Which job titles get sponsored for H1B visas the most? If you are an international student or professional planning your career around a path to H1B status, this is one of the most important questions you can ask. This article gives you the answer with real numbers — drawn directly from Labor Condition Application records filed with the US Department of Labor. These are the actual H1B job titles that employers file for most, the average salaries attached to each, and how many unique companies are sponsoring workers in each role.
Use this data to make smarter decisions about which career path gives you the strongest H1B prospects.
How This Data Was Compiled
Every H1B petition requires a certified Labor Condition Application filed with the Department of Labor. The LCA discloses the job title, the Standard Occupational Classification code, the salary, and the employer. This data is public record. The figures in this article are sourced from LCA records across all available fiscal years, aggregated by job title to show total filing volume, average salary, and the number of unique companies sponsoring that role.
The job titles below represent the Standard Occupational Classifications as recorded in official government filings — not the specific job titles companies use internally. “Software Developers” in this dataset includes what companies may list as Software Engineer, Software Development Engineer, or Backend Engineer on their job postings.
The Top 20 H1B Job Titles by Filing Volume
1. Software Developers
- Total Filings: 551,271
- Average Salary: $135,538
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 29,872
Software Developers is the single most sponsored H1B job title in the United States — and it is not even close. With over 551,000 LCA filings and nearly 30,000 unique companies sponsoring workers in this role, this is the dominant H1B pathway for international tech professionals. The average salary of $135,538 reflects the wide range from entry-level developers at smaller firms to senior engineers at big tech companies. If you are a software developer on OPT, you have the largest pool of potential H1B sponsors of any profession in the country.
2. Software Developers, Applications
- Total Filings: 171,753
- Average Salary: $119,474
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 15,463
This is a separate SOC classification that covers application-specific software development — mobile apps, desktop software, enterprise applications, and SaaS products. With over 171,000 filings and more than 15,000 sponsoring companies, it is the second most sponsored role in the country. The average salary of $119,474 is slightly lower than the general Software Developers category, reflecting a broader mix of company sizes and experience levels. Both this role and the broader Software Developers category together represent nearly three-quarters of a million H1B filings — an extraordinary concentration of sponsorship opportunity in software development as a career.
3. Computer Systems Engineers and Architects
- Total Filings: 103,763
- Average Salary: $107,276
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 8,678
Systems engineers and architects design and oversee the technical infrastructure of organizations — networks, cloud systems, enterprise architecture, and IT systems integration. With over 103,000 filings and nearly 9,000 sponsoring companies, this is a strong H1B pathway for professionals with systems design expertise. The average salary of $107,276 reflects the specialized knowledge required. Companies across nearly every industry file for this role — not just pure tech companies — which broadens your sponsorship options considerably.
4. Computer Systems Analysts
- Total Filings: 92,477
- Average Salary: $107,262
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 8,677
Computer Systems Analysts analyze an organization’s computer systems and procedures and design solutions to help operate more efficiently. With over 92,000 filings and nearly 8,700 sponsoring companies, this role has extensive H1B sponsorship across industries. The average salary matches Systems Engineers closely at $107,262. This role is common in healthcare, financial services, government contracting, and manufacturing — sectors that often get overlooked by international students who focus only on pure tech companies.
5. Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
- Total Filings: 54,676
- Average Salary: $106,537
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 7,877
Quality assurance engineering is a significantly underestimated career path for H1B sponsorship. With over 54,000 filings, $106,537 average salary, and nearly 8,000 sponsoring companies, QA and test engineering offers robust H1B opportunity. The competition for these roles tends to be lower than for software development positions, which can improve your chances of securing both the job and the sponsorship. As software systems grow in complexity, demand for skilled QA engineers continues to increase.
6. Business Intelligence Analysts
- Total Filings: 46,439
- Average Salary: $118,084
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 9,452
Business Intelligence Analysts are among the most widely sponsored professionals across industries. With over 46,000 filings and more than 9,400 unique sponsoring companies — the highest company diversity on this list relative to filing volume — BI analysts are hired by organizations in finance, retail, healthcare, logistics, and every major industry vertical. The average salary of $118,084 is strong. If you have skills in SQL, Power BI, Tableau, or data warehousing, the BI analyst path offers extremely broad sponsorship coverage across the economy.
7. Data Scientists
- Total Filings: 45,249
- Average Salary: $131,897
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 9,837
Data Science is the second-highest paying role among the top 10 most sponsored positions, with an average H1B salary of $131,897. Nearly 10,000 unique companies have filed H1B petitions for data scientists — reflecting how broadly this skill set has spread across the economy. Retail, healthcare, finance, technology, and government agencies all sponsor data scientists. With machine learning and AI capabilities becoming central to business strategy across industries, demand for data scientists in the H1B pipeline continues to grow rapidly.
