California is the undisputed capital of H1B sponsorship in the United States. With 109,778 total filings, 16,103 unique sponsoring employers, and an average salary of $158,547 in fiscal year 2025, no other state comes close to the sheer volume and compensation level of California’s H1B sponsor ecosystem. Whether you are a software engineer in the Bay Area, a data scientist in San Diego, or a systems architect in Los Angeles, this article breaks down exactly who is sponsoring, how much they pay, and where the opportunities are concentrated.

California H1B Overview: 2025-2026

Before diving into specific companies, it helps to understand just how large California’s H1B market really is. Here is what the most recent data shows:

Total LCA filings in 2025: 109,778
Unique employers sponsoring in California: 16,103
Average H1B salary: $158,547
Maximum salary filed: $500,000
Minimum salary filed: $32,240

In addition, early 2026 data already shows 16,181 filings at an average salary of $171,547 from 4,068 unique companies. That average is already $13,000 higher than the full-year 2025 figure, suggesting that early 2026 filings are skewed toward higher-paying roles and larger companies that move quickly at the start of each fiscal year.

How California’s H1B Market Has Grown

Furthermore, looking at the year-over-year trend helps put the current numbers in context:

2022: 118,436 filings | Average salary $143,066 | 14,908 unique companies
2023: 100,066 filings | Average salary $146,404 | 14,473 unique companies
2024: 74,407 filings | Average salary $150,590 | 13,050 unique companies
2025: 109,778 filings | Average salary $158,547 | 16,103 unique companies
2026 (so far): 16,181 filings | Average salary $171,547 | 4,068 unique companies

Salaries have risen every single year for four consecutive years, climbing from $143,066 in 2022 to $158,547 in 2025 — an increase of over $15,000 in three years. Meanwhile, the filing volume that dropped sharply in 2024 has fully recovered in 2025, returning to levels close to the 2022 peak. This recovery reflects a rebound in tech hiring after the layoff cycle of 2022 and 2023.

H1B Salary by Wage Level in California

Every H1B petition in California is filed at one of four DOL wage levels. Understanding where your role falls determines your legal salary floor. Here is how the levels break down across all California filings:

Level I (Entry): 16,765 filings | Average salary $104,865
Level II (Qualified): 33,562 filings | Average salary $146,541
Level III (Experienced): 21,354 filings | Average salary $178,131
Level IV (Fully Competent): 18,891 filings | Average salary $208,383

Level II is the most common classification, accounting for over 33,000 filings. However, the gap between Level II and Level IV is significant — a difference of nearly $62,000 in average salary. In California specifically, Level IV filings average over $208,000, reflecting the concentration of senior engineering and leadership roles at major technology companies in the state. If your employer is filing your LCA at Level I or Level II for a role that requires substantial experience or independent judgment, that classification may be understating both your value and your legal wage floor.

Top 15 California Cities for H1B Jobs

Not all California cities are equal when it comes to H1B activity. As expected, the Bay Area dominates, though Southern California also plays a significant role:

San Francisco: 11,989 filings | Average salary $176,058 | 2,451 companies
San Jose: 11,118 filings | Average salary $172,874 | 1,514 companies
Sunnyvale: 10,583 filings | Average salary $174,815 | 809 companies
Santa Clara: 7,517 filings | Average salary $174,287 | 741 companies
Mountain View: 6,550 filings | Average salary $188,415 | 536 companies
San Diego: 5,202 filings | Average salary $136,906 | 1,004 companies
Los Angeles: 4,297 filings | Average salary $121,943 | 1,508 companies
Menlo Park: 3,769 filings | Average salary $197,413 | 203 companies
Cupertino: 3,576 filings | Average salary $180,675 | 205 companies
Palo Alto: 3,564 filings | Average salary $182,708 | 479 companies
Irvine: 3,029 filings | Average salary $128,532 | 979 companies
Fremont: 2,823 filings | Average salary $149,391 | 792 companies
Pleasanton: 1,355 filings | Average salary $150,499 | 358 companies
San Mateo: 1,200 filings | Average salary $184,130 | 299 companies
Milpitas: 1,194 filings | Average salary $154,337 | 360 companies

Menlo Park stands out with the second-highest average salary at $197,413, driven by Meta’s headquarters there. Mountain View follows closely at $188,415, reflecting Google’s primary campus. Notably, Los Angeles and San Diego pay significantly less than the Bay Area — $121,943 and $136,906 respectively — highlighting the substantial pay premium that comes with working in Silicon Valley versus Southern California.

Top 20 H1B Job Titles in California

These are the roles California employers file the most H1B petitions for, along with their average salaries:

Software Developers: 35,818 filings | Average salary $181,942
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer: 4,546 filings | Average salary $162,176
Data Scientists: 4,180 filings | Average salary $168,182
Information Technology Project Managers: 3,492 filings | Average salary $164,940
Computer and Information Systems Managers: 3,481 filings | Average salary $233,318
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: 3,242 filings | Average salary $140,985
Computer Systems Engineers and Architects: 2,824 filings | Average salary $132,333
Accountants and Auditors: 2,333 filings | Average salary $112,401
Mechanical Engineers: 2,313 filings | Average salary $144,951
Business Intelligence Analysts: 2,263 filings | Average salary $146,716
Electrical Engineers: 1,925 filings | Average salary $158,694
Computer Programmers: 1,768 filings | Average salary $114,418
Computer and Information Research Scientists: 1,716 filings | Average salary $203,745
Operations Research Analysts: 1,675 filings | Average salary $140,308
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists: 1,453 filings | Average salary $105,922
Financial and Investment Analysts: 1,448 filings | Average salary $141,774
Computer Systems Analysts: 1,403 filings | Average salary $133,493
Industrial Engineers: 1,282 filings | Average salary $139,898
Management Analysts: 1,087 filings | Average salary $140,001
Sales Engineers: 888 filings | Average salary $160,574

Software Developers account for 35,818 filings — nearly a third of all California H1B filings — at an average salary of $181,942. Importantly, Computer and Information Research Scientists average $203,745 despite lower volume, making them the highest-paying non-management role in the state. Computer and Information Systems Managers earn even more at $233,318, reflecting the seniority of technology leadership roles at California’s largest employers.

Highest Paying Roles Above $200,000 in California

For context, here are California roles where employers are specifically filing at salaries above $200,000:

Software Developers: 10,887 filings above $200k | Average $230,635
Computer and Information Systems Managers: 2,691 filings above $200k | Average $252,054
Data Scientists: 966 filings above $200k | Average $236,062
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer: 875 filings above $200k | Average $213,717
IT Project Managers: 845 filings above $200k | Average $229,138
Computer and Information Research Scientists: 768 filings above $200k | Average $247,780
Architectural and Engineering Managers: 482 filings above $200k | Average $242,722
Marketing Managers: 367 filings above $200k | Average $253,616
Electrical Engineers: 311 filings above $200k | Average $225,813
Computer Hardware Engineers: 273 filings above $200k | Average $226,933
Business Intelligence Analysts: 271 filings above $200k | Average $230,398
Lawyers: 269 filings above $200k | Average $278,972
Software QA Analysts: 219 filings above $200k | Average $224,111
Financial and Investment Analysts: 202 filings above $200k | Average $240,814
Operations Research Analysts: 192 filings above $200k | Average $229,201

Over 10,000 software developer H1B filings in California alone are at salaries above $200,000. That is not a niche market. That reflects the genuine compensation reality at California’s largest technology employers for experienced engineers.

Top 30 H1B Sponsor Companies in California

Here are the top 30 companies by filing volume in California, with key data for each:

1. Google LLC

California H1B Filings: 6,010
Average Salary: $190,884
Approval Rate: 98.73%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 44,201

Google is the largest H1B sponsor in California by filing volume and one of the highest-paying employers in the dataset. Based primarily in Mountain View, with significant offices in San Francisco, Sunnyvale, and Los Angeles, Google sponsors across software engineering, research science, data science, and product management. The 98.73% approval rate reflects strong and experienced immigration counsel handling thousands of petitions annually.

2. Apple Inc

California H1B Filings: 5,089
Average Salary: $181,506
Approval Rate: 99.10%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 31,183

Apple is the second-largest California sponsor with a near-perfect 99.10% approval rate. Headquartered in Cupertino, Apple sponsors heavily for software engineers, hardware engineers, and machine learning researchers. The average salary of $181,506 reflects the premium compensation Apple pays for top technical talent. Given its strong approval track record, Apple is one of the most reliable H1B sponsors in the state.

3. Meta Platforms Inc

California H1B Filings: 3,933
Average Salary: $208,203
Approval Rate: 99.27%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 21,357

Meta pays the highest average salary among the top 10 California sponsors at $208,203, combined with the second-best approval rate at 99.27%. Based in Menlo Park, Meta sponsors primarily for software engineers, AI researchers, and data scientists. For anyone targeting maximum compensation alongside reliable sponsorship, Meta stands out as one of the best options in California.

4. Amazon.com Services LLC

California H1B Filings: 2,926
Average Salary: $178,974
Approval Rate: 98.03%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 25,088

Amazon has significant California operations spanning its Bay Area offices, Alexa AI research teams, and fulfillment technology centers. With nearly 3,000 California filings at an average of $178,974 and a 98.03% approval rate, Amazon is a consistent and high-volume sponsor for software developers and engineers in the state.

5. Tesla Inc

California H1B Filings: 1,955
Average Salary: $162,365
Approval Rate: 98.29%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 7,856

Despite relocating its headquarters to Texas, Tesla still has major engineering operations in Fremont, Palo Alto, and the Bay Area. Its California filings average $162,365 with a 98.29% approval rate. Software engineers, mechanical engineers, and electronics engineers are the primary sponsored roles.

6. Qualcomm Technologies Inc

California H1B Filings: 1,654
Average Salary: $142,886
Approval Rate: 97.74%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 9,123

Qualcomm is headquartered in San Diego and is the dominant H1B sponsor in Southern California’s tech sector. With 1,654 California filings at an average of $142,886, Qualcomm sponsors primarily for electronics engineers and semiconductor professionals. As the global leader in mobile chipsets, Qualcomm consistently attracts and sponsors international talent in hardware engineering.

7. Ernst and Young US LLP

California H1B Filings: 1,505
Average Salary: $149,967
Approval Rate: 100%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 2 (California entity)

Ernst and Young holds a perfect 100% approval rate across all its H1B filings in California. With 1,505 filings and an average salary approaching $150,000, EY sponsors across technology consulting, audit analytics, and financial advisory roles. The perfect approval record across significant volume is a strong signal of well-prepared petitions and experienced immigration counsel.

8. Walmart Associates Inc

California H1B Filings: 1,483
Average Salary: $148,508
Approval Rate: 98.71%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 8,488

Walmart’s California presence may surprise many people. Through its technology and e-commerce division, primarily operating from San Bruno and the Bay Area, Walmart sponsors nearly 1,500 H1B workers in the state at an average of $148,508. Software developers and data scientists are the most commonly sponsored roles. This makes Walmart a meaningful and underrated H1B sponsor for tech professionals in California.

9. NVIDIA Corporation

California H1B Filings: 1,256
Average Salary: $190,722
Approval Rate: 99.17%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 8,255

NVIDIA pays the second-highest average salary among the top 10 California sponsors at $190,722, with a strong 99.17% approval rate. Based in Santa Clara, NVIDIA sponsors primarily for electronics engineers, GPU software developers, and AI research scientists. Given its explosive growth in the AI chip market, NVIDIA’s H1B sponsorship volume is likely to increase significantly in coming years.

10. Microsoft Corporation

California H1B Filings: 1,107
Average Salary: $193,472
Approval Rate: 98.45%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 42,878

Though primarily a Washington state employer, Microsoft has substantial California operations in Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Its California average salary of $193,472 is actually higher than many Bay Area-native companies, reflecting the seniority of roles it fills in California. With a 98.45% approval rate and nearly 43,000 total H1B filings historically, Microsoft brings significant immigration experience to each petition.

11. ByteDance Inc

California H1B Filings: 921
Average Salary: $219,043
Approval Rate: 100%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 3

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, pays the highest average H1B salary among all California sponsors at $219,043 with a perfect 100% approval rate. Its California filings reflect its Mountain View and Los Angeles engineering and research teams. Moreover, the combination of the highest average pay and a perfect approval rate makes ByteDance one of the most attractive H1B targets for senior software engineers and AI researchers in the state.

12. Adobe Inc

California H1B Filings: 865
Average Salary: $192,833
Approval Rate: 97.70%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 4,652

Adobe is headquartered in San Jose and sponsors nearly 900 H1B workers in California at an average of $192,833. Software engineers and data scientists are the primary roles. The 97.70% approval rate is solid, and Adobe’s well-established immigration process reflects its long history of international hiring.

13. Salesforce Inc

California H1B Filings: 838
Average Salary: $225,507
Approval Rate: 98.24%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 1,002

Salesforce pays an average of $225,507 across its California H1B filings — the second-highest average among the top 15 sponsors. Based in San Francisco, Salesforce sponsors primarily for senior software engineers and cloud architects. Its 98.24% approval rate is strong, and the company’s concentrated volume in California reflects its headquarters-heavy hiring model.

14. Intel Corporation

California H1B Filings: 737
Average Salary: $153,200
Approval Rate: 97.65%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 18,543

Intel has deep roots in Santa Clara and sponsors hardware engineers, electronics engineers, and software developers at an average of $153,200. With nearly 18,500 total H1B filings historically, Intel brings decades of immigration experience to its petitions. Its 97.65% approval rate is consistent and reliable.

15. Cognizant Technology Solutions US Corp

California H1B Filings: 735
Average Salary: $131,440
Approval Rate: 98.50%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 18,756

Cognizant is the largest IT services company on this list and sponsors H1B workers across a wide range of technical and consulting roles. Its California average of $131,440 is lower than pure tech companies, reflecting the mix of experience levels it hires. Nevertheless, its 98.50% approval rate and massive historical volume make it a well-oiled sponsorship machine.

16. PayPal Inc

California H1B Filings: 722
Average Salary: $188,541
Approval Rate: 98.53%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 5,694

PayPal is headquartered in San Jose and sponsors software engineers, data scientists, and cybersecurity professionals at an average of $188,541. Its 98.53% approval rate and consistent volume make it a reliable target for fintech-focused engineers seeking California-based H1B sponsorship.

17. LinkedIn Corporation

California H1B Filings: 713
Average Salary: $183,400
Approval Rate: 99.06%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 6,818

LinkedIn is based in Sunnyvale and combines an excellent 99.06% approval rate with an average California salary of $183,400. As a subsidiary of Microsoft, LinkedIn benefits from Microsoft’s experienced immigration team while maintaining its own distinctive technical culture. Software developers and data scientists are its primary sponsored roles.

18. TikTok Inc

California H1B Filings: 678
Average Salary: $214,963
Approval Rate: 98.17%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 2,033

TikTok’s US entity operates separately from ByteDance and sponsors primarily from its Los Angeles and Mountain View offices. The average salary of $214,963 is among the highest in the state, reflecting its competition for top AI and software talent. Despite regulatory uncertainty, TikTok has continued filing H1B petitions at high salary levels with a 98.17% approval rate.

19. ServiceNow Inc

California H1B Filings: 622
Average Salary: $158,085
Approval Rate: 100%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 1

ServiceNow holds a perfect 100% approval rate across its California H1B filings. Based in Santa Clara, it sponsors primarily for software engineers and cloud platform developers. The average salary of $158,085 is solid, and the clean approval record is a strong indicator of well-prepared petitions.

