SOC 15-1252 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Software Developers H-1B wage levels in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $255,653. Level III starts at $221,375, Level II at $187,076 and Level I at $152,797.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Software Developers in San Jose, CA?
For the 2026–27 wage year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027), the U.S. Department of Labor sets four H-1B prevailing wage levels for Software Developers (SOC 15-1252) in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA wage area: Level I is $152,797 a year, Level II $187,076, Level III $221,375 and Level IV $255,653. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $255,653 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $152,797 up to $187,075 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, San Jose, CA has the #1 highest Level IV wage for this job, 70% above the median metro ($150,780). The same $187,076 offer that is Level II here reaches Level IV in Dallas, TX. These figures apply to the FY 2028 registration in March 2027.
| Wage level | Annual salary at least | Hourly | Lottery entries | DHS projected odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | $152,797 | $73.46 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $187,076 | $89.94 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $221,375 | $106.43 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $255,653 | $122.91 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in San Jose, CA
Thresholds here are above the major-metro median, so you need a bigger salary for the same number of entries.
Where a $187,076 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Other California metros
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Software Developers in San Jose, CA?
At least $255,653 a year ($122.91/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 15-1252 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
San Benito County, CA; Santa Clara County, CA.
Do these numbers apply to the March 2027 registration?
Yes. The FY 2028 registration in March 2027 uses the wage year in effect then, July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.
Software Developers wages in all 530 areas · All occupations in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Learn more: How to legitimately raise your wage level · Lottery level vs. LCA level · FY 2028 registration
Annual salary in U.S. dollars, rounded up. Source: DOL OFLC prevailing wage data, effective July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027, computed directly from the DOL file (methodology). Page updated 2026-10-14.