H1BIndex » Jobs » Software Developers

Lead Software Engineer -73% 5-Year Decline

Job Market Trend:-22.5%vs Q1 2025

Top Sponsor: Globallogic Inc. (18 filings)

Highest Pay: Seattle, WA ($220,074)

Official Federal Category: 15-1252.00 - Software Developers

Market Demand

FY 2026

2023 A+

2024 A+

2025 A+

Certified Volume

269

Approved in FY 2026

National Median Salary

$143,000

Typical yearly pay

PERM Conversion

9.30%

Transition to residency

10-Year Growth

31.80%

Decade salary trend

Algorithmic Intelligence Brief

An automated market review of the Lead Software Engineer role.

Active Hiring Pipelines: "A"

There is a steady corporate appetite for Lead Software Engineer roles right now. Companies filed 269 visa requests this period, translating to a solid "A" H1B Index score.

Internal Projects

89.2% of the approved visas are for direct company projects rather than outside staffing jobs.

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 +4%.

Safe Application Process

Government authorities rarely block visas for this job. The 95.5% approval rate indicates high safety, issuing exactly 0 formal denial(s).

Geographic Independence

Roughly 56.9% of the entire sponsored workforce operates strictly out-of-state, confirming that untethered remote work is common for this role.

Role & Industry Structure

Federal classifications for this position.

Contract Scope: Getting this job mostly means working full-time, which accounts for 99.3% of the labor requests.

Business Categories: Companies in Finance & Insurance provide 37.5% of these jobs. The Professional, Scientific, and Tech Services field provides another 26.8%.

Salary Range: The standard baseline wage is $143,000, and salaries can climb as high as $303,900 based on experience.

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

10-Year Median Salary Trajectory

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

Positive Market Growth: +31.8%. Compensation for this position has reliably increased over the long term.

Modest Pay Shift: +$6,000. There is only a 4.1% gap between temporary and permanent pay for this job.

Top Hiring Employers

Companies sponsoring the most visas for this role.

Company & Median Pay Total Approvals

Globallogic Inc. 6.7% Share

Top Hub: Charlotte, NC | Median: $112,923

Mastercard Technologies, LLC 5.9% Share

Top Hub: Ofallon, MO | Median: $138,000

U.S. Bank National Association 5.9% Share

Top Hub: Hopkins, MN | Median: $149,433

Lowe'S Companies, Inc. 4.5% Share

Top Hub: Charlotte, NC | Median: $133,536

First Citizens Bank And Trust Co. 4.5% Share

Top Hub: Phoenix, AZ | Median: $136,864

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)	5	1.9%	$131,158	$152,435
Qualified (Level II)	49	18.2%	$99,528	$123,000
Experienced (Level III)	94	34.9%	$118,165	$138,000
Fully Competent (Level IV)	90	33.5%	$110,500	$158,792
Not Disclosed (Blank)	31	11.5%	$125,288	$143,000

Acquisition & Industry Allocation

Talent pipeline metrics and top hiring sectors for Lead Software Engineers.

Talent Pipeline

Fresh Hires (5.9%)Transfers/Poached (94.1%)

Green Card (PERM) Conversion i

9.30% of active filings transition to residency.

Industry Sector Allocation

Primary Sector & Median Pay Total Filings

Finance & Insurance 37.5% Sector Share

Top Sponsor: Mastercard Technologies, LLC | Median: $146,558

101

Professional, Scientific, And Tech Services 26.8% Sector Share

Top Sponsor: Globallogic Inc. | Median: $132,384

Information & Tech 11.5% Sector Share

Top Sponsor: Adp Technology Services, Inc. | Median: $160,805

Unspecified / Blank 9.3% Sector Share

Top Sponsor: Humana Inc. | Median: $134,999

Retail Trade 7.8% Sector Share

Top Sponsor: Lowe'S Companies, Inc. | Median: $133,536

10-Year DOL processing history for Lead Software Engineers.

