Cisco Systems is one of the top 10 H1B visa sponsors in the United States, filing nearly 5,000 petitions annually. As the world's leading networking company, Cisco hires heavily in software engineering, cybersecurity, and cloud infrastructure — roles consistently classified at L3 and L4 wage levels, giving Cisco candidates significantly better lottery odds under USCIS's wage-based selection system.
Under the FY2021 rule, USCIS selects H1B registrants by wage tier first. Level III and Level IV petitions are prioritized. Cisco's filing mix shows 72% at L3 or L4 — giving candidates significantly above-average lottery odds.
Bar height = filing volume. Number above bar = average approved wage for that year. Source: DOL LCA database.
| Job Title | Avg Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $142,000 |
| Senior Software Engineer | $165,000 |
| Network Engineer | $138,000 |
| Data Engineer | $145,000 |
| Solutions Architect | $172,000 |
| Security Engineer | $148,000 |
Source: DOL H-1B LCA disclosure data, FY2024. Filings count and wages are from approved LCAs.
| State | Share |
|---|---|
| California | 34% |
| Texas | 12% |
| North Carolina | 9% |
| Massachusetts | 7% |
| Georgia | 6% |
| New York | 6% |
| Other | 26% |
With 72% of filings at L3/L4, Cisco candidates have estimated 43–61% lottery selection odds under USCIS's wage-based selection system — compared to 15–28% for L1–L2 filers at IT services firms.
Our complete guide covers the entire process — from finding sponsors to lottery strategy to green card timelines.
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