Tesla
H-1B salaries and sponsorship, from 5,171 certified filings (FY2025–FY2026)
Active H-1B filer · last filed FY2026 Q3
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
- Headquarters: Palo Alto, Austin
- Founded 2003
- 140,473 employees (2023)
- Nasdaq: TSLA
Median base salary$150,000+22% vs. all H-1B employers
Middle 50%$124.2k–$180k
Level II (mid-level) share47%all employers: 42%
Median prevailing wage$121,992the required minimum for these jobs and places
At a glance
- Tesla hires mid-level. 47% of its filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B employers.
- Most filed: Industrial Engineer. 33% of its filings. After that come Software Engineer and Mechanical Engineer.
- Mostly above the prevailing wage. 95% of filings are above the prevailing wage. Median offer $150,000, median prevailing wage $121,992.
- 3rd among the largest filers in its industry. Tesla's median ($150,000) is below Zoox and Rivian and above Lucid Motors.
Is your Tesla offer competitive?
Enter the base salary in your offer. We compare it with Tesla's certified filings for the same job.
10th $104.5k25th $124.2kmedian $150k75th $180k90th $212.8k
Enter a salary to see where it falls.
Percentiles from Tesla's certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Jobs with at least 10 filings.
What Tesla hires for
Industrial Engineer1,690 filings · 33%$130,000
Software Engineer855 filings · 17%$190,800
Mechanical Engineer612 filings · 12%$150,000
Logistician231 filings · 4%$114,400
Electrical Engineer229 filings · 4%$170,000
Data Scientist190 filings · 4%$159,869
Production Manager180 filings · 3%$159,589
Validation Engineer177 filings · 3%$148,603
Bar: share of Tesla's filings. Figure: median base salary. Top 10 jobs account for 86% of filings (59 occupations in total).
Show all 29 jobs
| Job | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $130,000 | 1,690 |
| Software Engineer | $190,800 | 855 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $150,000 | 612 |
| Logistician | $114,400 | 231 |
| Electrical Engineer | $170,000 | 229 |
| Data Scientist | $159,869 | 190 |
| Production Manager | $159,589 | 180 |
| Validation Engineer | $148,603 | 177 |
| Supply Chain Manager | $147,203 | 164 |
| Construction Manager | $140,000 | 102 |
| QA Engineer | $164,000 | 85 |
| Project Manager | $140,000 | 77 |
| Purchasing Agent | $135,264 | 73 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $236,495 | 60 |
| Systems Engineer / Architect | $175,230 | 52 |
| Electronics Engineer | $175,871 | 34 |
| Financial Analyst | $166,740 | 32 |
| Engineering Director | $193,911 | 31 |
| Chemical Engineer | $149,000 | 31 |
| Civil Engineer | $139,734 | 29 |
| Materials Engineer | $141,000 | 27 |
| Data Engineer | $160,000 | 22 |
| Database Administrator | $175,000 | 18 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialist | $108,471 | 15 |
| Accountant | $108,865 | 14 |
| IT Manager | $250,000 | 13 |
| Network Architect | $175,083 | 12 |
| Programmer Analyst | $174,332 | 10 |
| Sales Engineer | $171,035 | 10 |
Jobs with at least 10 filings at Tesla.
Pay by level
$99kLevel I
Entry-level · 9% of filings
Entry-level · 9% of filings
$135kLevel II
Mid-level · 47% of filings
Mid-level · 47% of filings
$162.8kLevel III
Senior · 31% of filings
Senior · 31% of filings
$193.1kLevel IV
Expert · 13% of filings
Expert · 13% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $99,000 | 379 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $135,000 | 2,044 |
| Senior · Level III | $162,804 | 1,364 |
| Expert · Level IV | $193,130 | 552 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Tesla vs. industry peers
Zoox$179,000
Rivian$156,400
Tesla$150,000
Lucid Motors$143,398
General Motors Company$140,079
Fca$135,006
Ford$128,877
Median base salary, all jobs, FY2025–FY2026. Largest H-1B filers with the same industry code (NAICS 3361).
