San Jose H-1B Filings Reach 12,653 in FY2025, Led by PayPal and Adobe with $290K Average Salary

San Jose Maintains Strong H-1B Activity Amid Tech Sector Demand

San Jose, California, processed 12,653 H-1B visa applications in FY2025, with 11,861 applications receiving certification—a robust 93.7% approval rate. As the urban core of Silicon Valley, the city continues to serve as a critical hub for specialized foreign talent, particularly in software development and emerging technology sectors.

Salary Data Reflects Premium Talent Market

The average H-1B salary in San Jose reached $290,288, significantly above the national average and reflective of the region's competitive talent landscape. The salary range spans from $45,760 to over $426 million, though the maximum figure likely represents a data anomaly or equity compensation package. Nevertheless, the six-figure average underscores the highly specialized nature of roles being filled through the H-1B program.

This compensation level takes on additional significance given San Jose's status as one of the nation's most expensive metropolitan areas. Housing costs, in particular, consume a substantial portion of even high-tech salaries, suggesting that the quarter-million-dollar average wages represent a baseline necessity for attracting global talent to the region rather than exceptional compensation.

Tech Giants Lead Employer Rankings

San Jose's H-1B landscape is dominated by established technology companies and rapidly growing platforms. PayPal, Inc. led all employers with 825 filings, followed closely by Adobe Inc. with 785 applications. The presence of TikTok Inc. (668 filings) and its parent company ByteDance Inc. (653 filings) collectively represent 1,321 applications, highlighting the growing influence of social media and content platforms in the region's tech ecosystem. eBay Inc. rounded out the top five with 405 filings.

These five employers alone account for approximately 3,336 filings—roughly 26% of San Jose's total H-1B volume—demonstrating significant concentration among major corporate players.

Industry Composition Skews Toward Software and Tech Services

The NAICS code distribution reveals San Jose's specialization in technology services. Custom Computer Programming Services (541511) accounted for 1,423 filings, while Computer Systems Design Services (541512) contributed 778 applications. Data Processing and Hosting Services (51321) generated 1,062 filings, reflecting the region's cloud computing and infrastructure capabilities.

Notably, Financial Transactions Processing (522320) appeared with 700 filings, aligning with PayPal's dominant presence and the broader fintech sector's integration with Silicon Valley's innovation ecosystem.

Market Implications

San Jose's H-1B data illustrates the continued reliance on international talent pipelines for maintaining technological competitiveness. The high certification rate suggests strong employer compliance and well-documented specialty occupation requirements. However, the intersection of premium salaries with extreme cost-of-living pressures raises questions about long-term talent retention and the sustainability of the region's growth model as remote work options potentially redistribute tech employment to more affordable markets.