Top H-1B sponsors, salary data, and hiring trends across every major engineering discipline — from software to civil to biomedical.
Engineering is the backbone of H-1B sponsorship. Engineers across all disciplines — software, mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical, and more — represent the largest share of H-1B petitions filed each year. Whether you are a software engineer at a tech company or a mechanical engineer at an automotive manufacturer, understanding the sponsorship landscape for your specific discipline helps you target the right employers and negotiate competitive compensation.
Software engineers account for the largest share of all H-1B petitions — roughly 40% of total filings by some estimates. Every major tech company sponsors software engineers, including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, Netflix, and thousands of startups. Median H-1B salaries for software engineers range from $120,000 at Level 2 to over $200,000 at Level 4 in major tech hubs. SOC codes 15-1252 (Software Developers) and 15-1256 (Software Developers and Programmers) are the most commonly filed.
Mechanical engineers are sponsored by automotive companies (Ford, GM, Toyota), aerospace firms (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon), manufacturing companies, and energy companies. H-1B salaries for mechanical engineers typically range from $70,000 (Level 1) to $130,000+ (Level 4). Defense contractors are significant sponsors but may require security clearance, which can complicate sponsorship for non-citizens.
Civil engineers are sponsored by construction firms (Bechtel, AECOM, Fluor), infrastructure companies, consulting engineering firms (WSP, HDR, Kimley-Horn), and government contractors. Civil engineering H-1B salaries range from $65,000 to $125,000 depending on specialization and location. Transportation, water resources, and structural engineering are high-demand specializations.
Electrical and computer engineers find sponsors across semiconductor companies (Intel, Qualcomm, NVIDIA, AMD), telecommunications firms, and hardware manufacturers. Salaries are competitive with software engineering, particularly in semiconductor design and hardware architecture. Companies like Apple, Intel, and Broadcom are major sponsors in this space.
Chemical engineers are sponsored by oil and gas companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and chemical companies (Dow, BASF, ExxonMobil). Biomedical engineers find sponsors at medical device companies (Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Stryker) and pharmaceutical firms. These roles command salaries from $75,000 to $145,000 depending on industry and level.
The top H-1B sponsors for engineering roles include Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple, Meta, Intel, Qualcomm, Boeing, Deloitte, and Infosys. However, thousands of mid-size companies sponsor engineers each year. Use Wisa's database to filter by specific SOC codes and engineering disciplines to find sponsors in your exact field.
Software and computer engineering consistently command the highest H-1B salaries. However, specialized roles in aerospace, petroleum, and semiconductor engineering can match or exceed software salaries. Location matters significantly — an engineer in San Francisco earns a higher prevailing wage than the same role in a mid-tier metro. Use Wisa's salary database to compare wages by discipline, location, and company.
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Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →Software engineering dominates H-1B filings, accounting for roughly 40% of all petitions. Electrical and computer engineering is the second most common, followed by mechanical, civil, and chemical engineering. Within each discipline, H-1B filing volume correlates with industry demand and the availability of qualified U.S. workers.
Salaries vary significantly by discipline and location. Software engineers in major tech hubs earn a median of $130,000-$180,000 on H-1B. Mechanical engineers see $75,000-$130,000. Civil engineers earn $65,000-$125,000. Electrical engineers range from $80,000-$160,000. All figures depend on experience level, company, and metro area.
Yes, mechanical engineering is a well-established specialty occupation for H-1B purposes. Automotive companies, aerospace firms, energy companies, and manufacturing companies regularly sponsor mechanical engineers. The role clearly requires a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, which meets the specialty occupation requirement without ambiguity.
Some defense contractors do sponsor H-1B visas for engineering roles, but positions requiring security clearance are generally unavailable to H-1B workers since non-citizens typically cannot obtain security clearance. Companies like Boeing, Raytheon, and Lockheed Martin sponsor engineers for their commercial divisions and unclassified projects.