20. Amazon Web Services Inc

California H1B Filings: 599
Average Salary: $179,595
Approval Rate: 97.75%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 16,458

AWS operates as a separate entity from Amazon.com Services LLC and sponsors cloud engineers, solutions architects, and software developers primarily from its Bay Area offices. With an average salary of $179,595 and nearly 16,500 total historical filings, AWS brings both strong compensation and significant immigration experience to its sponsorship process.

21. Cisco Systems Inc

California H1B Filings: 555
Average Salary: $165,242
Approval Rate: 97.93%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 13,614

Cisco is headquartered in San Jose and sponsors networking engineers, software developers, and cybersecurity professionals at an average of $165,242. As one of California’s longest-established technology companies, Cisco brings extensive H1B experience with nearly 14,000 total historical filings.

22. Stanford University

California H1B Filings: 550
Average Salary: $105,230
Approval Rate: 99.39%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 3,574

Stanford University is a cap-exempt H1B sponsor, meaning it can file petitions at any time of year without going through the lottery. With a 99.39% approval rate and over 3,500 historical filings, Stanford is one of the most reliable sponsorship paths for researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and academic professionals in California. The average salary of $105,230 reflects academic compensation rather than industry pay.

23. Tata Consultancy Services Limited

California H1B Filings: 547
Average Salary: $108,869
Approval Rate: 91.70%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 56,369

TCS has the largest total H1B count of any company in this list at 56,369 historical filings. However, its California approval rate of 91.70% is the lowest among the top sponsors, reflecting the USCIS scrutiny that large IT staffing firms consistently face. The average salary of $108,869 reflects its entry and mid-level consulting workforce.

24. Amazon Development Center US Inc

California H1B Filings: 542
Average Salary: $177,915
Approval Rate: 98.70%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 48,606

This Amazon entity handles R&D and product development sponsorships specifically. With 542 California filings at $177,915 average and a 98.70% approval rate, it covers Amazon’s more research-oriented technical roles in the Bay Area.

25. Intuit Inc

California H1B Filings: 517
Average Salary: $183,070
Approval Rate: 99.41%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 4,861

Intuit is headquartered in Mountain View and sponsors software engineers and data scientists at an average of $183,070. Notably, its 99.41% approval rate is the second-highest among all California sponsors with meaningful volume. That combination of strong pay and near-perfect approval makes Intuit one of the most attractive mid-sized H1B sponsors in the state.

26. Uber Technologies Inc

California H1B Filings: 512
Average Salary: $198,121
Approval Rate: 97.65%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 5,810

Uber sponsors from its San Francisco headquarters at an average salary of $198,121 — approaching the $200,000 threshold and reflecting the senior engineering talent the company targets. Software developers and data scientists make up the bulk of its California H1B filings.

27. Lucid USA Inc

California H1B Filings: 490
Average Salary: $159,868
Approval Rate: 98.85%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 1,973

Lucid Motors, the electric vehicle manufacturer based in Newark, California, has emerged as a meaningful H1B sponsor in the state. With 490 filings, an average salary of $159,868, and a 98.85% approval rate, Lucid sponsors primarily for software engineers and mechanical engineers. It is a strong option for engineers interested in the electric vehicle space outside of Tesla.

28. Palo Alto Networks Inc

California H1B Filings: 467
Average Salary: $192,460
Approval Rate: 97.93%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 2,974

Palo Alto Networks is headquartered in Santa Clara and is one of the leading cybersecurity companies in the world. With an average California H1B salary of $192,460 and a 97.93% approval rate, it offers strong compensation and reliable sponsorship for software engineers and security researchers.

29. Infosys Limited

California H1B Filings: 459
Average Salary: $124,241
Approval Rate: 88.20%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 50,833

Infosys has a large California presence across IT consulting and software services. However, its 88.20% approval rate is the lowest on this list, consistent with the USCIS scrutiny that large Indian IT firms face. The average salary of $124,241 is lower than in-house tech employers. Consequently, while Infosys offers high volume sponsorship, the higher denial risk is worth factoring into any evaluation.

