When people ask "what is the H1B salary for software engineers?" the answer is: it depends almost entirely on who files your LCA. The same job title, "Software Engineer", can carry a DOL-certified wage of $92,000 at an offshore IT consulting firm and $212,000 at Amazon. That $120,000 gap isn't just salary, it's the difference between a 12% and 65% H1B lottery probability under the current wage-weighted selection system. This guide breaks down what the data actually shows, segment by segment.
H1B Tech Salary by Employer Segment (DOL LCA Data)
Every number in this table is derived from DOL LCA certified filings, legally binding wage disclosures that employers must submit when sponsoring an H1B worker. Unlike surveys, LCA data cannot be inflated: it reflects what the employer is legally obligated to pay.
| Employer Segment | Avg H1B Wage | % Level III–IV | Lottery Odds | GC Sponsorship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
FAANG / Big Tech Google, Meta, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix | $185K–$220K | 88% | 55–70% | Strong |
Non-FAANG Product Salesforce, Uber, Airbnb, Stripe, Databricks, Snowflake | $155K–$185K | 78% | 48–60% | Good |
VC-Backed Startups Series B–D pre-IPO tech companies | $145K–$175K | 65% | 40–52% | Variable |
IT Consulting (Premium) Accenture, Deloitte Tech, Capgemini, CGI | $105K–$125K | 35% | 22–35% | Moderate |
IT Consulting (Offshore) Infosys, TCS, Wipro, HCL, Cognizant, Mphasis | $88K–$100K | 8% | 12–18% | Rare/Slow |
Source: DOL H-1B LCA Disclosure Data FY2020–FY2024 · Lottery odds estimated under wage-weighted selection framework
H1B Salary by Role: FAANG vs Product vs Consulting
The same job title can have 2x–3x salary variance depending on who files your LCA. These are median certified wages from FY2024 LCA data. "Consulting" here refers to offshore IT consulting majors (Infosys, TCS, Wipro, Cognizant, HCL).
| Role | FAANG | Non-FAANG Product | IT Consulting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer (Mid) | $195,000 | $162,000 | $97,000 |
| Software Engineer (Senior) | $245,000 | $198,000 | $108,000 |
| ML Engineer | $228,000 | $185,000 | $112,000 |
| Data Scientist | $215,000 | $172,000 | $105,000 |
| Product Manager | $215,000 | $170,000 | $95,000 |
| DevOps / SRE | $202,000 | $162,000 | $102,000 |
| Cloud Architect | $218,000 | $175,000 | $110,000 |
| Data Engineer | $198,000 | $158,000 | $98,000 |
| Cybersecurity Engineer | $212,000 | $168,000 | $115,000 |
Median certified LCA wages · Role title must match what was filed on LCA · Actual pay may be higher
H1B Tech Salary by State
State matters because DOL prevailing wage determinations are geographically indexed. A Level III engineer in San Francisco has a higher prevailing wage than the same role in Dallas, which means higher LCA certifications and better lottery odds.
| State | Avg H1B Wage | LCA Filings | Top Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $198,000 | 94,200 | Google, Apple, Meta |
| Washington | $204,000 | 38,400 | Amazon, Microsoft |
| New York | $178,000 | 42,100 | Meta, Goldman Sachs Tech |
| Massachusetts | $182,000 | 28,500 | Amazon, HubSpot, Wayfair |
| Texas | $155,000 | 58,600 | Dell, Oracle, AT&T Tech |
| New Jersey | $162,000 | 31,200 | Cognizant, Wipro, Infosys |
| Virginia | $168,000 | 26,800 | Amazon AWS, Leidos, SAIC |
| Illinois | $152,000 | 24,300 | Motorola, Groupon, Relativity |
How Wage Level Determines Your H1B Lottery Odds
Under wage-weighted H1B selection (the framework USCIS moved toward starting FY2025), petitions filed at higher DOL prevailing wage levels receive proportionally higher selection weight. This directly rewards employers who pay at Level III and IV. The table below shows estimated lottery probabilities by wage level.
| DOL Wage Level | Wage Range (SWE, national) | % of Tech Filings | Est. Lottery Odds | Typical Employer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | <$85K | ~3% | ~8% | Lowest odds; 85%+ of offshore consulting |
| Level II (Experienced) | $85K–$130K | ~18% | ~22% | Most consulting firms; some non-FAANG |
| Level III (Qualified) | $130K–$185K | ~38% | ~42% | Non-FAANG product companies, startups |
| Level IV (Fully Competent) | >$185K | ~41% | ~58% | FAANG, senior product roles |
Key insight: The difference between Level I and Level IV lottery odds is roughly 7x. Choosing an employer that files at Level III–IV is the highest-leverage action you can take before your H1B registration is submitted. Once the employer files, the wage level is locked in.
Consulting to Product H1B Transfer: Step-by-Step
Many H1B holders start at consulting firms, which file more petitions and thus have higher raw win counts, and transfer to product companies after approval. This is legal, common, and often the fastest path to doubling your salary while improving your green card trajectory.
Consulting firms file high volumes. Your petition is approved and belongs to you. Status: H1B holder.
Build US work history. During this time, interview actively at product companies. Your H1B is fully transferable.
No lottery required, product companies can file H1B transfer petitions year-round. Salary often doubles.
New employer files transfer. You can start on the new job immediately upon filing, no need to wait for USCIS approval.
Lock in your priority date immediately. Product companies move faster on green card sponsorship and are far more likely to support NIW and EB1-A.
At a product company you can command market rates, use LCA data from our database to benchmark what your role should pay in your metro.
Startup H1B Sponsors: What to Check Before Accepting
Startups can be excellent H1B sponsors, they often pay well and provide equity upside, but carry more risk than established companies. Before accepting an H1B offer from a startup, verify each of these:
Negotiating Your H1B Tech Salary
H1B workers have full negotiation rights. Your employer must pay at least the LCA-certified prevailing wage, but there is no upper limit. Use these approaches to negotiate effectively:
Our database at /employers shows exact LCA wages filed by specific employers for specific job titles. If Amazon filed $198,000 for a Senior SWE in Seattle, that's your floor, not the ceiling.
LCA captures base salary only. Total compensation at FAANG includes RSUs and bonuses that can add 40–80% on top of base. Negotiate total comp, not just salary.
An offer at Level III from one company gives you leverage to negotiate Level III at another. Employers cannot underpay relative to what they file on the LCA, so the level they agree to file at is your salary floor.
Ask your recruiter: 'What wage level will you file my LCA at?' If they say Level I or II and your market comp is Level III–IV, negotiate or walk. This determines your lottery odds as much as your paycheck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check Exact LCA Wages by Employer
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