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 Lead Software Engineers.

Sponsoring Employer	Market Share i	LCA Count	Median Salary	Vs National Avg i
Globallogic Inc.	6.7%	18	$112,923	-21.0% Avg
Mastercard Technologies, LLC	5.9%	16	$138,000	-3.5% Avg
U.S. Bank National Association	5.9%	16	$149,433	+4.5% Avg
Lowe'S Companies, Inc.	4.5%	12	$133,536	-6.6% Avg
First Citizens Bank And Trust Co.	4.5%	12	$136,864	-4.3% Avg
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.	3.0%	8	$154,669	+8.2% Avg
Optum Services, Inc.	2.6%	7	$135,408	-5.3% Avg
Capital One Services, LLC	2.2%	6	$175,800	+22.9% Avg
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company	1.9%	5	$121,118	-15.3% Avg
Humana Inc.	1.5%	4	$130,645	-8.6% Avg
National Railroad Passenger Corporation	1.5%	4	$130,900	-8.5% Avg
Northwell Health	1.5%	4	$153,080	+7.0% Avg
Factset Research Systems Inc.	1.5%	4	$177,500	+24.1% Avg
Adp Technology Services, Inc.	1.5%	4	$133,884	-6.4% Avg
Wellington Management Company LLP	1.5%	4	$165,000	+15.4% Avg
Concentrix Cvg Customer Management Group Inc.	1.1%	3	$130,707	-8.6% Avg
Publix Super Markets, Inc.	1.1%	3	$175,427	+22.7% Avg
The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation	1.1%	3	$135,000	-5.6% Avg
American Bankers Insurance Company Of Florida	1.1%	3	$130,707	-8.6% Avg
Dk Crown Holdings Inc.	1.1%	3	$135,960	-4.9% Avg
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.	1.1%	3	$122,970	-14.0% Avg
Conversantit, Inc.	1.1%	3	$131,602	-8.0% Avg
Charter Communications, Inc.	1.1%	3	$126,506	-11.5% Avg
Dollar General Corporation	0.7%	2	$131,071	-8.3% Avg
Epam Systems Inc.	0.7%	2	$132,000	-7.7% Avg
Docusign Inc.	0.7%	2	$226,850	+58.6% Avg
Ithaka Harbors, Inc.	0.7%	2	$150,000	+4.9% Avg
Impetus Technologies, Inc.	0.7%	2	$123,036	-14.0% Avg
Nike, Inc.	0.7%	2	$192,259	+34.4% Avg
Mastercard International Incorporated	0.7%	2	$138,000	-3.5% Avg
Onemain General Services Corporation	0.7%	2	$138,692	-3.0% Avg
Docusign, Inc.	0.7%	2	$212,202	+48.4% Avg
Hilton Domestic Operating Company Inc.	0.7%	2	$131,166	-8.3% Avg
Guickly, Inc.	0.7%	2	$195,404	+36.6% Avg
The Travelers Indemnity Company	0.7%	2	$159,700	+11.7% Avg
The Guardian Life Insurance Company Of America	0.7%	2	$154,831	+8.3% Avg
Ukg Inc.	0.7%	2	$178,131	+24.6% Avg
Wellmark, Inc.	0.7%	2	$145,319	+1.6% Avg
Newrez LLC	0.7%	2	$128,315	-10.3% Avg
Qualys, Inc.	0.7%	2	$161,637	+13.0% Avg
S&P Global Market Intelligence Inc.	0.7%	2	$160,946	+12.5% Avg
Rli Insurance Company	0.7%	2	$146,212	+2.2% Avg
Ice Mortgage Technology, Inc.	0.7%	2	$110,500	-22.7% Avg
Cox Automotive Corporate Services, LLC	0.7%	2	$165,783	+15.9% Avg
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.	0.7%	2	$131,167	-8.3% Avg
Converse Inc.	0.4%	1	$185,000	+29.4% Avg
Cohere Health, Inc.	0.4%	1	$175,000	+22.4% Avg
