H-1B Hiring Trends for Software Developers, R&D
Explore H-1B visa filings for Software Developers, R&D. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 27 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 27 |
| Approval Rate | 100% |
| Average Salary | $102,517 |
| Salary Range | $78,660 - $155,738 |
| Top Sponsor | University of Michigan |
| Primary Location | Michigan |
Software Developers, R&D is one of the H-1B visa categories with 2 filings and an average salary of $112,977. The demand for H-1B Software Developers, R&D is robust, with a significant number of positions available. Salaries for this role are competitive, reflecting the specialized skills required. Geographic concentration exists, with California and Illinois being key hiring states.
| Total Filings | 27 |
| Approval Rate | 100% |
| Average Salary | $102,517 |
| Median Salary | $99,032 |
| 25th Percentile | $85,696 |
| 75th Percentile | $110,700 |
| Minimum Salary | $78,660 |
| Maximum Salary | $155,738 |
| 10th Percentile | $82,909 |
| 25th Percentile | $85,696 |
| Median (50th) | $99,032 |
| 75th Percentile | $110,700 |
| 90th Percentile | $140,000 |
| Average | $102,517 |
| Sample Size | 27 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 27 |
| Employer | Filings | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan | 15 | $93k |
| Leland Stanford Jr. Univ/SLAC National Accelerator Lab | 8 | $127k |
| Children's National Medical Center | 2 | $83k |
| Stanford University/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory | 1 | $87k |
| TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY | 1 | $103k |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 10 |
| California | 9 |
| District of Columbia | 2 |
| Florida | 2 |
| Illinois | 1 |
| Indiana | 1 |
| Ohio | 1 |
| Texas | 1 |
Focus on developing advanced software engineering skills and demonstrating experience in research and development to stand out in the competitive H-1B market for Software Developers, R&D.
The average H-1B salary for Software Developers, R&D is $112,977, with a median of $140,000. The 25th-75th percentile range is $85,954 to $140,000.
Top H-1B sponsors for Software Developers, R&D include Leland Stanford Jr. Univ/SLAC National Accelerator Lab, University of Michigan. A total of 2 employers have filed for this role.
There are 2 H-1B filings on record for Software Developers, R&D positions. 100.0% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Software Developers, R&D positions are California (1), Illinois (1).
Yes, Software Developers, R&D is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 2 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Software Developers, R&D salaries range from $85,954 to $140,000. The median salary is $140,000.
The approval rate for Software Developers, R&D H-1B petitions is 100.0%. The provided data indicates a high volume of Software Developer, R&D roles being sought through H-1B petitions.
The salary range suggests a strong market value for these specialized technical skills.
Focus on developing advanced software engineering skills and demonstrating experience in research and development to stand out in the competitive H-1B market for Software Developers, R&D.
The presence of specific states like California and Illinois highlights regional demand hotspots.
The Software Developers, R&D occupation (SOC code 15-1296) is classified under the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The SOC system groups workers into occupational categories based on the type of work performed, providing a standardized framework for comparing wages, employment levels, and workforce trends across the United States.
Software Developers, R&D positions fall within the specialty occupation category required for H-1B visa sponsorship, meaning they typically require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at minimum a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in the specific specialty. Based on H-1B filing data, the most common education requirement for Software Developers, R&D positions is Not Specified (27 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 27 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Software Developers, R&D positions show an average offered salary of $102,517, with a range from $78,660 at the entry level to $155,738 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in Michigan (10 filings) and California (9 filings).
Career outlook for Software Developers, R&D professionals is closely tied to industry demand for specialized skills. Employers sponsoring H-1B workers for this role are demonstrating that they could not find sufficient qualified U.S. workers to fill these positions, which often signals strong demand and competitive compensation. Workers in this occupation may also be eligible for other visa categories including L-1 intracompany transfers, O-1 extraordinary ability visas, or employment-based green card sponsorship through the PERM process.
To sponsor a foreign worker for an H-1B visa in a Software Developers, R&D role, U.S. employers must satisfy several requirements established by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and enforced by both the Department of Labor (DOL) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):
The position must qualify as a "specialty occupation," meaning it requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at minimum a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a specific specialty directly related to the position. For Software Developers, R&D roles, H-1B filings indicate that employers most commonly require a Not Specified degree. USCIS evaluates whether the position itself, not just the employer's preference, genuinely requires specialized education.
Employers must pay H-1B workers at least the prevailing wage for the occupation in the geographic area of employment, as determined by the DOL. The prevailing wage is based on four skill levels (Level 1 through Level 4) that reflect the complexity of the job duties and required experience. For Software Developers, R&D positions, the average offered salary of $102,517 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 22.8%, with 96% of filings offering above the prevailing wage.
Before filing the H-1B petition, employers must obtain a certified LCA from the DOL. The LCA requires employers to attest to four conditions: (1) paying at least the prevailing wage or actual wage, whichever is higher; (2) providing working conditions that do not adversely affect similarly employed U.S. workers; (3) no strike or lockout at the worksite; and (4) proper notice of the filing to workers. The overall LCA approval rate for Software Developers, R&D positions is 100%.
The annual H-1B cap is set at 65,000 regular visas plus 20,000 for beneficiaries with U.S. master's degrees or higher (the "master's cap"). Certain employers, including institutions of higher education, nonprofit research organizations, and government research organizations, are exempt from the cap. Software Developers, R&D positions at cap-exempt employers can be filed at any time during the year, while cap-subject employers must participate in the annual H-1B lottery, typically held in March for the following fiscal year.
H-1B visas are initially granted for up to three years and can be extended for a maximum of six years total. Workers who have an approved I-140 immigrant petition (part of the green card process) may be eligible for extensions beyond the six-year limit under the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act (AC21). The average contract duration for Software Developers, R&D H-1B filings is approximately 33 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Software Developers, R&D positions.
| City | State | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | Michigan | 10 |
| Menlo Park | California | 9 |
| Washington | District of Columbia | 2 |
| Tallahassee | Florida | 2 |
| Joliet | Illinois | 1 |
| Indianapolis | Indiana | 1 |
| Mayfield Heights | Ohio | 1 |
| COLLEGE STATION | Texas | 1 |
Other H-1B job categories related to Software Developers, R&D, grouped by similar SOC classification codes.