Before you negotiate your next salary, before you accept an offer, before you even apply — you should know what employers are actually paying H1B workers in your field. Not what salary websites estimate. Not what a recruiter tells you is standard. The real numbers, from actual H1B salary filings submitted to the US Department of Labor. This article breaks down average, minimum, and maximum H1B salaries across 40 job titles, the highest paying roles in the entire H1B system, how salary has changed year over year, and which states pay the most. Every number here comes directly from LCA records in our database.
UP Next: Top H1B Sponsor Companies in Texas in 2026 (Real Data).
How H1B Salaries Are Set and Why This Data Matters
Every H1B petition requires a Labor Condition Application certified by the DOL. That LCA discloses the exact salary the employer will pay. This means H1B salary data is not estimated or surveyed — it is declared by the employer under penalty of law. The employer must pay at least the wage listed on the LCA. This makes LCA salary data more reliable than any job posting or salary survey.
Understanding where your role falls in this data gives you three practical advantages:
- Negotiation power: You know the real market floor and ceiling for your role before you walk into any salary conversation
- Employer evaluation: You can tell whether a company is offering you the prevailing wage or trying to pay you below market
- Career planning: You can see which roles command the highest salaries and plan your skill development accordingly
H1B Salary by Wage Level: The Four Tiers Explained
Every H1B LCA is filed at one of four wage levels set by the DOL. The level reflects the complexity and seniority of the role. Here is what employers are actually paying at each level across all filings in the database:
- Level I (Entry Level): 114,126 filings | Average salary $89,222 | Range $19,760 to $500,000
- Level II (Qualified): 225,635 filings | Average salary $118,035 | Range $16,800 to $500,000
- Level III (Experienced): 112,576 filings | Average salary $148,275 | Range $32,261 to $500,000
- Level IV (Fully Competent): 90,683 filings | Average salary $178,222 | Range $32,947 to $500,000
Level II is by far the most common filing level — 225,635 petitions — which means most H1B workers are classified as qualified professionals with moderate experience. The jump from Level II to Level III represents a $30,000 average salary increase. The jump from Level III to Level IV is another $30,000. If your employer is filing your petition at Level I or Level II for a role that requires five or more years of experience and significant independent judgment, that classification may be understating your market value and your legal wage floor.
H1B Average Salaries by Job Title: Top 40 Roles
Here are the top 40 most filed H1B job titles with their salary data. All figures are from actual LCA filings.
1. Software Developers
- Total Filings: 180,362
- Average Salary: $143,145
- Min Salary: $18,000
- Max Salary: $500,000
- Unique Companies: 17,920
Software Developers is the most sponsored H1B role in the country with 180,362 filings and nearly 18,000 unique sponsoring companies. The average salary of $143,145 is strong, though the range from $18,000 to $500,000 shows the enormous variation between entry-level positions at small firms and senior engineers at big tech. If you are a software developer and your offer is significantly below $143,000, check whether your employer is filing your LCA at the correct wage level for your experience.
2. Computer Systems Engineers and Architects
- Total Filings: 25,964
- Average Salary: $108,435
- Min Salary: $42,931
- Max Salary: $400,000
- Unique Companies: 3,225
Systems engineers and architects earn an average of $108,435 across 25,964 filings. The minimum of $42,931 is higher than many other roles, reflecting that truly entry-level positions are less common in this specialty. The maximum of $400,000 reflects senior principal architect roles at major technology companies.
3. Information Technology Project Managers
- Total Filings: 20,439
- Average Salary: $134,742
- Min Salary: $33,030
- Max Salary: $444,000
- Unique Companies: 4,513
IT Project Managers earn a strong average of $134,742. This role is filed across more than 4,500 unique companies — spanning technology, consulting, financial services, and healthcare — making it one of the most versatile H1B sponsorship pathways for experienced professionals. The max salary of $444,000 reflects senior program management at large technology companies.
4. Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
- Total Filings: 19,569
- Average Salary: $110,750
- Min Salary: $49,982
- Max Salary: $352,850
- Unique Companies: 4,338
QA Analysts earn an average of $110,750 — higher than many international students expect for this role. The minimum floor of nearly $50,000 suggests that even entry-level QA positions are reasonably compensated. With nearly 20,000 filings across 4,338 companies, this is one of the most underrated H1B pathways in tech.