Caterpillar Inc.	0.4%	1	$125,288	-12.4% Avg
Ck-12 Foundation, Inc.	0.4%	1	$219,639	+53.6% Avg
Cml Media Corp.	0.4%	1	$130,000	-9.1% Avg
Data Trace Information Services, LLC	0.4%	1	$134,999	-5.6% Avg
Cyber-Dive Corp.	0.4%	1	$190,000	+32.9% Avg
Cvent, Inc.	0.4%	1	$210,591	+47.3% Avg
Artifact Lab, Inc.	0.4%	1	$140,000	-2.1% Avg
Brivo Systems LLC	0.4%	1	$170,000	+18.9% 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
Charlotte	NC	7.8%	$133,536	$154,669
Ofallon	MO	4.8%	$138,000	Market Rate
New York	NY	4.1%	$160,805	$250,000
Irving	TX	3.0%	$147,447	$160,000
Phoenix	AZ	3.0%	$134,514	Market Rate
Alpharetta	GA	1.9%	$130,707	$159,700
Boston	MA	1.9%	$165,000	$178,131
Chicago	IL	1.9%	$156,000	$270,375
Coppell	TX	1.9%	$135,000	Market Rate
Roseland	NJ	1.9%	$134,423	$160,805
Seattle	WA	1.5%	$220,074	$242,858
Wilmington	DE	1.5%	$131,602	$175,800
Melville	NY	1.5%	$153,080	Market Rate
Louisville	KY	1.5%	$130,645	$139,628
O'Fallon	MO	1.1%	$138,000	Market Rate
Richmond	VA	1.1%	$175,800	Market Rate
Plainsboro	NJ	1.1%	$150,000	$210,591
Raleigh	NC	1.1%	$139,214	Market Rate
Reading	PA	1.1%	$99,528	Market Rate
Hopkins	MN	1.1%	$145,018	Market Rate
Frisco	TX	1.1%	$112,923	$165,039
Greenwood Village	CO	1.1%	$126,506	Market Rate
Aurora	IL	0.7%	$139,839	$148,971
Beaverton	OR	0.7%	$189,829	$203,657
Bellevue	WA	0.7%	$174,410	$180,710
Ashburn	VA	0.7%	$157,310	$163,820
Atlanta	GA	0.7%	$145,487	$160,266
Tampa	FL	0.7%	$135,000	$140,000
Washington	DC	0.7%	$130,900	Market Rate
New York City	NY	0.7%	$195,404	Market Rate
Oakbrook Terrace	IL	0.7%	$153,317	Market Rate
Needham	MA	0.7%	$162,500	Market Rate
San Francisco	CA	0.7%	$165,852	$166,000
Pleasanton	CA	0.7%	$172,880	$184,124
St. Augustine	FL	0.7%	$145,450	$159,700
Foster City	CA	0.7%	$161,637	Market Rate
Lakeland	FL	0.7%	$168,714	Market Rate
Bloomington	IL	0.7%	$121,118	Market Rate
Fort Worth	TX	0.7%	$112,923	Market Rate
Des Moines	IA	0.7%	$145,319	Market Rate
Dallas	TX	0.7%	$112,923	Market Rate
Eden Prairie	MN	0.7%	$135,408	Market Rate
Boulder	CO	0.7%	$185,869	Market Rate
Chandler	AZ	0.7%	$146,224	Market Rate
Brookfield	WI	0.7%	$142,922	Market Rate
Ann Arbor	MI	0.4%	$145,912	N/A
Bethlehem	PA	0.4%	$150,012	N/A
Bentonville	AR	0.4%	$121,222	N/A
Austin	TX	0.4%	$171,301	N/A
Baltimore	MD	0.4%	$132,384	N/A
Aubrey	TX	0.4%	$133,166	N/A
Allen	TX	0.4%	$156,998	N/A
Apex	NC	0.4%	$150,831	N/A
East Greenwich	RI	0.4%	$170,000	N/A
Franklin	TN	0.4%	$103,334	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	$303,900	$145,000	$148,386	$57.00/hr
2025	+4.0%	$350,000	$145,000	$149,841	$45.00/hr
2024	+3.3%	$302,000	$139,464	$141,024	$48.00/hr
2023	+3.8%	$284,100	$134,992	$133,693	$55.00/hr
2022	Flat	$284,100	$130,000	$134,524	$40.00/hr
2021	+5.3%	$300,000	$130,000	$132,699	$37.00/hr
