the Information & Tech field use a standard Bachelor's degree for all their permanent job placements.

10-Year Median Salary Trajectory

Comparing national base compensation growth for Software Engineerings. temporary H-1B medians vs permanent Green Card (PERM).

Upward Pay Trend: +119.2%. Employers are paying noticeably more for this skill set today compared to past years.

Lower Permanent Wage: -$39,483. Interestingly, the prevailing baseline for permanent roles files at a 21.8% lower median than temporary visas.

Top Hiring Employers

Companies sponsoring the most visas for this role.

Company & Median Pay Total Approvals

Microsoft Corporation 99.0% Share

Top Hub: Redmond, WA | Median: $180,710

814

Mufg Bank, Ltd. 0.4% Share

Top Hub: Tempe, AZ | Median: $145,953

Meta Platforms, Inc. 0.2% Share

Top Hub: Sunnyvale, CA | Median: $212,500

General Motors 0.1% Share

Top Hub: Milford, MI | Median: $138,796

Google LLC 0.1% Share

Top Hub: Mountain View, CA | Median: $158,000

Top Paying Tech Hubs

Cities ranked by highest median salaries.

Salary Percentiles i

Distribution across all federal filings.

Talent Sourcing Origin

Where employers source these workers from.

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)	28	3.4%	$90,896	$135,665
Qualified (Level II)	299	36.4%	$119,800	$164,780
Experienced (Level III)	315	38.3%	$143,697	$189,848
Fully Competent (Level IV)	122	14.8%	$138,796	$223,117
Not Disclosed (Blank)	58	7.1%	$139,596	$179,700

Acquisition & Industry Allocation

Talent pipeline metrics and top hiring sectors for Software Engineerings.

Talent Pipeline

Fresh Hires (25.9%)Transfers/Poached (74.1%)

Green Card (PERM) Conversion i

0.10% of active filings transition to residency.

Industry Sector Allocation

Primary Sector & Median Pay Total Filings

Information & Tech 99.3% Sector Share

Top Sponsor: Microsoft Corporation | Median: $180,710

816

Finance & Insurance 0.4% Sector Share

Top Sponsor: Mufg Bank, Ltd. | Median: $145,953

Professional, Scientific, And Tech Services 0.2% Sector Share

Top Sponsor: Google LLC | Median: $166,526

Manufacturing 0.1% Sector Share

Top Sponsor: General Motors | Median: $138,796

10-Year DOL processing history for Software Engineerings.

Green Card (PERM) Sponsorships 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 Engineerings.

Sponsoring Employer	Market Share i	LCA Count	Median Salary	Vs National Avg i
Microsoft Corporation	99.0%	814	$180,710	Market Rate
Mufg Bank, Ltd.	0.4%	3	$145,953	-19.2% Avg
Meta Platforms, Inc.	0.2%	2	$212,500	+17.6% Avg
General Motors	0.1%	1	$138,796	-23.2% Avg
Google LLC	0.1%	1	$158,000	-12.6% Avg
Synopsys, Inc.	0.1%	1	$175,053	-3.1% 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
Redmond	WA	72.7%	$180,802	Market Rate
Mountain View	CA	7.9%	$199,500	$200,214
San Francisco	CA	1.3%	$199,176	Market Rate
Atlanta	GA	0.9%	$149,100	Market Rate
New York	NY	0.9%	$171,135	Market Rate
San Jose	CA	0.7%	$171,250	Market Rate
Stafford	TX	0.6%	$140,170	Market Rate
Burlington	MA	0.5%	$187,710	Market Rate
Seattle	WA	0.5%	$171,464	Market Rate
Sunnyvale	CA	0.5%	$184,026	$212,500
Cambridge	MA	0.4%	$146,300	Market Rate
Irving	TX	0.4%	$121,746	Market Rate
Prosper	TX	0.4%	$119,800	Market Rate
Plano	TX	0.4%	$123,150	Market Rate
Hillsboro	OR	0.4%	$165,000	Market Rate
Ashburn	VA	0.2%	$196,560	Market Rate
Fremont	CA	0.2%	$193,074	Market Rate
Englewood	CO	0.2%	$218,837	Market Rate
Jersey City	NJ	0.2%	$175,216	Market Rate
Fresno	CA	0.2%	$158,291	Market Rate
Austin	TX	0.2%	$179,500	Market Rate
Edison	NJ	0.2%	$200,000	Market Rate
Cumming	GA	0.2%	$164,862	Market Rate
Charlotte	NC	0.2%	$164,276	Market Rate
Leander	TX	0.2%	$149,854	Market Rate
Lehi	UT	0.2%	$188,744	Market Rate
Tempe	AZ	0.2%	$151,006	Market Rate
Round Rock	TX	0.2%	$158,812	Market Rate
Mckinney	TX	0.2%	$132,698	Market Rate
Los Angeles	CA	0.2%	$199,380	$255,000
Arlington	VA	0.1%	$136,400	N/A
Allen	TX	0.1%	$143,000	N/A
Elkridge	MD	0.1%	$138,750	N/A
Edgewood	WA	0.1%	$168,600	N/A
Eatontown	NJ	0.1%	$191,955	N/A
Duvall	WA	0.1%	$192,848	N/A
Damascus	MD	0.1%	$130,501	N/A
Danville	CA	0.1%	$210,353	N/A
Dallas	TX	0.1%	$137,290	N/A
Cypress	TX	0.1%	$183,772	N/A
Cedar Park	TX	0.1%	$213,410	N/A
Cliffside Park	NJ	0.1%	$167,300	N/A
Chestnut Hill	MA	0.1%	$202,160	N/A
Chandler	AZ	0.1%	$181,198	N/A
Celina	TX	0.1%	$141,923	N/A
Bellingham	WA	0.1%	$150,859	N/A
Brookline	MA	0.1%	$202,160	N/A
Berkeley	CA	0.1%	$215,000	N/A
Alexandria	VA	0.1%	$150,000	N/A
Apex	NC	0.1%	$160,000	N/A
Anaheim	CA	0.1%	$168,385	N/A
Bentonville	AR	0.1%	$145,263	N/A
Bellevue	WA	0.1%	$150,250	N/A
Beaverton	OR	0.1%	$140,235	N/A
Issaquah	WA	0.1%	$210,583	N/A

