PlainVisa

Interactive tool · DOL LCA

H-1B Salary Calculator

Look up H-1B salary ranges by occupation and state, with prevailing wage levels (I–IV), top sponsoring employers, and salary trends drawn live from DOL LCA disclosures.

1,885,316
LCA petitions
1207
Occupations
I–IV
Wage levels

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Foreign Labor Certification, every H-1B hire requires a Labor Condition Application disclosing the offered wage and its prevailing-wage level. This calculator draws on more than 1,885,316 of those filings from fiscal year 2023 through fiscal year 2026; select an occupation and state to see the wage range by level, the top sponsors, and how offered pay has trended. See our methodology for how each figure is derived.

Software Developers in California

SOC 15-1252-00 · Based on 115,552 LCA petitions

$174,747
Average Salary
$63,960
Minimum Filed
$832,000
Maximum Filed
95%
Certified Rate

Where this sits nationally. $174,747 for Software Developers in California is closest to the national Level IV (Expert) average ($172,298) across all H-1B occupations, one of only four DOL experience tiers, so treat this as a coarse comparison, not an exact percentile.

Prevailing Wage Levels

DOL wage levels I-IV reflect experience tiers. Higher levels indicate more specialized roles.

Level I (Entry)
Entry-level positions requiring basic skills under close supervision
$130,017
10,657 petitions
$63,960 $300,000
Level II (Qualified)
Qualified workers with moderate experience and independent judgment
$161,215
35,745 petitions
$74,464 $490,000
Level III (Experienced)
Experienced professionals with specialized knowledge and leadership
$189,225
21,690 petitions
$92,893 $450,000
Level IV (Expert)
Expert-level roles with mastery, innovation, and supervisory duties
$220,074
17,931 petitions
$106,517 $832,000

Salary Trend by Fiscal Year

Average H-1B salary for Software Developers in California across fiscal years

Fiscal Year Avg. Salary Petitions Change
FY2023 $165,542 41,585 ,
FY2024 $175,150 32,277 +5.8%
FY2025 $182,313 36,084 +4.1%
FY2026 $192,115 5,606 +5.4%

Top Employers Sponsoring Software Developers in California

Employers with the most H-1B petitions for this occupation in this state

# Employer Petitions Avg. Salary
1 Google LLC 14,863 $183,559
2 Meta Platforms, Inc 6,295 $204,674
3 Apple Inc 5,559 $188,141
4 Amazon.com Services LLC 4,435 $179,130
5 Qualcomm Technologies, Inc 2,738 $132,924
6 Wal-Mart Associates, Inc 2,570 $150,286
7 Microsoft Corporation 1,908 $189,598
8 Salesforce, Inc 1,907 $206,323
9 Linkedin Corporation 1,835 $174,096
10 PayPal, Inc 1,189 $179,893
View all employers for Software Developers → · View all H-1B data for California →

Frequently Asked Questions

What are H-1B prevailing wage levels?
The DOL defines four prevailing wage levels (I through IV) based on the complexity and experience required. Level I is entry-level (17th percentile), Level II is qualified (34th percentile), Level III is experienced (50th percentile), and Level IV is expert (67th percentile). Employers must pay at least the prevailing wage for the assigned level.
How is the H-1B salary determined?
H-1B employers must pay the higher of the actual wage (what similar employees earn at the company) or the prevailing wage for the occupation and area. The prevailing wage is based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data.
What data does this calculator use?
This tool uses DOL Labor Condition Application (LCA) disclosure data from FY2023 through FY2026. It includes all H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 petitions filed with the Department of Labor.
Why do salaries vary so much between wage levels?
Wage levels reflect different experience and skill requirements. A Level I software developer may earn $80,000 while a Level IV earns $200,000+ because Level IV requires expert knowledge, innovation ability, and often supervisory responsibilities.
Can I use this data for salary negotiation?
Yes. LCA wage data shows what employers have committed to pay H-1B workers. This is public data and can help benchmark competitive compensation. However, actual offers may vary based on company, location within a state, and specific qualifications.

Data from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Foreign Labor Certification disclosure data (FY2023-FY2026). Hourly wages annualized at 2,080 hours/year. Salary figures represent wages filed on LCA petitions and may not reflect final compensation. Not legal or financial advice.

Every figure on PlainVisa is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.