Where Tesla files
San Francisco, CA$158,462
San Jose, CA$175,000
Austin, TX$136,698
Reno, NV$112,850
Stockton, CA$121,720
Buffalo, NY$99,725
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 12 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $158,462 | 1,632 |
| San Jose, CA | $175,000 | 1,434 |
| Austin, TX | $136,698 | 949 |
| Reno, NV | $112,850 | 623 |
| Stockton, CA | $121,720 | 160 |
| Buffalo, NY | $99,725 | 102 |
| Houston, TX | $130,000 | 60 |
| Seattle, WA | $167,975 | 51 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $171,763 | 38 |
| San Diego, CA | $140,566 | 18 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $160,000 | 12 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $124,320 | 11 |
Salary details
Median salary$150,000
Middle 50%$124.2k–$180k
vs. all employers+22%comparison median $122,699
Filings5,171FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
All employers
$75k$100k$125k$150k$175k$200k$225k$250k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $104,500 |
| 25th | $124,236 |
| 50th (median) | $150,000 |
| 75th | $180,000 |
| 90th | $212,790 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $125,000 | $108,000 | $146,765 | 718 |
| FY2021 | $130,000 | $110,000 | $148,654 | 1,100 |
| FY2022 | $135,000 | $117,000 | $155,000 | 1,227 |
| FY2023 | $140,400 | $121,000 | $165,000 | 1,297 |
| FY2024 | $145,000 | $123,900 | $168,494 | 2,068 |
| FY2025 | $150,000 | $124,234 | $178,686 | 2,608 |
| FY2026 | $150,070 | $124,349 | $182,020 | 2,563 |
Pay vs. prevailing wage
Median offered salary$150,000
Median prevailing wage$121,992
Median difference+16.8%offered salary vs. prevailing wage, per filing
Filed at exactly the prevailing wage5%
Filing at exactly the prevailing wage does not mean low pay: at senior levels and in high-cost areas the prevailing wage itself is high.
Job titles at Tesla
| Job title | Median | Middle 50% | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing Engineer | $130,000 | $115k–$153.3k | 141 |
| Mechanical Design Engineer | $140,000 | $128k–$159k | 137 |
| Senior Software Development Engineer | $184,828 | $179.4k–$193.6k | 131 |
| Software Development Engineer | $175,000 | $160.3k–$201k | 129 |
| Process Engineer | $109,343 | $102k–$120k | 122 |
| Manufacturing Equipment Engineer | $117,036 | $106.7k–$135.9k | 111 |
| Sourcing Engineer | $130,000 | $120.1k–$151.4k | 90 |
| Senior Manufacturing Engineer | $140,952 | $133.1k–$149.9k | 87 |
| Staff Software Development Engineer | $217,330 | $201.9k–$225.2k | 76 |
| Manufacturing Controls Dev Engineer | $136,500 | $120.4k–$152k | 70 |
| Senior Mechanical Design Engineer | $155,703 | $151.3k–$159.5k | 68 |
| Senior Process Engineer | $122,484 | $118.1k–$130k | 68 |
| Senior Software Engineer | $179,489 | $166.6k–$183.8k | 61 |
| QA Engineer | $124,230 | $110.1k–$131.5k | 60 |
| Test Engineer | $140,000 | $127.6k–$156.4k | 55 |
Show 93 more
| Job title | Median | Middle 50% | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $156,000 | $150k–$166.8k | 53 |
| Senior Manufacturing Controls Engineer | $150,801 | $140.1k–$157.3k | 50 |
| Data Engineer | $150,000 | $135k–$166.3k | 49 |
| Senior Manufacturing Equipment Engineer | $130,285 | $125.8k–$140.6k | 48 |
| Supplier Industrialization Engineer | $135,169 | $125.4k–$157k | 47 |
| Senior Technical Program Mgr | $151,940 | $142.1k–$170.3k | 45 |
| Manufacturing Controls Engineer | $137,328 | $119.5k–$144.9k | 43 |