Historical Compensation Averages

Year-over-year salary data comparing historical averages.

Fiscal Year	YoY Growth i	Maximum	Median	Average	Minimum
2026	In Progress	$310,000	$180,881	$184,633	$90,896
2025	+5.9%	$314,000	$171,077	$173,919	$71,656
2024	+35.8%	$288,910	$161,490	$164,507	$48.00/hr
2023	-17.0%	$296,700	$118,939	$125,009	$48.00/hr
2022	+22.4%	$296,700	$143,250	$158,153	$94,500
2021	-0.8%	$195,000	$117,000	$120,617	$67,475
2020	+7.3%	$250,000	$118,000	$122,347	$90,000
2019	+9.9%	$170,000	$109,943	$110,632	$35.00/hr
2018	+5.3%	$130,000	$100,000	$105,463	$62,046
2017	+15.2%	$110,000	$95,000	$96,630	$80,000
2016	N/A	$0.00/hr	$82,500	$82,500	$66,000

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	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$191,692	Level III	Certified
Dec 30, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Mountain View, CA	$235,007	Level III	Certified
Dec 30, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$207,300	Level III	Certified
Dec 30, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$217,446	Level IV	Certified
Dec 30, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$174,072	Level II	Certified
Dec 30, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$212,484	Level IV	Certified
Dec 30, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$182,599	Level III	Certified
Dec 30, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$240,000	Level IV	Certified
Dec 30, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$188,534	Level III	Certified
Dec 30, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 30, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Celina, TX	$141,923	Level II	Certified
Dec 30, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$166,320	Level II	Certified
Dec 30, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Lewis Center, OH	$175,200	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$180,000	Level II	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$198,380	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$200,200	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$190,531	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Sultan, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Mountain View, CA	$171,165	N/A	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Burlington, MA	$200,200	Level IV	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$212,202	Level IV	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$194,740	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$179,000	Level II	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Mountain View, CA	$210,000	N/A	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$212,202	Level IV	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Mountain View, CA	$199,500	N/A	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Mountain View, CA	$171,165	N/A	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$212,202	Level IV	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$212,202	Level IV	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Mountain View, CA	$195,000	Level II	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$212,202	Level IV	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$160,000	Level II	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$168,000	Level II	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$166,000	Level II	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$212,202	Level IV	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$212,202	Level IV	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$212,202	Level IV	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$163,240	Level II	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Microsoft Corporation	Redmond, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	General Motors	Milford, MI	$138,796	Level IV	Certified

Role Specific Intelligence (FAQ)

Common questions and insights about the Software Engineering role.

Where do Software Engineering candidates make the most money?
Looking at geographic compensation, Mountain View, CA stands out as the highest paying market, offering a median base salary of $199,500.

Are Software Engineering roles remote-friendly?
Yes, this position is highly flexible. About 24.8% of people in this role work from a different state than their main employer's headquarters.

Which company sponsors the most H-1B visas for Software Engineering roles?
Microsoft Corporation acts as the leading sponsor for this position, submitting 814 total applications.