Top H-1B Sponsors for Software Engineers in FY2025
Ranked list of the best H-1B sponsors for software engineers based on filing volume, salary, approval rate, and green card follow-through.
Best H-1B Sponsors for Software Engineers
Software Engineering is the most sponsored role in H-1B filings — over 29,000 LCA filings for Software Engineers in FY2025 alone across 4,800+ employers. But not all sponsors are equal.
We analyzed SignalVisa's database of 4.1M LCA filings to rank the top H-1B sponsors for Software Engineers on four dimensions:
1. Filing volume — how actively are they hiring?
2. Median salary — are they paying market rates?
3. USCIS approval rate — are petitions approved reliably?
4. Green card follow-through — do they sponsor permanent residency?
Top 10 H-1B Sponsors for Software Engineers (FY2025)
1. Google LLC
- **FY2025 Software Engineering filings:** 5,751
- **Median salary:** $186,000
- **USCIS approval rate:** 99.3%
- **GC follow-through:** 21.8%
- **Signal score:** 74.4 (Good)
Google's software engineering compensation is consistently at the 90th percentile of the market. Their approval rate is nearly perfect. Green card follow-through is moderate — Google sponsors PERM for roughly 1 in 5 SWE H-1B workers.
2. Amazon.com Services LLC
- **FY2025 filings:** Large volume
- **Median salary:** $145,000–$175,000 (varies by level)
- **USCIS approval rate:** 98.8%
- **GC follow-through:** 16.3%
- **Signal score:** 87.4 (Strong)
Amazon's volume is the highest of any single entity. Their approval rate is excellent and they actively sponsor green cards — though at a lower rate than their total H-1B volume suggests.
3. Microsoft Corporation
- **Median salary:** $168,000
- **USCIS approval rate:** 99.4%
- **GC follow-through:** 19.4%
- **Signal score:** High
Microsoft is consistently one of the most reliable H-1B sponsors in tech, with strong approval rates and clear career paths for international engineers.
4. Meta Platforms Inc
- **Median salary:** $194,000
- **USCIS approval rate:** 98.9%
- **GC follow-through:** 18.7%
Meta pays the highest median software engineering salary among large tech H-1B sponsors. Their 2023-2024 layoffs reduced filing volume, but they remain a top-tier sponsor.
5. Apple Inc
- **Median salary:** $175,000
- **USCIS approval rate:** 99.1%
- **GC follow-through:** 22.3%
Apple's green card follow-through is among the highest in big tech — they sponsor PERM for more than 1 in 5 H-1B software engineers.
What to Look for Beyond Volume
The largest sponsors by volume are not always the best sponsors for your career. Consider:
Salary level: Is the median salary at this employer above the 75th percentile for the role nationally? Meta and Netflix consistently pay above market.
Wage level distribution: Some employers file most petitions at Level I or II (entry) wages even for senior roles. This is a yellow flag.
Green card timeline: If you're from India, even a strong sponsor with 20% PERM follow-through means 80% of workers need to find another path. The priority date backlog for EB-2/EB-3 India makes employer selection even more critical.
Search by Your Role
Software Engineering is just one of 500+ occupation categories tracked on SignalVisa. Search for sponsors in your specific role: