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Staff Software Engineer -74% 5-Year Decline

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Top Sponsor: Wal-Mart Associates, Inc (31 filings)
Highest Pay: San Francisco, CA ($247,800)
Official Federal Category: 15-1252.00 - Software Developers
Market Demand i
A+
FY 2026
2023 A+
2024 A+
2025 A+
Certified Volume i
360
Approved in FY 2026
National Median Salary i
$200,000
Typical yearly pay
PERM Conversion i
8.10%
Transition to residency
Top Paying Market i
San Francisco, CA
Median pay: $247,800

Algorithmic Intelligence Brief

An automated market review of the Staff Software Engineer role.

Active Hiring Pipelines: A+

There is a steady corporate appetite for Staff Software Engineer roles right now. Companies filed 360 visa requests this period, translating to a solid A+ H1B Index score.

Direct Company Hire

This is a standard direct job. 99.4% of candidates work on tasks for their own employer rather than outside clients.

Average Success Rate

Getting a visa here is common, though some applications face pushback. The overall approval rate sits at 91.1%.

Remote-Friendly Job

A significant volume of modern companies allow Staff Software Engineer professionals to work from anywhere. We verified that 39.7% 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 Wal-Mart Associates, Inc do not hire part-time for this role. Every approved visa is for a full-time job.

Primary Sectors: Most of these jobs are in the Professional, Scientific, and Tech Services industry (30.6%), while Information & Tech accounts for 23.6%.

Compensation: The median base salary sits above the national average at $200,000, while maximum compensation scales to $445,000.

Degree Required: Employers like Wal-Mart Associates, Inc accept a Bachelor's degree for all permanent roles in this job.

10-Year Median Salary Trajectory

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

Top Paying Tech Hubs

Cities ranked by the highest median salaries for this specific role.

National Salary Percentiles i

Distribution of pay across all federal filings.

O*NET Wage Level Economics

Salary breakdown scaled by federal experience classifications.

O*NET Wage Distribution

💡 Click on colored labels to filter.

Wage Levels Breakdown

Experience LevelLCA VolumeMedian Salary
Entry Level (Level I)0N/A
Qualified (Level II)19$162,500
Experienced (Level III)79$180,830
Fully Competent (Level IV)186$209,125

Acquisition & Geographic Distribution

Talent pipeline metrics and top hiring locations for Staff Software Engineers.

Talent Pipeline

Fresh Hires (44.7%)Transfers/Poached (55.3%)

Green Card (PERM) Conversion i

8.10% of active filings transition to residency.

Noticing a difference in dates? Salary metrics reflect real-time DOL filings, while approval metrics rely on finalized USCIS historical data. View timelines

Sponsoring EmployerLCA CountMaximum SalaryMedian SalaryMinimum Salary
Wal-Mart Associates, Inc.31$286,000$150,080$133,672
Linkedin Corporation23$311,000$216,666$163,000
Paypal, Inc.18$248,000$209,358$167,418
Servicenow, Inc.15$250,000$201,212$152,131
Google Llc10$291,000$264,500$248,000
Uber Technologies, Inc.10$265,400$247,800$230,500
Indeed, Inc.10$284,000$173,775$143,000
Intuit Inc.10$263,670$205,980$184,974
Home Depot Management Company Llc8$180,162$168,500$157,016
Crusoe Energy Systems, Inc.6$280,000$262,500$250,000
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.5$227,900$157,581$152,479
Snowflake Inc.5$339,250$236,000$230,000
General Motors5$260,000$230,000$172,480
Teladoc Health Inc.4$202,150$148,886$127,837
Databricks, Inc.4$274,700$217,672$212,202
Moody'S Analytics, Inc.4$201,880$175,654$152,439
Qualcomm Innovation Center, Inc.4$202,200$145,816$139,152
Airbnb, Inc.3$306,000$204,000$204,000
Chewy, Inc.3$220,561$207,615$196,112
Tarana Wireless, Inc3$264,514$226,138$196,708
Granica Computing, Inc.3$250,000$230,000$230,000
Appfolio Inc.3$230,000$196,912$143,000
Pinterest, Inc.3$226,138$212,202$163,862
Wgu Corporation3$217,800$200,200$197,600
Western Union, Llc3$183,300$144,200$135,787
Cariad, Inc.2$185,000$182,250$179,500
Blue Yonder, Inc.2$180,953$135,022$113,047
Abbott Laboratories2$178,000$150,500$143,000
Blackline Systems, Inc.2$200,000$163,550$163,550
Bill Me Later, Inc.2$160,500$160,500$160,500
Q2 Software, Inc.2$270,000$188,531$163,550
Personalis, Inc.2$218,294$218,294$218,294
Premier, Inc.2$157,307$155,016$152,725
Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.2$227,900$157,213$152,479
Okta, Inc.2$266,583$219,970$175,427
Standard Cognition, Corp.2$226,600$223,300$220,000
Paypal Data Services, Inc.2$198,488$198,488$198,488
Redesign Health, Inc.2$250,000$200,000$200,000
Sony Interactive Entertainment Llc2$324,400$207,200$198,200
Tubi Inc.2$313,123$313,123$313,123
Trinet Usa, Inc.2$180,000$175,272$170,543
Zocdoc, Inc.2$250,000$250,000$250,000
Social Finance, Llc2$201,600$200,800$200,000
Skydio, Inc.2$233,500$233,500$233,500
Safeway Inc.2$199,381$189,648$179,915
Coinbase, Inc.2$256,500$256,500$256,500
Harvey Ai Corporation2$290,000$238,000$238,000
Incept Labs, Inc.2$300,000$161,637$161,637
Ge Precision Healthcare Llc2$132,900$128,550$124,200
Giga Ai Inc.2$190,000$190,000$190,000
Galileo Financial Technologies, Llc2$251,000$246,974$242,948
Cohesity, Inc.2$294,000$264,514$264,514
Moody'S Investors Service, Inc.2$163,548$162,250$160,952
Gofundme, Inc.2$240,000$238,000$236,000
Coupang Global Llc2$264,541$228,770$193,000
Worksite CityStateLCA CountMaximum SalaryMedian Salary
SunnyvaleCA38$311,000$214,256
San FranciscoCA36$445,000$247,800
New YorkNY19$311,000$238,000
San DiegoCA19$300,000$184,974
AustinTX19$245,000$170,543
Santa ClaraCA18$294,000$204,181
San JoseCA17$248,000$210,000
Mountain ViewCA16$288,500$235,000
BentonvilleAR14$180,830$151,870
SeattleWA13$303,000$212,202
BellevueWA9$339,250$212,202
AtlantaGA7$200,000$162,240
FremontCA6$270,000$215,903
LeanderTX5$200,000$170,000
IrvingTX5$191,500$156,998
Foster CityCA4$350,000$182,318
CharlotteNC4$165,800$147,244
San MateoCA4$324,400$233,500
Mountain HouseCA4$286,000$213,893
DenverCO3$183,300$144,200
PlanoTX3$210,000$179,915
PleasantonCA3$210,000$199,381
MilpitasCA3$264,514$226,138
Menlo ParkCA3$339,250$236,000
CoppellTX2$180,953$135,022
FriscoTX2$274,000$171,581
BostonMA2$220,561$214,088
Indian LandSC2$157,307$155,016
KatyTX2$174,680$145,787
Jersey CityNJ2$230,000$186,500
San BrunoCA2$286,000$143,000
WalthamMA2$258,500$189,066
WaukeshaWI2$132,900$128,550
Redwood CityCA2$250,982$224,991
Salt Lake CityUT2$217,800$209,000
Arlington HeightsIL1$149,400$149,400
ArvadaCO1$189,666$189,666
Fort MillSC1$181,800$133,536
EnglewoodCO1$204,500$142,314
Farmington HillsMI1$161,200$161,200
FishersIN1$140,000$125,000
Ellicott CityMD1$145,000$145,000
DawsonvilleGA1$198,800$152,131
De PereWI1$270,000$123,302
DunwoodyGA1$180,000$180,000
ChicagoIL1$150,000$140,000
Cottonwood HeightsUT1$201,600$201,600
CummingGA1$178,740$152,131
Buffalo GroveIL1$192,490$192,490
CarpinteriaCA1$292,000$213,179
Cedar HillsUT1$176,000$176,000
CentennialCO1$199,870$199,870
CharlottesvilleVA1$195,000$195,000
BayonneNJ1$201,058$201,058
Bowling GreenOH1$194,781$194,781
Fiscal YearMaximumMedianAverageMinimum
2026$320,000$200,000$197,712$113,046
2025$394,000$181,571$187,661$68
2024$385,000$175,760$179,567$87
2023$400,000$172,095$177,016$73
2022$320,000$175,000$171,881$55
2021$275,000$160,000$159,080$69
2020$1,508,000$154,669$153,957$79
2019$275,000$150,696$146,126$65
2018$270,000$144,261$139,102$43
2017$250,000$128,900$129,755$53
2016$227,600$117,998$121,232$0
Decision DateEmployerLocationBase PayWage LevelStatus
