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CATERPILLAR H-1B Visa Sponsorship & Salary Data

CATERPILLAR has filed 1,664 H-1B labor condition applications from FY 2020 to FY 2026, with 1,579 certified. The median H-1B salary at CATERPILLAR is $107,477, which is 10% lower than the national H-1B median of $120,000.

1,579
Certified Filings
FY 2020-2026
$107,477
Median Salary
-10% vs national
0.2%
Denial Rate
4 denied of 1,664
7
Years of Data
FY 2020-2026

Salary Analysis

Salary Range

  • 10th percentile: $90,000
  • 25th percentile: $97,032
  • Median: $107,477
  • 75th percentile: $123,614
  • 90th percentile: $138,715

Wage Level Distribution

  • Level I (Entry): 30 (2%)
  • Level II (Qualified): 767 (50%)
  • Level III (Experienced): 437 (28%)
  • Level IV (Expert): 303 (20%)

Trend (2020-2026)

  • Starting median: $106,356
  • Current median: $110,198
  • Growth: +4%

Salary & Hiring Visualizations

Salary Distribution

Distribution of H-1B salaries at CATERPILLAR

CATERPILLAR's H-1B salaries range from $90,000 to $138,715 (10th-90th percentile), with a median of $107,477. This is comparable to the national H-1B median.

Wage Level Distribution

DOL wage levels affect H-1B lottery priority

CATERPILLAR files 98% of H-1B positions at Level II or higher. Higher wage levels receive priority in the H-1B lottery, giving CATERPILLAR candidates a competitive advantage.

Median Salary Trend

Year-over-year salary changes

CATERPILLAR's median H-1B salary increased by +4% from FY 2020 ($106,356) to FY 2026 ($110,198).

H-1B Filings by Year

Annual hiring activity through H-1B program

CATERPILLAR's H-1B filings changed by -77% from FY 2020 to FY 2026. This may reflect changes in hiring strategy or workforce composition.

Salary by Job Title

Top roles by filing volume, showing salary distribution

Data Scientist (30)
$95K
Senior Systems Engineer (34)
$103K
Software Engineer (177)
$104K
Senior Software Engineer (176)
$123K
Lead Software Engineer (49)
$144K
$50K $125K $200K $300K+

The highest-volume H-1B role at CATERPILLAR is Software Engineer with 177 filings at $103,530 median salary.

Salary by Location

Salary distribution across office locations (sorted by median)

Chillicothe, IL (527)
$100K
Mossville, IL (148)
$101K
Peoria, IL (206)
$109K
Irving, TX (55)
$121K
Chicago, IL (241)
$122K
$50K $125K $200K $300K+

CATERPILLAR's largest H-1B hub is Chillicothe, IL with 527 filings. The highest-paying location is Chicago, IL at $122,470 median.

Highest Paying H-1B Roles at CATERPILLAR

Ranked by median salary — Unlike "Salary by Job Title" above which shows the most common roles by filing volume, this section ranks all H-1B positions by their median compensation to highlight the best-paying opportunities.

These are the top 10 highest-paying H-1B job titles at CATERPILLAR, ranked by median salary. The highest-paying role is Lead Software Engineer at $144,426 median, which is 34% above the company's overall H-1B median of $107,477.

High-paying H-1B roles typically require advanced technical expertise, specialized domain knowledge, or significant leadership responsibility. Factors influencing top-tier compensation include years of experience, educational credentials (PhD, Master's degrees), rare skill combinations, and market demand for specific technologies. The salary distribution chart below each role shows how compensation varies—wider distributions indicate more salary negotiation flexibility, while narrow peaks suggest standardized pay bands. Senior and principal-level positions consistently command premium salaries due to their strategic impact and scarcity of qualified candidates.

1

Lead Software Engineer

49 H-1B filings at CATERPILLAR

$144,426
+34% vs company median
$125K-$150K: 2.0%
$150K-$175K: 75.5%
$175K-$200K: 20.4%
$200K-$225K: 2.0%
$50K $175K $300K+
2

Senior Software Engineer

176 H-1B filings at CATERPILLAR

$123,469
+15% vs company median
$100K-$125K: 4.0%
$125K-$150K: 48.9%
$150K-$175K: 45.5%
$175K-$200K: 1.7%
$50K $175K $300K+
3

Software Engineer

177 H-1B filings at CATERPILLAR

$103,530
-4% vs company median
$100K-$125K: 38.4%
$125K-$150K: 50.3%
$150K-$175K: 9.6%
$175K-$200K: 1.7%
$50K $175K $300K+
4

Senior Systems Engineer

34 H-1B filings at CATERPILLAR

$103,293
-4% vs company median
$100K-$125K: 26.5%
$125K-$150K: 73.5%
$50K $175K $300K+
5

Data Scientist

30 H-1B filings at CATERPILLAR

$95,000
-12% vs company median
$75K-$100K: 3.3%
$100K-$125K: 70.0%
$125K-$150K: 26.7%
$50K $175K $300K+
6

Systems Engineer

29 H-1B filings at CATERPILLAR

$93,288
-13% vs company median
$100K-$125K: 79.3%
$125K-$150K: 20.7%
$50K $175K $300K+

Salary data based on 1,579 certified H-1B labor condition applications at CATERPILLAR. Actual compensation may vary based on experience, specific role requirements, and location within the company.

Highest Individual H-1B Salaries at CATERPILLAR

Actual filed salaries — These are the 10 highest individual H-1B salary filings at CATERPILLAR, representing specific positions (not aggregated medians). These may include executive, highly specialized, or senior leadership roles.