2020	+3.7%	$225,000	$123,500	$126,045	$40.00/hr
2019	-0.3%	$224,100	$119,111	$121,422	$50.00/hr
2018	+7.5%	$250,000	$119,523	$120,547	$42.00/hr
2017	+1.1%	$208,900	$111,155	$112,249	$30.00/hr
2016	N/A	$200,600	$110,000	$109,103	$41.00/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 31, 2025	Artifact Lab, Inc.	Chicago, IL	$140,000	Level II	Certified - Withdrawn
Dec 30, 2025	Hugentic, Inc.	Hudson, NH	$143,000	Level II	Certified
Dec 30, 2025	Wellington Management Company LLP	Needham, MA	$170,000	Level III	Certified
Dec 30, 2025	Cohere Health, Inc.	Leander, TX	$175,000	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Mastercard Technologies, LLC	Ofallon, MO	N/A	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Optum Services, Inc.	Rosemount, MN	$125,798	Level III	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Netjets Services Inc.	Columbus, OH	$165,000	Level IV	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Cadence Design Systems, Inc.	Burlington, MA	$122,970	Level II	Certified - Withdrawn
Dec 29, 2025	The Guardian Life Insurance Company Of America	Bethlehem, PA	$150,012	Level IV	Certified
Dec 29, 2025	Adp Technology Services, Inc.	Roseland, NJ	$133,346	N/A	Certified
Dec 26, 2025	Standard & Poor'S Financial Services LLC	Princeton, NJ	$155,000	Level IV	Certified
Dec 26, 2025	Conversantit, Inc.	Wilmington, DE	$131,602	Level III	Certified
Dec 26, 2025	Northwell Health	Melville, NY	$148,450	Level I	Certified
Dec 26, 2025	Conversantit, Inc.	Wilmington, DE	$131,602	Level III	Certified
Dec 24, 2025	Inspira Financial Trust, LLC	Hanover Park, IL	$153,317	Level IV	Certified
Dec 24, 2025	Mastercard International Incorporated	Ofallon, MO	$138,000	Level III	Certified
Dec 24, 2025	Ithaka Harbors, Inc.	Plainsboro, NJ	$150,000	Level IV	Certified
Dec 23, 2025	Talech, Inc.	Pleasanton, CA	$184,124	N/A	Certified
Dec 23, 2025	Conversantit, Inc.	Wilmington, DE	$131,602	Level III	Certified
Dec 23, 2025	U.S. Bank National Association	San Francisco, CA	$165,705	N/A	Certified
Dec 23, 2025	Globallogic Inc.	Alpharetta, GA	$109,283	Level II	Certified
Dec 23, 2025	Stewart Title Guaranty Company	Jersey City, NJ	$170,000	Level III	Certified
Dec 22, 2025	Humana Inc.	Louisville, KY	$130,645	Level IV	Certified
Dec 22, 2025	Salesforce, Inc.	Chicago, IL	$270,375	Level IV	Certified
Dec 22, 2025	Mastercard Technologies, LLC	New York, NY	$166,000	Level III	Certified
Dec 22, 2025	Pelican Beaks Inc.	Newark, NJ	$133,120	Level II	Certified
Dec 22, 2025	S&P Global Market Intelligence Inc.	Redmond, WA	$166,997	Level II	Certified
Dec 22, 2025	Humana Inc.	Louisville, KY	$130,645	Level IV	Certified
Dec 19, 2025	Hilton Domestic Operating Company Inc.	Cooper City, FL	$123,000	Level II	Certified
Dec 19, 2025	Impetus Technologies, Inc.	Pennington, NJ	$135,000	Level III	Certified
