Austin Tech Giants Drive 16,246 H-1B Filings in FY2025, Averaging $380K in Visa Salaries

Austin Solidifies Position as Major H-1B Destination

Austin recorded 16,246 H-1B visa filings in FY2025, with an impressive certification rate of 95% (15,448 approved applications), underscoring the Texas capital's emergence as a critical node in America's technology workforce infrastructure. The metro area's H-1B activity reflects its transformation from a regional tech center into a national magnet for high-skilled international talent.

Premium Salary Landscape

The average H-1B salary in Austin reached $379,887 for FY2025, a figure that positions the city among the nation's most competitive markets for specialized foreign workers. This average substantially exceeds typical U.S. technology salaries, indicating that employers are sponsoring highly specialized professionals in senior technical roles, artificial intelligence, and advanced engineering positions.

The salary range tells a complex story: while the minimum filed salary stood at $37,378—likely representing entry-level or specialized academic positions—the maximum reached $354,224,000, an outlier that may reflect data entry anomalies, equity compensation packages, or unique contractual arrangements. The elevated average suggests Austin employers are competing aggressively for talent in AI, semiconductor design, and cloud infrastructure domains.

Tech Giants Lead Sponsorship Activity

Austin's H-1B landscape is dominated by technology industry heavyweights. Amazon.com Services LLC led all employers with 1,252 filings, followed closely by Apple Inc. at 1,081 filings. These numbers reflect both companies' significant Austin expansions in recent years, with major campuses and operations centers anchoring the city's tech ecosystem.

Tesla, Inc. ranked third with 526 filings, consistent with its Gigafactory Texas operations and engineering headquarters. Advanced Micro Devices (517 filings) and Visa Technology & Operations (390 filings) round out the top five, highlighting Austin's strength in semiconductor design and financial technology sectors.

Industry Composition

The NAICS code distribution reveals Austin's specialized economic profile. Custom Computer Programming Services (NAICS 541511) accounted for 3,271 filings, representing the backbone of the city's software development sector. Electronic Computer Manufacturing (NAICS 334111) followed with 1,029 filings, reflecting the presence of Apple and other hardware manufacturers.

Semiconductor manufacturing (NAICS 334413) represented 923 filings, evidence of Austin's legacy as a chip design center and recent investments by AMD and other semiconductor firms. Computer Systems Design Services (NAICS 541512) added 748 filings, supporting the city's robust IT consulting and cloud services sector.

Market Context

Austin's H-1B salary averages must be considered against the city's rising cost of living. While Texas offers no state income tax—a significant advantage for high earners—Austin's housing costs have surged in recent years, though they remain below San Francisco or New York levels. The premium salaries reflected in H-1B data suggest employers are accounting for these factors while competing for global talent.

The city's strong certification rate and sustained filing volumes indicate Austin's continued appeal as companies balance access to talent, operational costs, and quality of life factors in their location strategies.