5. Data Scientists
- Total Filings: 19,401
- Average Salary: $133,751
- Min Salary: $18,000
- Max Salary: $500,000
- Unique Companies: 5,752
Data Scientists average $133,751 across nearly 20,000 filings and 5,752 unique sponsoring companies. The wide range from $18,000 to $500,000 reflects the spectrum from entry-level data analyst adjacent roles at smaller companies to senior research scientists at major tech firms. The nearly 6,000 unique sponsoring companies shows how broadly this skill set has been adopted across the entire economy.
6. Computer Programmers
- Total Filings: 14,201
- Average Salary: $97,023
- Min Salary: $40,000
- Max Salary: $260,000
- Unique Companies: 2,254
Computer Programmers earn a lower average of $97,023 compared to Software Developers. This reflects the SOC classification difference — Computer Programmers is used more frequently by IT staffing firms for placement roles, while Software Developers is used by in-house engineering teams. If you are doing software development work but your LCA says Computer Programmer, your prevailing wage floor may be set lower than your actual market value.
7. Computer Systems Analysts
- Total Filings: 13,892
- Average Salary: $111,970
- Min Salary: $36,000
- Max Salary: $500,000
- Unique Companies: 3,079
Computer Systems Analysts average $111,970 across nearly 14,000 filings. This role spans a huge range of industries — healthcare, government, finance, manufacturing — explaining the wide salary spread from $36,000 to $500,000. The 3,079 unique sponsors reflect this industry diversity.
8. Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Total Filings: 13,489
- Average Salary: $202,527
- Min Salary: $61,000
- Max Salary: $500,000
- Unique Companies: 3,210
Computer and Information Systems Managers is one of the highest-paying roles in the entire H1B dataset at an average of $202,527. This reflects the seniority required — these are VP, Director, and CTO-level technology leadership roles. Even the minimum salary of $61,000 is substantially higher than many other technical roles. If you are targeting senior technology management positions, H1B sponsorship at this level comes with compensation that rivals or exceeds most other roles in the system.
9. Business Intelligence Analysts
- Total Filings: 13,334
- Average Salary: $122,119
- Min Salary: $45,802
- Max Salary: $480,000
- Unique Companies: 4,480
Business Intelligence Analysts average $122,119 across 13,334 filings and 4,480 unique companies. This role has exceptionally broad industry coverage — retail, finance, healthcare, logistics, and technology all file significant volumes. The minimum floor of $45,802 and the maximum of $480,000 reflect the range from junior BI developers to senior analytics directors at major companies.
10. Accountants and Auditors
- Total Filings: 10,306
- Average Salary: $102,100
- Min Salary: $33,675
- Max Salary: $455,000
- Unique Companies: 2,895
Accountants and Auditors earn an average of $102,100 across 10,306 filings. The max salary of $455,000 reflects senior partners and directors at large accounting and consulting firms. This role is primarily sponsored by the Big Four accounting firms and financial services companies.
11. Mechanical Engineers
- Total Filings: 10,185
- Average Salary: $111,438
- Min Salary: $43,181
- Max Salary: $412,000
- Unique Companies: 3,240
Mechanical Engineers average $111,438 across more than 10,000 filings and 3,240 unique sponsors. This role spans automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, energy, and consumer goods — offering broad sponsorship coverage beyond the technology sector. The strong maximum of $412,000 reflects senior engineering leaders at major industrial companies.
12. Financial and Investment Analysts
- Total Filings: 8,923
- Average Salary: $145,142
- Min Salary: $47,000
- Max Salary: $500,000
- Unique Companies: 3,061
Financial and Investment Analysts average $145,142 — one of the stronger averages among non-software roles. With filings spanning 3,061 unique companies and a maximum of $500,000, this role covers everything from junior research analysts at regional banks to senior portfolio managers at hedge funds and asset management firms.
13. Operations Research Analysts
- Total Filings: 8,106
- Average Salary: $126,991
- Min Salary: $43,035
- Max Salary: $475,000
- Unique Companies: 2,255
Operations Research Analysts average $126,991. This role applies quantitative methods to logistics, supply chain, financial modeling, and business optimization. Amazon, UPS, and major financial firms are consistent sponsors. The strong salary relative to filing volume makes this an attractive career path for quantitatively skilled graduates.
14. Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
- Total Filings: 8,044
- Average Salary: $148,873
- Min Salary: $52,000
- Max Salary: $365,000
- Unique Companies: 726
Electronics Engineers earn an average of $148,873 — one of the highest averages among engineering roles. The minimum floor of $52,000 and only 726 unique sponsors reflect the specialized, concentrated nature of this field in semiconductors, defense, and telecommunications. High pay, focused market.
