Software engineering is the most sponsored occupation under the H-1B program. Learn which companies sponsor, what salaries to expect, and how to strengthen your petition.
Software engineering is the single largest H-1B occupation category, accounting for roughly 40% of all approved petitions each year. With strong demand for technical talent and well-established sponsorship pipelines, software engineers are in an excellent position to secure H-1B sponsorship — but understanding the landscape of sponsors, salary requirements, and petition strategy can make the difference between approval and denial.
Software engineering is the #1 H-1B occupation category, accounting for roughly 40% of all approved petitions each year.
Top sponsors include Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Apple. Entry-level prevailing wages start at $85,000–$110,000, while senior roles command $160,000–$230,000+ in high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York.
| Company | H-1B Filings | Top Roles | Approval Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 55,150 | Software Dev Engineer, Data Engineer | 97% |
| 33,416 | Software Engineer, SRE | 98% | |
| Microsoft | 34,626 | Software Engineer, Program Manager | 97% |
| Meta | 14,900 | Software Engineer, Research Engineer | 97% |
| Apple | 15,800 | Software Engineer, ML Engineer | 97% |
Software engineering continues to dominate H-1B filings by a wide margin. The growth of AI, cloud computing, and distributed systems has only intensified demand for engineering talent. Companies across all sectors — not just tech — are competing for software engineers, driving up both filing volumes and salaries. The median H-1B salary for software engineers in major metros now exceeds $150,000, with senior and staff-level roles at top companies reaching $250,000+ in total compensation.
A notable trend is the expansion of H-1B software engineering roles beyond traditional tech hubs. Cities like Austin, Atlanta, Denver, and Raleigh have seen significant increases in filings as companies establish engineering offices in lower-cost markets. This geographic diversification creates opportunities for candidates who may face less competition than in saturated markets like the Bay Area.
The prevailing wage for software engineers varies significantly by location and experience level. As of the most recent DOL wage data:
Employers must pay at least the prevailing wage for the specific job location and level. Filing at Level 1 for a mid-career engineer can trigger a Request for Evidence (RFE) from USCIS, so accurate wage level classification is important.
Software engineering generally meets the H-1B specialty occupation requirement, but USCIS has increased scrutiny in recent years. To strengthen your petition:
Start your search by targeting companies with verified H-1B filing histories on Wisa. Filter by your specific specialty — front-end, back-end, full-stack, data engineering, or DevOps — to find employers who have sponsored similar roles. Apply broadly to both large companies with established programs and mid-size companies where you may face less internal competition for limited H-1B slots. Timing matters: begin interviewing by September to November so you can secure an offer before the March H-1B registration window.
Search thousands of verified H-1B sponsors by company, industry, and location.
Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Apple are the largest product-company sponsors for software engineers. IT consulting firms like Infosys, TCS, and Cognizant file even higher petition volumes overall. Mid-size tech companies like Salesforce, Adobe, and ServiceNow are also consistent sponsors. Use Wisa to search by job category and see each company's filing history.
The required salary depends on your job location and wage level. Entry-level software engineer prevailing wages range from $85,000 to $110,000, while senior-level positions require $130,000 to $180,000 or more in high-cost metro areas. Your employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the specific location and experience level filed on the LCA.
Yes, software engineering is generally recognized as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. However, USCIS has increased scrutiny of generic IT roles. Detailed job descriptions that specify complex technical responsibilities — like designing distributed systems or building ML pipelines — strengthen the specialty occupation argument.
It is more challenging but possible. USCIS requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent for H-1B. If you have a degree in another field, you may need a credentials evaluation showing your work experience and certifications are equivalent to a CS degree (typically 3 years of progressive experience equals 1 year of education). A combination of a related degree plus professional experience is the strongest alternative path.