Dec 30, 2025Premier, Inc.Indian Land, SC$157,307Level IIICertified
Dec 30, 2025Paypal, Inc.San Jose, CA$248,000N/ACertified
Dec 30, 2025Linkedin CorporationSunnyvale, CA$212,505N/ACertified
Dec 30, 2025Range Finance, Inc.Bellevue, WA$230,000Level IVCertified
Dec 30, 2025Linkedin CorporationSunnyvale, CA$264,514Level IVCertified
Dec 30, 2025Wal-Mart Associates, Inc.Sunnyvale, CA$150,080N/ACertified
Dec 30, 2025Linkedin CorporationSunnyvale, CA$213,512N/ACertified
Dec 30, 2025Linkedin CorporationSunnyvale, CA$264,514Level IVCertified
Dec 29, 2025Q2 Software, Inc.Fremont, CA$213,512Level IVCertified
Dec 29, 2025Linkedin CorporationBothell, WA$212,202Level IVCertified
Dec 29, 2025Q2 Software, Inc.Austin, TX$163,550Level IVCertified
Dec 29, 2025Linkedin CorporationSan Francisco, CA$213,512Level IVCertified
Dec 29, 2025Western Union, LlcDenver, CO$146,260N/ACertified - Withdrawn
Dec 29, 2025Western Union, LlcDenver, CO$144,200N/ACertified - Withdrawn
Dec 29, 2025Cariad, Inc.Bellevue, WA$185,000N/ACertified - Withdrawn
Dec 29, 2025Cariad, Inc.Leander, TX$179,500Level IVCertified - Withdrawn
Dec 26, 2025Uber Technologies, Inc.Sunnyvale, CA$235,100Level IIICertified
Dec 26, 2025Paypal, Inc.Austin, TX$200,000Level IVCertified
Dec 26, 2025Snowflake Inc.Menlo Park, CA$230,000Level IIICertified
Dec 26, 2025Qualcomm Innovation Center, Inc.Austin, TX$139,152Level IIICertified
Dec 24, 2025Qxo, Inc.Seattle, WA$230,000Level IVCertified
Dec 24, 2025General MotorsMountain View, CA$260,000N/ACertified
Dec 24, 2025Wal-Mart Associates, Inc.Bentonville, AR$150,514Level IIICertified
Dec 24, 2025Intuit Inc.New York, NY$205,980Level IVCertified
Dec 24, 2025Intuit Inc.San Diego, CA$184,974Level IVCertified
Dec 24, 2025Moody'S Analytics, Inc.Plano, TX$166,490Level IVCertified
Dec 24, 2025Intuit Inc.Mountain View, CA$219,536N/ACertified
Dec 24, 2025Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.Bellevue, WA$162,500Level IICertified
Dec 24, 2025Crux Informatics, Inc.Bayonne, NJ$201,058Level IVCertified - Withdrawn
Dec 24, 2025Goodleap, LlcTampa, FL$174,720Level IVCertified
Dec 23, 2025Wal-Mart Associates, Inc.Sunnyvale, CA$150,080N/ACertified
Dec 23, 2025Arm, Inc.Waltham, MA$178,131Level IVCertified
Dec 23, 2025Wal-Mart Associates, Inc.Mountain House, CA$150,080Level IIICertified
Dec 23, 2025Social Finance, LlcLeander, TX$200,000Level IVCertified
Dec 23, 2025Alation, Inc.Redwood City, CA$250,982Level IVCertified
Dec 23, 2025Socket, Inc.Seattle, WA$182,312Level IVCertified - Withdrawn
Dec 22, 2025Clari, Inc.Santa Clara, CA$240,000N/ACertified
Dec 22, 2025Wal-Mart Associates, Inc.Bentonville, AR$160,918Level IIICertified
Dec 22, 2025Telecommunication Systems, Inc.Ellicott City, MD$145,000Level IICertified
Dec 19, 2025General MotorsWarren, MI$172,480Level IVCertified
Dec 19, 2025Teladoc Health Inc.New York City, NY$192,275Level IVCertified
Dec 19, 2025Meta Platforms, IncLivermore, CA$263,803Level IVCertified
Dec 19, 2025Plusai, Inc.Fremont, CA$213,512Level IVCertified
Dec 19, 2025Gap Inc.Charlotte, NC$133,536Level IIICertified
Dec 19, 2025Paypal, Inc.San Jose, CA$248,000N/ACertified
Dec 19, 2025Skydio, Inc.San Mateo, CA$233,500Level IVCertified
Dec 19, 2025Servicenow, Inc.Santa Clara, CA$204,181N/ACertified
Dec 19, 2025Servicenow, Inc.Santa Clara, CA$204,181N/ACertified
Dec 19, 2025Intuit Inc.New York, NY$205,980Level IVCertified
Dec 18, 2025Paypal, Inc.Arvada, CO$189,666Level IVCertified
Dec 18, 2025Paypal, Inc.San Jose, CA$216,693N/ACertified
Dec 18, 2025Snowflake Inc.Menlo Park, CA$236,000Level IVCertified
Dec 18, 2025Xometry Inc.Waltham, MA$200,000Level IVCertified
Dec 18, 2025Wal-Mart Associates, Inc.Bentonville, AR$165,238Level IIICertified
Dec 18, 2025Uber Technologies, Inc.San Francisco, CA$247,800Level IVCertified

Role Specific Intelligence (FAQ)

Common questions and insights about the Staff Software Engineer role.

Can Staff Software Engineer professionals work from home on an H-1B visa?
Yes, this position is highly flexible. About 39.7% of people in this role work from a different state than their main employer's headquarters.

Do employers sponsor permanent residency for Staff Software Engineer roles?
There is a proven track record for permanent residency in this field, highlighted by 29 recent Green Card filings from U.S. employers.

What is the highest paying city for Staff Software Engineer professionals?
San Francisco, CA currently leads the nation by paying a median of $247,800 for this position.

Who is the top employer for Staff Software Engineer professionals?
With 31 recent sponsorships, Wal-Mart Associates, Inc serves as the primary employer acquiring foreign talent for this specific field.