15. Electrical Engineers
- Total Filings: 7,409
- Average Salary: $126,100
- Min Salary: $45,947
- Max Salary: $380,000
- Unique Companies: 2,277
Electrical Engineers average $126,100 across 7,409 filings and 2,277 sponsoring companies. This role covers power systems, semiconductor design, hardware engineering, and telecommunications — offering sponsorship across energy, technology, and defense sectors.
16. Database Administrators
- Total Filings: 7,389
- Average Salary: $117,692
- Min Salary: $36,754
- Max Salary: $360,000
- Unique Companies: 2,341
Database Administrators average $117,692. This role has broad industry coverage across healthcare, finance, retail, and technology. Proficiency in SQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, or cloud database platforms translates into consistent H1B sponsorship opportunities across thousands of organizations.
17. Management Analysts
- Total Filings: 7,094
- Average Salary: $131,916
- Min Salary: $33,322
- Max Salary: $400,000
- Unique Companies: 2,338
Management Analysts average $131,916. This role spans strategy, operations, process improvement, and organizational consulting. The 2,338 unique sponsors include consulting firms, technology companies, and large corporate employers across every major industry.
18. Industrial Engineers
- Total Filings: 5,788
- Average Salary: $113,792
- Min Salary: $54,475
- Max Salary: $357,000
- Unique Companies: 2,117
Industrial Engineers average $113,792 with a minimum floor of $54,475 — one of the higher minimums across all roles, reflecting that this specialty rarely employs truly entry-level workers. Automotive, pharmaceutical, aerospace, and consumer goods are the primary sponsoring industries.
19. Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Total Filings: 5,779
- Average Salary: $96,886
- Min Salary: $32,302
- Max Salary: $449,999
- Unique Companies: 3,364
Market Research Analysts average $96,886 — the lower end of this dataset — but sponsor across 3,364 unique companies. The massive range from $32,302 to $449,999 reflects everything from junior market research associates at small firms to senior data-driven marketing leaders at major technology companies.
20. Civil Engineers
- Total Filings: 5,668
- Average Salary: $95,399
- Min Salary: $20,280
- Max Salary: $360,000
- Unique Companies: 2,086
Civil Engineers average $95,399 — reflecting the mix of government-adjacent and private sector roles. Construction firms, engineering consultancies, and infrastructure companies are the primary sponsors. Pay is more modest than software or finance roles but consistent H1B sponsorship exists across the sector.
21 to 40: Additional Roles
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists: 5,646 filings | Average $85,482 | Min $46,000 | Max $480,000 | 654 companies
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators: 5,584 filings | Average $102,160 | Min $36,005 | Max $295,000 | 2,003 companies
- Physicians, All Other: 4,311 filings | Average $192,417 | Min $51,163 | Max $500,000 | 884 companies
- Information Security Analysts: 4,274 filings | Average $140,331 | Min $45,760 | Max $435,139 | 1,275 companies
- Computer and Information Research Scientists: 4,052 filings | Average $181,768 | Min $49,317 | Max $500,000 | 841 companies
- Database Architects: 4,008 filings | Average $142,451 | Min $62,026 | Max $336,000 | 1,646 companies
- Financial Quantitative Analysts: 3,748 filings | Average $144,866 | Min $35,755 | Max $500,000 | 947 companies
- Statisticians: 3,431 filings | Average $136,665 | Min $52,500 | Max $478,400 | 990 companies
- Project Management Specialists: 3,269 filings | Average $121,676 | Min $41,933 | Max $375,000 | 1,649 companies
- Biochemists and Biophysicists: 3,169 filings | Average $86,786 | Min $41,205 | Max $290,000 | 592 companies
- Lawyers: 2,771 filings | Average $217,317 | Min $51,355 | Max $500,000 | 1,040 companies
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists: 2,732 filings | Average $70,684 | Min $33,072 | Max $288,000 | 749 companies
- Sales Engineers: 2,653 filings | Average $146,912 | Min $47,965 | Max $411,860 | 959 companies
- Marketing Managers: 2,643 filings | Average $179,708 | Min $31,200 | Max $500,000 | 1,504 companies
- Architectural and Engineering Managers: 2,582 filings | Average $185,197 | Min $37,336 | Max $500,000 | 1,175 companies
- Validation Engineers: 2,555 filings | Average $106,557 | Min $54,475 | Max $310,000 | 812 companies
- Elementary School Teachers: 2,544 filings | Average $61,737 | Min $23,562 | Max $124,800 | 687 companies
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary: 2,378 filings | Average $171,761 | Min $40,666 | Max $500,000 | 298 companies
- General and Operations Managers: 2,377 filings | Average $136,386 | Min $31,300 | Max $500,000 | 1,759 companies
- Chemists: 2,342 filings | Average $93,408 | Min $40,082 | Max $361,650 | 866 companies
The 25 Highest Paying H1B Roles in the US
These are the roles with the highest average H1B salaries across all filings — including specialized and lower-volume positions:
