Published April 5, 2026 · Updated quarterly
H1B Visa Salary Data: What Sponsors Actually Pay
The average H1B visa salary across all employers is $140,695. However, wages vary dramatically by company and role. Using DOL labor certification data, we analyze what H1B sponsors actually offer and how those wages compare to prevailing wage requirements and market rates.
H1B Wages by Role
| Role | Avg H1B Wage | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $135,656 | 1,467 |
| Assistant Professor | $138,275 | 1,176 |
| Senior Software Engineer | $157,348 | 799 |
| Software Developer | $109,571 | 698 |
| Research Associate | $70,110 | 310 |
| Postdoctoral Fellow | $63,206 | 266 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | $69,898 | 229 |
| Associate | $193,234 | 227 |
| Postdoctoral Associate | $68,321 | 225 |
| Research Scientist | $88,520 | 223 |
| Postdoctoral Scholar | $67,451 | 191 |
| Research Fellow | $77,160 | 184 |
| Staff Software Engineer | $181,250 | 178 |
| Sr. Software Engineer | $151,247 | 176 |
| Lead Software Engineer | $148,363 | 175 |
The Prevailing Wage System
Every H1B application must specify a wage that meets or exceeds the "prevailing wage" — the average wage for similar positions in the same geographic area. The DOL sets four wage levels:
- Level 1 (Entry) — 17th percentile of wages for the occupation/area
- Level 2 (Qualified) — 34th percentile
- Level 3 (Experienced) — 50th percentile
- Level 4 (Fully competent) — 67th percentile
Employers sometimes post positions at Level 1 (entry) even for experienced roles to minimize wage obligations. Our Sponsorship Score penalizes companies that consistently use lower wage levels, as this may indicate the company is seeking cheaper labor rather than filling a genuine talent gap.
Top-Paying H1B Sponsors
| Company | Avg Wage | Approval Rate | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Services LLC | $161,402 | 1.0% | A |
| Google LLC | $180,688 | 1.0% | A |
| Ernst & Young U.s. Llp | $146,442 | 1.0% | A |
| Microsoft Corporation | $169,965 | 1.0% | A |
| Cognizant Technology Solutions Us Corp | $112,619 | 1.0% | B |
| Apple INC. | $170,725 | 1.0% | A |
| Meta Platforms, INC | $208,362 | 1.0% | A |
| Tata Consultancy Services Limited | $91,488 | 1.0% | B |
| Intel Corporation | $126,971 | 1.0% | B |
| Wal-Mart Associates, INC. | $145,677 | 1.0% | A |
Negotiating Your H1B Salary
Use our data to benchmark your offer. If a company's average H1B wage for your role is $120K and they offer you $95K, you have data-backed leverage to negotiate. Check both the company's wage history and the role's market rate on H1B Tracker before accepting an offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The average H1B salary across all employers and roles is approximately $140,695. However, this varies enormously — software engineers at top tech companies earn $150K+ while some staffing firm positions pay under $70K.
By law, H1B workers must be paid the prevailing wage or the actual wage (whichever is higher). In practice, some employers use lower wage levels to minimize costs. Our data shows that companies with the highest Sponsorship Scores pay above prevailing wage, while lower-scored companies tend to pay at or near the minimum.
Yes. The H1B wage in the labor condition application is a minimum, not a maximum. You can and should negotiate above the listed wage. Use our salary data to benchmark what other companies pay for the same role in the same city.
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