8. Mechanical Engineers
- Total Filings: 37,944
- Average Salary: $105,388
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 7,365
Mechanical Engineering is one of the strongest H1B pathways outside of software and data roles. With nearly 38,000 filings across more than 7,000 sponsoring companies, mechanical engineers have excellent H1B access. The average salary of $105,388 is solid. Automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, energy, and defense industries are the primary sponsors. If you are a mechanical engineering graduate, your H1B options extend well beyond tech companies into industries that face less competition from international candidates focusing exclusively on software roles.
9. Software Developers, Systems Software
- Total Filings: 35,350
- Average Salary: $133,599
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 5,281
Systems Software Developers build the underlying software infrastructure — operating systems, firmware, device drivers, embedded systems, and platform software. This role commands an average H1B salary of $133,599, second only to Data Scientists among this subgroup. With over 35,000 filings and more than 5,000 sponsoring companies, it is well-established as an H1B pathway. The higher pay reflects the deeper technical knowledge required. Companies like Intel, Qualcomm, Apple, and semiconductor firms are major sponsors for this role.
10. Operations Research Analysts
- Total Filings: 34,886
- Average Salary: $124,329
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 5,788
Operations Research Analysts use advanced mathematical and analytical methods to help organizations solve problems and make better decisions. This role is heavily sponsored in logistics, supply chain, financial services, and government contracting. With nearly 35,000 filings and an average salary of $124,329, it offers a strong H1B pathway for graduates with quantitative skills — mathematics, statistics, industrial engineering, or economics backgrounds. Amazon, UPS, FedEx, and major financial firms are consistent sponsors.
11. Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
- Total Filings: 31,496
- Average Salary: $138,885
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 1,611
Electronics Engineers command the highest average salary among the non-software roles on this list at $138,885. With over 31,000 filings, there is strong demand — but only 1,611 unique sponsoring companies compared to thousands for software roles. This reflects the concentration of electronics engineering work in specific industries: semiconductors, defense, telecommunications, and aerospace. If you work in these sectors, the pay is excellent and the competition for sponsored positions is more focused.
12. Electrical Engineers
- Total Filings: 27,440
- Average Salary: $119,268
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 4,985
Electrical Engineers have nearly 27,500 filings across close to 5,000 sponsoring companies. The average salary of $119,268 reflects the range from power systems engineers at utilities to hardware engineers at tech companies. Energy companies, defense contractors, semiconductor manufacturers, and construction firms all sponsor electrical engineers. This is a solid H1B pathway for graduates with electrical or electronics engineering degrees who want options beyond the software sector.
13. Database Administrators
- Total Filings: 26,554
- Average Salary: $109,964
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 5,473
Database Administrators manage and maintain databases that store an organization’s critical data. With over 26,500 filings across more than 5,400 sponsoring companies, this role has wide H1B coverage across industries. The average salary of $109,964 is competitive. Healthcare, financial services, retail, and government are among the largest sponsors. Database skills — SQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MongoDB — translate directly into H1B-eligible roles across thousands of companies.
14. Management Analysts
- Total Filings: 26,309
- Average Salary: $127,701
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 5,712
Management Analysts advise organizations on how to improve efficiency, processes, and profitability. With over 26,000 filings, an average salary of $127,701, and more than 5,700 sponsoring companies, this is a strong H1B pathway for MBA graduates and those with business strategy backgrounds. Consulting firms — including many of the large firms on the top sponsors list — are the primary filers for this role. It is worth noting that management consulting firms face more USCIS scrutiny than in-house corporate roles, so targeting large companies that hire management analysts internally can improve approval odds.
15. Financial and Investment Analysts
- Total Filings: 23,922
- Average Salary: $144,529
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 6,002
Financial and Investment Analysts have one of the highest average H1B salaries outside of big tech at $144,529. With nearly 24,000 filings across 6,000 sponsoring companies, this is a robust H1B pathway for finance professionals — particularly those with quantitative finance, financial modeling, or investment analysis skills. Banks, asset managers, hedge funds, insurance companies, and fintech firms are the primary sponsors. New York is the dominant location for finance H1B sponsorship.
16. Industrial Engineers
- Total Filings: 20,475
- Average Salary: $108,721
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 4,802
Industrial Engineers optimize complex systems in manufacturing, logistics, and operations. With over 20,000 filings across nearly 5,000 sponsoring companies, this is a strong H1B pathway for graduates in industrial or manufacturing engineering. Average salary of $108,721. Automotive, aerospace, consumer goods, pharmaceutical, and logistics companies are major sponsors. This role is often overlooked by international students fixated on software roles — which means less competition in your job search.
17. Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Total Filings: 19,341
- Average Salary: $94,852
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 8,431
Market Research Analysts have the lowest average salary on this list at $94,852 but one of the highest company diversity figures — over 8,400 unique sponsoring companies. This reflects how broadly this role exists across industries. Consumer goods, technology, financial services, healthcare, and retail all sponsor market research analysts. If your background is in marketing analytics, consumer insights, or digital marketing analytics, your sponsorship options are wide even if individual salaries are more modest.