- Cardiologists: 329 filings | Average $321,396 | 179 companies
- Anesthesiologists: 380 filings | Average $318,718 | 141 companies
- Emergency Medicine Physicians: 104 filings | Average $308,121 | 55 companies
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric: 46 filings | Average $299,662 | 33 companies
- Dermatologists: 27 filings | Average $292,792 | 20 companies
- Radiologists: 461 filings | Average $291,663 | 144 companies
- Neurologists: 435 filings | Average $281,602 | 206 companies
- Urologists: 47 filings | Average $279,439 | 32 companies
- Hospitalists: 1,731 filings | Average $270,030 | 421 companies
- Pediatric Surgeons: 28 filings | Average $264,598 | 17 companies
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists: 130 filings | Average $261,677 | 92 companies
- Orthodontists: 32 filings | Average $260,978 | 27 companies
- Psychiatrists: 368 filings | Average $257,920 | 210 companies
- Physicians, Pathologists: 200 filings | Average $249,388 | 107 companies
- Surgeons, All Other: 418 filings | Average $241,511 | 207 companies
- Investment Fund Managers: 131 filings | Average $236,620 | 105 companies
- Chief Executives: 871 filings | Average $235,232 | 696 companies
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers: 246 filings | Average $232,841 | 38 companies
- General Internal Medicine Physicians: 1,327 filings | Average $231,422 | 495 companies
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents: 29 filings | Average $231,197 | 5 companies
- Prosthodontists: 25 filings | Average $225,858 | 19 companies
- Family Medicine Physicians: 559 filings | Average $225,367 | 319 companies
- Lawyers: 2,771 filings | Average $217,317 | 1,040 companies
- Physicians and Surgeons, All Other: 25 filings | Average $214,420 | 23 companies
- Allergists and Immunologists: 21 filings | Average $205,910 | 20 companies
The highest-paying H1B roles in the country are dominated by physicians and surgeons. Cardiologists average $321,396 and Anesthesiologists average $318,718 — more than double the average for most technology roles. Outside of medicine, Investment Fund Managers at $236,620 and Chief Executives at $235,232 are the standout non-medical roles in the highest-paying tier.
H1B Salaries by State: Where You Work Matters as Much as What You Do
The state where your H1B job is located directly affects your prevailing wage floor. Here are the top 10 states by H1B filing volume and their average salaries:
- California (CA): 109,429 filings | Average salary $159,053
- Texas (TX): 89,583 filings | Average salary $118,390
- New York (NY): 49,667 filings | Average salary $141,864
- Washington (WA): 35,996 filings | Average salary $157,396
- New Jersey (NJ): 28,924 filings | Average salary $125,791
- Illinois (IL): 24,919 filings | Average salary $117,071
- Georgia (GA): 22,089 filings | Average salary $115,784
- North Carolina (NC): 22,037 filings | Average salary $118,392
- Massachusetts (MA): 21,159 filings | Average salary $125,325
- Florida (FL): 19,811 filings | Average salary $113,667
The state salary differences are significant and worth understanding before you accept any offer:
- California pays the most: At $159,053 average, California H1B salaries are 34% higher than Florida and 35% higher than Illinois. This reflects the Bay Area tech market pulling the entire state average up significantly
- Washington rivals California: At $157,396 average, Washington — driven by Amazon, Microsoft, and Boeing — nearly matches California despite a much smaller filing volume
- New York is the finance premium state: At $141,864 average, New York’s H1B salaries are boosted by Wall Street compensation pulling the average well above most other states
- Texas volume does not equal Texas pay: Texas leads the country in filing volume at 89,583 filings but its average salary of $118,390 is significantly below California and Washington — reflecting its large IT services sector which files at lower wage levels
- The Southeast lags in salary: Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida all average between $113,000 and $118,000 — lower than the national tech hubs, though the cost of living difference offsets this substantially
H1B Salary Trends: How Pay Has Changed From 2022 to 2026
H1B salaries have risen every single year over the past five fiscal years. Here is the year-over-year trend from the database:
- Fiscal Year 2022: 601,974 filings | Average salary $117,655
- Fiscal Year 2023: 528,463 filings | Average salary $120,242
- Fiscal Year 2024: 426,088 filings | Average salary $121,828
- Fiscal Year 2025: 589,307 filings | Average salary $129,231
- Fiscal Year 2026: 82,759 filings so far | Average salary $138,324
Several important trends emerge from this data:
- Salaries have risen 17.5% in four years: The average H1B salary went from $117,655 in FY2022 to $138,324 in FY2026 — an increase of over $20,000 in four years driven by inflation, labor market demand, and upward pressure from tech compensation