| Senior Supplier Industrialization Engineer | $151,546 | $145.5k–$159.1k | 42 |
| Software Development Engineer Eng | $181,072 | $153.8k–$206.7k | 42 |
| Technical Program Manager | $140,130 | $125k–$163.6k | 41 |
| Technical Construction Project Manager | $141,336 | $129.9k–$154.6k | 40 |
| Associate Process Engineer | $90,000 | $85.3k–$95.2k | 39 |
| Senior Data Engineer | $160,215 | $150.2k–$167.8k | 39 |
| Senior Software Development Engineer Eng | $188,000 | $180.5k–$205.6k | 39 |
| Supply Chain Manager | $139,444 | $120k–$177.1k | 37 |
| Senior Manufacturing Controls Dev Engineer | $140,000 | $134.9k–$153.4k | 36 |
| Staff Mechanical Design Engineer | $179,880 | $174.1k–$198.1k | 36 |
| Technical Program Mgr | $153,650 | $138.9k–$181.7k | 36 |
| Associate Manufacturing Equipment Engineer | $94,000 | $90k–$99.5k | 35 |
| Staff Supplier Industrialization Engineer | $180,000 | $175k–$189.8k | 34 |
| Senior Sourcing Engineer | $145,000 | $140.9k–$157.1k | 33 |
| Staff Manufacturing Engineer | $172,000 | $155.1k–$176.2k | 33 |
| Senior QA Engineer | $126,977 | $121.4k–$143.2k | 32 |
| Senior Test Engineer | $142,800 | $135.4k–$154.9k | 32 |
| Software Developers | $136,778 | $127k–$158.7k | 32 |
| Materials Planner | $106,000 | $90k–$110k | 31 |
| Autopilot Software Engineer | $275,854 | $210k–$478.2k | 30 |
| Electronic Design Engineer | $155,000 | $143.5k–$182k | 29 |
| Industrial Engineer | $108,472 | $99k–$120.7k | 29 |
| Staff Software Development Engineer Eng | $212,833 | $200.9k–$227.4k | 29 |
| Industrial Engineers | $92,976 | $82.2k–$102.5k | 27 |
| Staff Software Engineer | $219,600 | $199.9k–$240k | 27 |
| Systems Design Architecture Engineer | $162,000 | $159.1k–$187.5k | 27 |
| Reliability Engineer | $146,536 | $127.4k–$169.5k | 26 |
| Senior Electronic Design Engineer | $165,569 | $162.3k–$169.6k | 25 |
| Staff Technical Program Mgr | $178,710 | $162.9k–$194.4k | 25 |
| Autopilot Machine Learning Engineer | $249,200 | $200k–$348.9k | 24 |
| Logisticians | $97,240 | $75.9k–$119.6k | 24 |
| Senior Software QA Engineer | $163,896 | $158.6k–$173.8k | 23 |
| Senior Technical Construction Project Manager | $139,734 | $137k–$146.7k | 23 |
| Quality Engineer | $109,495 | $100k–$118.4k | 22 |
| Senior Software Product Mgr | $168,375 | $155.1k–$178k | 22 |
| Staff Silicon Design Engineer | $242,591 | $222.6k–$250k | 22 |
| AI Hardware Engineer | $278,075 | $175k–$322.3k | 20 |
| Senior Silicon Design Engineer | $223,011 | $200.7k–$265k | 19 |
| Staff Sourcing Engineer | $177,000 | $173k–$187.6k | 19 |
| Associate QA Engineer | $90,000 | $90k–$95.6k | 18 |
| Data Scientist | $156,572 | $118.4k–$189.7k | 18 |
| Supply Chain Planner | $101,374 | $90.4k–$113.3k | 18 |
| Associate Manufacturing Engineer | $98,000 | $92.2k–$102.7k | 17 |
| Mgr Manufacturing Engineering | $192,853 | $178.5k–$211.1k | 17 |
| Senior Technical Program Manager | $160,000 | $150k–$164.8k | 17 |
| Staff Software QA Engineer | $175,216 | $171.5k–$184k | 17 |
| Manufacturing Engineers | $89,107 | $79.9k–$102.2k | 16 |
| Senior Staff Software Development Engineer | $255,365 | $242.7k–$261.8k | 16 |
| Staff Test Engineer | $165,150 | $162.6k–$170.4k | 16 |
| Electrical Engineer | $160,930 | $134.1k–$175.5k | 15 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $95,618 | $85.3k–$114.7k | 15 |
| Senior Staff Data Engineer | $230,951 | $221.7k–$244.6k | 15 |
| Software Product Manager | $150,000 | $120k–$167.1k | 15 |
