H-1B Jobs in California (2026)

California accounts for roughly 20% of all US H-1B approvals annually. The state's tech industry, biotech corridor, and entertainment sector make it the undisputed H-1B capital of the US.

~85,000 H-1B approvals/yr
Annual H-1B Approvals
$158,000
Median LCA Wage
CA
State

Top H-1B Employers in California

GoogleAppleMetaAmazon (AWS)OracleSalesforceNvidiaIntelQualcommBroadcom

Top H-1B Cities in California

San Jose/Silicon ValleySan FranciscoLos AngelesSan DiegoSacramento

Top H-1B Roles in California

Software EngineeringML EngineeringElectrical EngineeringProduct ManagementData Science

Green Card Pathway

No EB-2/EB-3 backlog for non-India/China nationals. Indian and Chinese nationals face multi-decade waits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many H-1B visas are approved in California each year?

California receives approximately ~85,000 H-1B approvals/yr. The state's major employers file for roles in Software Engineering, ML Engineering, Electrical Engineering.

What is the average H-1B salary in California?

The median LCA prevailing wage for H-1B workers in California is $158,000. Wages vary significantly by role and metro area within the state.

Which companies sponsor the most H-1B visas in California?

Top H-1B sponsors in California include: Google, Apple, Meta, Amazon (AWS), Oracle. California accounts for roughly 20% of all US H-1B approvals annually. The state's tech industry, biotech corridor, and entertainment sector make it the undisputed H-1B capital of the US.

What is the green card timeline for H-1B workers in California?

No EB-2/EB-3 backlog for non-India/China nationals. Indian and Chinese nationals face multi-decade waits.

Related: H-1B Salary Guide  · Find H-1B Jobs  · H-1B Process Guide