30. HCL America Inc

California H1B Filings: 424
Average Salary: $130,733
Approval Rate: 90.87%
Total H1B Count (All Time): 20,708

HCL rounds out the top 30 with 424 California filings, a $130,733 average salary, and a 90.87% approval rate. Similar to other large IT services firms, HCL faces meaningful denial rates compared to in-house tech employers. Nevertheless, it offers consistent volume across software development and consulting roles.

Key Insights From the California H1B Data

ByteDance pays the most: At $219,043 average salary with a 100% approval rate, ByteDance outpaces even Meta and Salesforce in average California H1B compensation. For senior engineers willing to look beyond the traditional FAANG companies, ByteDance is one of the strongest options in the state.
Three companies hold a perfect approval rate: Ernst and Young, ByteDance, and ServiceNow all hold 100% approval rates across their California filings. Additionally, Intuit at 99.41% and Apple at 99.10% are among the cleanest approval records in high-volume sponsorship.
Stanford is the cap-exempt standout: For researchers, postdocs, and academics, Stanford offers H1B sponsorship at any time of year with a 99.39% approval rate. This is an especially valuable pathway for those who want to avoid the lottery entirely.
Infosys and HCL carry higher denial risk: Both companies have approval rates below 91% in California. By contrast, the in-house tech companies on this list — Google, Apple, Meta, NVIDIA — all exceed 98%. When comparing offers between IT services firms and product companies, approval rate is a meaningful difference.
Menlo Park pays more than San Francisco: Despite San Francisco having the most filings of any California city, Menlo Park actually averages higher at $197,413 versus $176,058. This reflects Meta’s headquarters concentration in Menlo Park driving up the city-level average.
Walmart is an underrated sponsor: With 1,483 California filings at $148,508 average and a 98.71% approval rate, Walmart’s technology division is a genuinely strong H1B sponsor that most international job seekers overlook entirely.
Software Developers dominate but Computer and Information Research Scientists earn more: While software developers account for 35,818 filings, research scientists average $203,745 across 1,716 filings. For those with research backgrounds, the lower competition combined with higher pay makes this role worth targeting specifically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which company sponsors the most H1B workers in California?

Google leads California with 6,010 H1B filings, followed by Apple with 5,089 and Meta with 3,933. Together, these three companies account for over 15,000 of California’s 109,778 total annual H1B filings.

What is the average H1B salary in California?

The average H1B salary in California was $158,547 in fiscal year 2025, rising to $171,547 in early 2026 filings. California’s average is significantly higher than the national H1B average, reflecting the concentration of high-paying technology employers in the Bay Area.

Which California city pays the highest H1B salaries?

Menlo Park averages $197,413 — the highest of any California city in the data — driven by Meta’s headquarters. Mountain View follows at $188,415, reflecting Google’s primary campus. San Francisco leads in filing volume but averages $176,058, behind several smaller Bay Area cities.

Are there cap-exempt H1B sponsors in California?

Yes. Stanford University is a cap-exempt sponsor with a 99.39% approval rate and over 3,500 historical filings. The University of California system campuses, California-based hospitals affiliated with universities, and government research institutions like Lawrence Livermore National Security also qualify as cap-exempt employers.

Which California H1B sponsor has the best approval rate?

Ernst and Young, ByteDance, and ServiceNow each hold 100% approval rates. Among higher-volume sponsors, Intuit leads at 99.41%, followed by Apple at 99.10% and LinkedIn at 99.06%.

Final Thoughts

California’s H1B market is without question the most competitive, the highest-paying, and the most diverse in the United States. The combination of technology giants, semiconductor leaders, electric vehicle companies, financial technology firms, and world-class universities creates a sponsorship ecosystem unlike anywhere else in the country.

As you evaluate your options, salary and volume are important factors. However, approval rate deserves equal weight in your decision. A company that pays $20,000 more but denies 10% of its petitions is a meaningfully different risk than a company with a near-perfect track record. Use the data in this article to compare your options across all three dimensions before committing to any application strategy.

Data source: H1B petition records and Labor Condition Application filings from USCIS and the US Department of Labor. Figures reflect fiscal year 2025 data with early 2026 trends noted separately. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.