| Materials Engineer | $145,047 | $129.4k–$155.6k | 14 |
| Packaging Engineer | $111,400 | $108k–$141.7k | 14 |
| Senior Autopilot Software Engineer | $200,212 | $186.2k–$211.5k | 14 |
| Senior Reliability Engineer | $141,273 | $138k–$148.4k | 14 |
| Supplier Quality Engineer | $112,403 | $109.7k–$121.8k | 14 |
| Technical Project Mgr | $125,000 | $115k–$140k | 14 |
| Senior Distributed Systems Engineer Eng | $196,650 | $180k–$216.6k | 13 |
| Senior Materials Engineer | $140,000 | $137.2k–$160k | 13 |
| Senior Materials Planner | $109,293 | $109k–$114.9k | 13 |
| Silicon Design Engineer | $230,000 | $200k–$265k | 13 |
| Staff Electronic Design Engineer | $191,593 | $180k–$201.1k | 13 |
| Staff Manufacturing Controls Dev Engineer | $170,000 | $146k–$178.6k | 13 |
| Staff QA Engineer | $146,973 | $141.3k–$148.1k | 13 |
| Associate Quality Engineer | $89,302 | $84.8k–$91.1k | 12 |
| Logistics Analyst | $100,000 | $93.3k–$106.9k | 12 |
| Robotics Machine Learning Engineer | $405,833 | $267.5k–$622.2k | 12 |
| Staff Process Engineer | $155,829 | $140.7k–$157.8k | 12 |
| Robotics Software Engineer | $235,000 | $193.2k–$524.8k | 11 |
| Senior Analyst | $135,000 | $129.6k–$149.8k | 11 |
| Senior Autopilot Machine Learning Engineer | $218,250 | $211.5k–$229.4k | 11 |
| Senior Quality Engineer | $140,000 | $123.3k–$142.9k | 11 |
| Senior Robotics Machine Learning Engineer | $220,000 | $210.8k–$237.5k | 11 |
| Senior Staff Software Engineer | $229,554 | $214.3k–$241.4k | 11 |
| Senior Systems Design Architecture Engineer | $185,000 | $172.5k–$191.2k | 11 |
| Software QA Engineer | $140,000 | $132.8k–$170.7k | 11 |
| Staff Data Engineer | $200,000 | $189k–$204.8k | 11 |
| Staff Technical Program Manager | $184,000 | $171.6k–$192k | 11 |
| Distributed Systems Engineer | $175,083 | $160.2k–$209.2k | 10 |
| Mgr Sourcing Procurement Engineering | $190,000 | $186.2k–$190k | 10 |
| Program Manager | $116,087 | $105.8k–$131.9k | 10 |
| Senior Program Mgr | $129,588 | $127.3k–$135k | 10 |
| Staff Manufacturing Controls Engineer | $154,022 | $147.6k–$169.8k | 10 |
| Staff Software Product Mgr | $193,934 | $176.3k–$194.2k | 10 |
Job titles as written on the filings, with at least 10 filings. Middle 50%: 25th–75th percentile.
About Tesla
Tesla's filings list its industry as Motor Vehicle Manufacturing (Manufacturing sector, NAICS 3361). Its main U.S. filing address is in Austin, TX and its filings in the data run from FY2020 to FY2026 Q3. In the latest two fiscal years, the most filed jobs are Industrial Engineer, Software Engineer and Mechanical Engineer and the main metro areas are San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA and Austin, TX. The most common wage level in those years is Level II (mid-level).
- Founded
- 2003
- Headquarters
- Palo Alto, Austin
- Employees
- 140,473 (2023)
- Website
- tesla.com
- Stock
- Nasdaq: TSLA
Company facts on this page: Wikidata. Salary data: U.S. Department of Labor.
Questions
Does Tesla sponsor H-1B visas?
Yes. Tesla filed 5,171 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications in FY2025–FY2026, the latest two fiscal years. The most recent filing in the data is from FY2026 Q3. A certified LCA is a step before the H-1B petition; it is not a visa approval.
How much does Tesla pay H-1B workers?
The median base salary on Tesla's H-1B filings is $150,000; half of filings fall between $124,236 and $180,000. Bonus and stock are not included.