H-1B Demand for Automotive Engineers Surges in FY2025
Explore H-1B visa filings for Automotive Engineers. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 100 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 100% |
| Average Salary | $128,785 |
| Salary Range | $47,445 - $232,000 |
| Top Sponsor | Lucid USA, Inc. |
| Primary Location | Michigan |
Automotive Engineers is one of the H-1B visa categories with 201 filings and an average salary of $138,020. The number of H-1B petitions for Automotive Engineers has seen a significant surge in FY2025, indicating a strong demand. While the total number of petitions is relatively low compared to broader engineering fields, the recent spike suggests a growing niche. The data shows a concentration of opportunities in Michigan, aligning with the automotive industry's traditional hub.
| Total Filings | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 100% |
| Average Salary | $128,785 |
| Median Salary | $125,362 |
| 25th Percentile | $104,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $150,654 |
| Minimum Salary | $47,445 |
| Maximum Salary | $232,000 |
| 10th Percentile | $90,771 |
| 25th Percentile | $104,000 |
| Median (50th) | $125,362 |
| 75th Percentile | $150,654 |
| 90th Percentile | $175,157 |
| Average | $128,785 |
| Sample Size | 99 |
| Visa Class | Filings |
|---|---|
| H-1B | 94 |
| E-3 AUSTRALIAN | 6 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 100 |
| Employer | Filings | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Lucid USA, Inc. | 13 | $143k |
| FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 12 | $127k |
| General Motors | 11 | $143k |
| FCA US LLC | 8 | $117k |
| Akkodis, Inc. | 4 | $109k |
| Populus Group LLC | 3 | $103k |
| Veenus Infotechs Corporation | 2 | $79k |
| BrightSharks Engineering Services LLC | 2 | $88k |
| HL Mando America Corporation | 2 | $103k |
| Zoox, Inc. | 2 | $180k |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 57 |
| California | 21 |
| Arizona | 5 |
| Ohio | 4 |
| Illinois | 3 |
| North Carolina | 2 |
| Indiana | 2 |
| Virginia | 2 |
| Texas | 1 |
| South Carolina | 1 |
Focus on roles in Michigan and be prepared for a competitive landscape given the recent surge in demand for Automotive Engineers.
The average H-1B salary for Automotive Engineers is $138,020, with a median of $119,600. The 25th-75th percentile range is $98,353 to $140,100.
Top H-1B sponsors for Automotive Engineers include FORD MOTOR COMPANY, Lucid USA, Inc., FCA US LLC, General Motors, LER TechForce, LLC. A total of 78 employers have filed for this role.
There are 201 H-1B filings on record for Automotive Engineers positions. 99.5% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Automotive Engineers positions are Michigan (122), California (40), Indiana (11), Ohio (7), Arizona (6).
Yes, Automotive Engineers is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 201 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Automotive Engineers salaries range from $47,445 to $3,203,148. The median salary is $119,600.
The approval rate for Automotive Engineers H-1B petitions is 99.5%. The vast majority of petitions (188 out of 201) are concentrated in FY2025, pointing to a recent and potentially ongoing hiring trend.
Michigan is the dominant state for these roles, receiving 122 petitions, far exceeding other states like California (40).
Focus on roles in Michigan and be prepared for a competitive landscape given the recent surge in demand for Automotive Engineers.
The average salary for H-1B Automotive Engineers is $138,020, which is higher than the median salary of $119,600.
The Automotive Engineers occupation (SOC code 17-214102) 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.
Automotive Engineers 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 Automotive Engineers positions is Not Specified (100 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 100 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Automotive Engineers positions show an average offered salary of $128,785, with a range from $47,445 at the entry level to $232,000 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in Michigan (57 filings) and California (21 filings).
Career outlook for Automotive Engineers 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 Automotive Engineers 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 Automotive Engineers 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 Automotive Engineers positions, the average offered salary of $128,785 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 11.5%, with 66% 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 Automotive Engineers 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. Automotive Engineers 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 Automotive Engineers H-1B filings is approximately 35 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Automotive Engineers positions.
| City | State | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Milford | Michigan | 9 |
| Auburn Hills | Michigan | 9 |
| Newark | California | 7 |
| Dearborn | Michigan | 7 |
| Allen Park | Michigan | 6 |
| Warren | Michigan | 5 |
| Ann Arbor | Michigan | 4 |
| Casa Grande | Arizona | 3 |
| Southfield | Michigan | 3 |
| Columbus | Ohio | 2 |
Other H-1B job categories related to Automotive Engineers, grouped by similar SOC classification codes.