H-1B Software Engineer Salary in Washington (2024)
Prevailing wages, top employers, and LCA data for H-1B software engineers in Washington.
Key Notes for Washington
No State Income Tax
Washington has no state income tax. At $155K, SWEs save ~$12K–15K/yr vs. California, with higher median wages to boot.
Amazon + Microsoft Dominance
Amazon and Microsoft alone account for an estimated 55–60% of all H-1B SWE LCA filings in Washington state.
Seattle Wage Premium
Seattle MSA prevailing wages are the second-highest in the country after San Jose. Level IV for SWE in Seattle is ~$195K+.
Long-Term Green Card
Amazon and Microsoft both have large PERM pipelines, making Washington a strong choice for Indian nationals who need EB-2/EB-3 sponsorship.
Top H-1B Employers
- Amazon
- Microsoft
- Google Kirkland
- Meta Bellevue
- Tableau
- Expedia
- Zillow
- Convoy
- Redfin
- F5 Networks
Top Cities in Washington
- Seattle
- Bellevue
- Redmond
- Kirkland
- Bothell
- Issaquah
- Renton
- Tacoma
- Olympia
- Spokane
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the prevailing wage for H-1B software engineers in Washington state?
DOL prevailing wages for SWE (SOC 15-1252) in Seattle MSA range from ~$111K (Level I) to ~$195K (Level IV). Median LCA wage is approximately $155,000 — second only to San Jose in the US.
Is Seattle better than San Francisco for H-1B software engineers?
On pure financials: yes, for most. Seattle offers comparable or higher wages, no state income tax, and lower housing costs than SF. The main tradeoff is fewer employer options outside Amazon/Microsoft.
Do Amazon and Microsoft sponsor H-1B visas at scale?
Yes. Both are among the top 5 H-1B sponsors nationally by volume. Amazon filed ~6,000 H-1B LCAs for software roles in Washington in FY2023 alone. Both also run large PERM (green card) pipelines.
What is the H-1B situation for engineers in Redmond vs. Seattle?
Microsoft's Redmond campus dominates Redmond H-1B filings. Seattle has more diversity in employers (Amazon, Google, Meta, startups). Wage levels are comparable across the metro area.
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