- FY2026 average is significantly higher: The current FY2026 average of $138,324 is $9,000 above FY2025 — though note that early-year filings tend to skew toward higher-paying companies that file premium-processed petitions early in the fiscal year
- Filing volume dropped then surged: Volume fell from FY2022 to FY2024 — likely reflecting post-pandemic hiring slowdowns and tech layoffs — before surging back in FY2025. The drop in FY2024 volume coincided with an increase in average salary, suggesting the remaining filings were weighted toward higher-paid positions
- The $100,000 supplemental fee impact: The September 2025 proclamation introducing a $100,000 fee for overseas H1B hires may push FY2026 filings lower than prior peak years as companies shift toward domestic OPT-to-H1B transitions which are exempt from the fee
How to Use This Data in Salary Negotiations
This data gives you real leverage in any salary conversation. Here is how to apply it:
- Know your role’s average before any interview: If you are a Data Scientist, you know the average H1B salary is $133,751. Walk into every conversation knowing this number. If an offer is $105,000 and you have strong credentials, you have data to support asking for more
- Check the wage level your employer plans to file: Ask your employer or HR what wage level they intend to use for your LCA. Level I averages $89,222. Level III averages $148,275. If your experience warrants Level III but they plan to file at Level I, the salary they offer will likely reflect that lower classification — and so will your legal wage floor
- Compare against state-level data: A $120,000 offer for a software developer in California is below the state average of $159,053. The same offer in Georgia is above the state average. State context matters
- Look at the max salary for your role: The maximum salary for Software Developers in the dataset is $500,000. The minimum is $18,000. Understanding the full range tells you where in the distribution your offer sits — and whether there is room to negotiate upward
- Use the data without revealing the source: You do not need to say “the LCA database shows.” Simply say “based on market data for this role in this location, the range I am targeting is X to Y” — and you will be right
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average H1B salary in 2026?
Based on filings recorded so far in fiscal year 2026, the average H1B salary is $138,324. This is up from $129,231 in FY2025 and $117,655 in FY2022, reflecting consistent upward salary movement across the program over the past four years.
Which H1B job title pays the most?
Among high-volume tech roles, Computer and Information Systems Managers average $202,527. Among all H1B roles including lower-volume specialties, Cardiologists average $321,396 — the highest in the entire dataset. Among non-medical non-management roles, Lawyers average $217,317 and Computer and Information Research Scientists average $181,768.
Which state pays the highest H1B salaries?
California leads with an average H1B salary of $159,053, followed closely by Washington at $157,396. New York is third at $141,864. Texas — despite having the most total filings — averages $118,390 due to its large IT services sector filing at lower wage levels.
What is the difference between H1B wage levels?
Level I averages $89,222, Level II averages $118,035, Level III averages $148,275, and Level IV averages $178,222. Each level represents approximately a $30,000 step up in average salary. Level II has the most filings at 225,635, making it the most common classification across all H1B petitions.
Why is the minimum H1B salary for Software Developers only $18,000?
The minimum reflects the lowest salary filed across all filings in the dataset — which may include part-time roles, geographic outliers, or data anomalies. The $18,000 figure is not representative of what full-time software developers are paid. The meaningful floor for full-time Software Developer H1B roles is substantially higher and depends on your specific location and wage level classification.
Final Thoughts
The H1B salary data is one of the most powerful and underused tools available to international workers. Every figure in this article is from actual employer filings — legal declarations that reflect real market compensation. Use it before every negotiation. Use it to evaluate every offer. Use it to understand whether the wage level your employer plans to file matches your actual experience and the role’s actual requirements.
Salaries have risen every year for four consecutive years. The average is now $138,324 and climbing. If your employer’s offer is significantly below these benchmarks, the data gives you a grounded, evidence-based foundation to ask for more.
Data source: Labor Condition Application records filed with the US Department of Labor. All salary figures reflect actual employer declarations from LCA filings. Fiscal year 2026 figures reflect filings recorded to date and will increase as the year progresses. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.