Systems Engineer salary
From 3,512 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only. Which titles are included
- Job titles like “Systems Engineer” across occupation codes
At a glance
- Mostly Level II (mid-level). 52% of Systems Engineer filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B filings.
- Pay depends on the city. Among the 7 metro areas with the most filings, the median ranges from $95,000 in Dallas, TX to $156,853 in San Jose, CA.
- Median up 21% since FY2020. From $94,806 in FY2020 to $114,754 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Systems Engineer H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 3,512 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Systems Engineer jobs in FY2025–FY2026, counting filings whose job title matches across occupation codes. The median base salary is $111,112, 9% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $91,697 and $137,259. The most common wage level is Level II (mid-level), at 52% of filings.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 12% of filings
Mid-level · 52% of filings
Senior · 19% of filings
Expert · 17% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $84,572 | 378 |
| Level II · Qualified | $96,000 | 1,683 |
| Level III · Experienced | $130,167 | 622 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $150,000 | 557 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Systems Engineer pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 47 metro areas
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $82,000 |
| 25th | $91,697 |
| 50th (median) | $111,112 |
| 75th | $137,259 |
| 90th | $162,442 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $94,806 | $81,162 | $110,544 | 2,647 |
| FY2021 | $99,582 | $85,006 | $120,000 | 2,292 |
| FY2022 | $101,733 | $87,485 | $125,767 | 2,408 |
| FY2023 | $102,482 | $84,836 | $122,377 | 2,066 |
| FY2024 | $101,192 | $83,138 | $125,000 | 2,261 |
| FY2025 | $108,500 | $90,002 | $135,200 | 2,177 |
| FY2026 | $114,754 | $94,700 | $140,000 | 1,335 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Systems Engineer make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Systems Engineer jobs is $111,112 (3,512 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $91,697 and $137,259.
What does an entry-level Systems Engineer earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $84,572. Level I accounts for 12% of Systems Engineer filings.
Which city pays H-1B Systems Engineers the most?
Among metro areas with at least 100 filings, San Jose, CA has the highest median base salary for Systems Engineer jobs: $156,853 (224 filings).