Software Engineer H-1B Wage Levels in Sunnyvale, CA (2026)
Most certified H-1B Software Engineer petitions in Sunnyvale, CA are filed at Level II (Qualified) (49.2% of 16,222 filings). Because the 2026 wage-weighted lottery gives higher DOL prevailing wage levels more entries in the selection pool (Level IV = 4, III = 3, II = 2, I = 1), the level your employer files at directly shapes your selection odds.
Wage Level Distribution & 2026 Lottery Entry Weight
| DOL Wage Level | Share of Filings | Median Wage | 25th–75th | 2026 Lottery Entries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 9.7% | $138K | $116K–$148K | 1× |
| Level II (Qualified) | 49.2% | $173K | $144K–$188K | 2× |
| Level III (Experienced) | 28.6% | $184K | $167K–$215K | 3× |
| Level IV (Expert) | 12.5% | $215K | $193K–$238K | 4× |
Distribution across 16,222 certified Software Engineer LCA filings with a Sunnyvale, CA worksite (DOL FY2022–2026). Entry-weight column reflects the DHS wage-weighted selection rule effective February 27, 2026 (Level IV = 4 entries, III = 3, II = 2, I = 1 in the registration pool). USCIS has not published official aggregate selection-rate percentages by wage level, so none are stated here.
Sunnyvale Employers Filing Software Engineers at Level III–IV
These employers most often file Software Engineer petitions in Sunnyvale, CA at the higher prevailing wage levels, the tiers with the strongest selection odds under the 2026 wage-weighted lottery.
| Employer | Level | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wal-mart Associates, Inc. | Level III | 689 | $170K |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | Level III | 505 | $210K |
| Apple Inc. | Level IV | 457 | $210K |
| LinkedIn Corporation | Level IV | 418 | $193K |
| Google LLC | Level IV | 229 | $259K |
| Meta Platforms, Inc | Level IV | 173 | $232K |
| Juniper Networks, Inc. | Level IV | 106 | $193K |
| Uber Technologies, Inc. | Level IV | 92 | $230K |
Ranked by Level III–IV Software Engineer filing volume in Sunnyvale, CA. Linked employers have a full per-company wage breakdown.
What DOL Wage Levels Mean
Every H-1B Labor Condition Application is filed at one of four DOL prevailing wage levels, set by the role's required experience and the OES survey for the occupation and location:
- Level I (Entry): roughly the 17th percentile wage, new graduates and early-career hires.
- Level II (Qualified): ~34th percentile, some experience, the most common H-1B level.
- Level III (Experienced): ~50th percentile, independent, senior-leaning roles.
- Level IV (Expert): ~67th percentile and up, lead, principal, and managerial roles.
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Wage-level distribution aggregated from DOL LCA disclosure files (FY2022–2026), filtered to certified petitions with wages between $30K and $1M. Based on 16,222 certified Software Engineer filings with a Sunnyvale, CA worksite and a reported DOL prevailing wage level. Lottery entry-weight figures reflect the DHS wage-weighted selection rule effective February 27, 2026; USCIS has not published official aggregate selection-rate percentages by wage level.