18. Civil Engineers
- Total Filings: 18,414
- Average Salary: $91,584
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 4,393
Civil Engineers have nearly 18,500 H1B filings across over 4,300 sponsoring companies. The average salary of $91,584 is lower than most technical roles on this list — reflecting the geographic concentration of civil engineering in states with lower costs of living and the government-adjacent nature of much of the work. Construction firms, engineering consultancies, state agencies, and infrastructure companies are the primary sponsors. For civil engineers, the H1B pathway is well-established though salaries are more modest.
19. Information Security Analysts
- Total Filings: 16,411
- Average Salary: $134,863
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 2,990
Information Security Analysts protect organizations’ computer systems and networks. With over 16,000 filings and an average salary of $134,863, cybersecurity is one of the highest-paying H1B pathways relative to filing volume. The number of unique sponsoring companies — just under 3,000 — is lower than other tech roles, reflecting the specialized nature of the work and the security clearance requirements of some roles. Financial services, healthcare, defense contractors, and technology companies are the primary sponsors. As cyber threats grow, so does demand for H1B-sponsored security talent.
20. Software Quality Assurance Engineers
- Total Filings: 13,107
- Average Salary: $98,250
- Unique Companies Sponsoring: 3,187
This is a distinct SOC category from Software Quality Assurance Analysts (number five on this list), covering engineers with deeper programming and automation skills specifically applied to quality assurance. With over 13,000 filings across 3,187 companies and an average salary of $98,250, it completes a picture of QA engineering as a genuinely viable H1B pathway that most international students underestimate.
Key Patterns to Know Before You Plan Your Career
Software Development Dominates — By a Massive Margin
The top two roles — Software Developers and Software Developers Applications — together account for over 723,000 filings. The next closest role is Computer Systems Engineers at 103,000. Software development is not just the most sponsored field — it is in a category of its own. If you are in software and have not secured H1B sponsorship, the issue is rarely field choice. It is company targeting and timing.
Data Roles Are Growing Fast With Wide Industry Coverage
Data Scientists sponsor across nearly 10,000 unique companies and Business Intelligence Analysts across over 9,000. These roles are no longer concentrated in tech companies — they exist in retail, healthcare, finance, logistics, and government. This industry breadth means more H1B opportunities and less competition concentrated in one sector.
Engineering Roles Beyond Software Are Underrated
Mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, industrial engineers, and civil engineers together account for over 100,000 H1B filings. These roles attract far less competition from the international student community because most focus exclusively on software. If you are an engineering graduate outside of software, your H1B odds may be better than you think — especially if you are willing to target industries like automotive, energy, manufacturing, and aerospace.
High Salary Does Not Always Mean High Volume
Electronics engineers average $138,885 — the second-highest salary on the list — but only 1,611 unique companies sponsor this role. Information Security Analysts average $134,863 but only 2,990 companies sponsor them. High-paying specialized roles have fewer total opportunities. High-volume roles like Software Developers and BI Analysts give you more shots at the lottery even if individual salaries vary more widely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most sponsored H1B job title in the US?
Software Developers is the most sponsored H1B job title with over 551,000 LCA filings and nearly 30,000 unique sponsoring companies. It is the dominant H1B pathway by a significant margin over every other occupation.
Which H1B job title has the highest average salary?
Among the top 20 most filed H1B roles, Electronics Engineers (Except Computer) have the highest average salary at $138,885, followed by Information Security Analysts at $134,863 and Data Scientists at $131,897. Among software roles, Systems Software Developers average $133,599.
Which H1B role has the most unique sponsoring companies?
Software Developers leads with 29,872 unique sponsoring companies, followed by Software Developers Applications at 15,463 and Data Scientists at 9,837. Business Intelligence Analysts have over 9,452 unique sponsors despite lower total filing volume, reflecting their extremely broad industry coverage.
Are non-tech roles sponsored for H1B as well?
Yes. Mechanical Engineers, Civil Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Industrial Engineers, Financial Analysts, Management Analysts, and Market Research Analysts all appear in the top 20 with tens of thousands of filings each. Non-tech H1B roles are often overlooked by international students, which means less competition for those opportunities.
How can I find which companies sponsor H1B for my specific job title?
The LCA disclosure data from the Department of Labor is publicly available and searchable.
Does a higher filing volume mean it is easier to get H1B sponsorship?
Higher volume means more companies are willing to sponsor the role — which gives you more options. But it also means more competition. The most strategic approach is to combine high-volume roles with targeted research into companies that have both a strong sponsorship history and active openings in your specific area of expertise.
Final Thoughts
The data is clear. Software development is the dominant H1B pathway by volume. Data science and business intelligence offer the widest industry coverage. Engineering roles beyond software are significantly underutilized by international students. And several high-paying specialized roles — cybersecurity, systems software, electronics engineering, financial analysis — offer strong salaries with more focused competition.
Understanding where the filing volume concentrates and which roles have the broadest company coverage lets you make career and job search decisions based on evidence rather than assumption. That is the difference between a job search that drags on for a year and one that converts in three months.
Data source: Labor Condition Application records filed with the US Department of Labor, aggregated across all available fiscal years. Job title classifications follow Standard Occupational Classification codes as recorded in official filings. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.