Dec 19, 2025	First Citizens Bank And Trust Co.	Phoenix, AZ	$157,934	Level IV	Certified
Dec 19, 2025	Inmarket Media LLC	Lathrop, CA	$163,550	Level IV	Certified
Dec 19, 2025	Concentrix Cvg Customer Management Group Inc.	Omaha, NE	$118,165	Level III	Certified
Dec 19, 2025	Refinitiv Us LLC	St. Louis, MO	$127,257	Level III	Certified
Dec 19, 2025	Joint Commission Resources	Oakbrook Terrace, IL	$153,317	Level IV	Certified
Dec 18, 2025	Armada Systems, Inc.	Bellevue, WA	$180,710	Level III	Certified
Dec 18, 2025	Dk Crown Holdings Inc.	Norwood,, MA	$131,082	Level II	Certified
Dec 18, 2025	Concentrix Cvg Customer Management Group Inc.	Atlanta, GA	$130,707	Level III	Certified
Dec 17, 2025	Proquest, LLC	Ann Arbor, MI	$145,912	Level IV	Certified
Dec 17, 2025	Hilton Domestic Operating Company Inc.	Parkland, FL	$139,333	Level III	Certified
Dec 17, 2025	Guidepoint Global, LLC	Parlin, NJ	$167,350	Level III	Certified
Dec 17, 2025	Dollar General Corporation	Westfield, IN	$140,920	Level IV	Certified
Dec 16, 2025	First Citizens Bank And Trust Co.	Phoenix, AZ	$134,514	Level III	Certified
Dec 16, 2025	Deloitte & Touche LLP	Carmel, IN	$138,800	Level II	Certified
Dec 16, 2025	U.S. Bank National Association	Irving, TX	$156,998	Level IV	Certified
Dec 16, 2025	Rli Insurance Company	Louisville, KY	$139,628	Level IV	Certified
Dec 16, 2025	Rli Insurance Company	Columbia, SC	$152,796	Level IV	Certified
Dec 16, 2025	Caterpillar Inc.	Irving, TX	$125,288	N/A	Certified
Dec 16, 2025	Nike USA Inc.	Portland, OR	$185,590	Level III	Certified
Dec 16, 2025	Mastercard Technologies, LLC	Ofallon, MO	$138,000	Level III	Certified
Dec 15, 2025	Lowe'S Companies, Inc.	Charlotte, NC	$133,536	Level III	Certified
Dec 15, 2025	Qualys, Inc.	Foster City, CA	$161,637	Level II	Certified
Dec 15, 2025	Maersk Logistics & Services USA Inc.	St. Augustine, FL	$131,200	Level III	Certified
Dec 15, 2025	Adp Technology Services, Inc.	Roseland, NJ	$134,423	N/A	Certified
Dec 15, 2025	The Joint Commission	Oakbrook Terrace, IL	$153,317	Level IV	Certified

Role Specific Intelligence (FAQ)

Common questions and insights about the Lead Software Engineer role.

Which tech hub pays the best for Lead Software Engineer roles?
Looking at geographic compensation, Seattle, WA stands out as the highest paying market, offering a median base salary of $220,074.

What is the typical base pay for Lead Software Engineer candidates?
Professionals in Lead Software Engineer roles earn a median base pay of $143,000, while peak compensation scales much higher for specialized staff.

Is it easy to get a Green Card as a Lead Software Engineer professional?
Yes, organizations generated 25 recent Green Card sponsorships for this field, processing these workers as long-term staff.