The highest H-1B salary filed at CATERPILLAR was $484,000 for a Svp, Resource Industries, Sales, Services & Technology position in Tucson, AZ (FY2024). This is 350% higher than the company's median H-1B salary.

Top H-1B salaries often cluster in high cost-of-living metros like San Francisco, New York, and Seattle where prevailing wages are higher. However, executive and specialized roles can command premium compensation regardless of location. These filings represent the upper bound of H-1B compensation at CATERPILLAR—actual total compensation may be significantly higher when including stock grants, bonuses, and benefits. Geographic patterns in top salaries often reflect where companies locate their most senior technical talent and leadership positions.

Where are the highest-paid H-1B positions located?

Marker size indicates salary level. Click markers for details.

Rank Job Title Location Salary Level Year
1 Svp, Resource Industries, Sales, Services & Technology Tucson, AZ $484,000 IV FY 2024
2 Autonomy Senior Staff Engineer San Francisco, CA $240,000 II FY 2022
3 Strategy And Planning Manager Deerfield, IL $220,000 III FY 2020
4 Autonomy Technology Strategist San Francisco, CA $206,315 IV FY 2024
5 Electronic Npi Team Leader San Francisco, CA $206,000 II FY 2020
6 Principal Architect Chicago, IL $195,000 III FY 2022
7 Senior Engineering Specialist - Dev/Res Chillicothe, IL $190,718 IV FY 2023
8 Sr. Engineering Proj Team Leader Decatur, IL $185,628 III FY 2021
9 Senior Engineering Project Team Leader East Peoria, IL $185,628 III FY 2021
10 Principal Digital Archtect Peoria, IL $185,000 III FY 2022

These represent the highest individual salary amounts filed in H-1B labor condition applications. Note: H-1B salary data reflects base compensation only and does not include stock options, RSUs, bonuses, or other benefits which can significantly increase total compensation at tech companies.

Detailed Breakdown

H-1B Job Titles at CATERPILLAR

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Software Engineer 177 $103,530
Senior Software Engineer 176 $123,469
Lead Software Engineer 49 $144,426
Senior Systems Engineer 34 $103,293
Data Scientist 30 $95,000
Systems Engineer 29 $93,288

H-1B Locations for CATERPILLAR

Location Filings Median Salary
Chillicothe, IL 527 $100,443
Chicago, IL 241 $122,470
Peoria, IL 206 $108,638
Mossville, IL 148 $100,849
Irving, TX 55 $121,098
Tucson, AZ 42 $105,000
Decatur, IL 23 $104,356
Champaign, IL 23 $100,152
East Peoria, IL 20 $116,999
Seguin, TX 18 $98,200

Recent H-1B Filings at CATERPILLAR

Sample of 20 recent certified H-1B labor condition applications. This represents a small fraction of CATERPILLAR's 1,579 total certified filings.

Job Title Location Salary Level Year
Senior IT Analyst Applications East Peoria, IL $127,587 IV FY 2026
Software Engineer Chillicothe, IL $92,789 II FY 2026
Performance/ Simulation/ Application Engineer Chillicothe, IL $95,680 II FY 2026
Engineer - Design Pontiac, IL $75,962 II FY 2026
Senior Software Engineer Chillicothe, IL $127,587 IV FY 2026
Senior Systems Engineer Chillicothe, IL $111,675 IV FY 2026
Technical Lead Peoria, IL $95,680 II FY 2026
Senior Autonomy Engineer Chillicothe, IL $111,675 IV FY 2026
Software Engineer Georgetown, TX $139,152 III FY 2026
Lead Software Engineer Irving, TX $125,288 N/A FY 2026
Electronic Systems Verification & Validation Senior Engineer Chillicothe, IL $110,198 III FY 2026
Senior Digital Technical Support Engineer Chicago, IL $130,707 III FY 2026
Development & Research Engineering Specialist Chillicothe, IL $107,099 II FY 2026
Senior Autonomy Engineer Chillicothe, IL $127,587 IV FY 2026
Software Engineer Peoria, IL $127,587 IV FY 2026
Design Engineer Tucson, AZ $102,128 II FY 2026
Principal Architect Chicago, IL $160,555 IV FY 2026
Senior Software Engineer Chillicothe, IL $111,675 IV FY 2026
Senior Design Engineer Denison, TX $106,870 III FY 2026
Senior Data Specialist Chicago, IL $135,998 N/A FY 2026

Data source: U.S. Department of Labor LCA Disclosure Files. Showing most recent certified filings.

Frequently Asked Questions about CATERPILLAR H-1B Visas

What is the average H-1B salary at CATERPILLAR?

The median H-1B salary at CATERPILLAR is $107,477, based on 1,579 certified filings from FY 2020 to FY 2026. This is 10% lower than the national H-1B median salary of $120,000. Compensation at CATERPILLAR reflects their market positioning, with entry-level roles starting around $97,032 and senior positions reaching $138,715 or higher. These figures represent base salaries in LCA filings and may not include bonuses, equity grants, or other compensation common at large employers.

10th %ile Median 90th %ile
$90,000 $107,477 $138,715

Salaries at CATERPILLAR range from $90,000 at the 10th percentile to $138,715 at the 90th percentile, showing a $48,715 spread across experience levels and roles. The 25th percentile is $97,032 and the 75th percentile is $123,614.

Does CATERPILLAR sponsor H-1B visas?

Yes, CATERPILLAR actively sponsors H-1B visas and has been a consistent participant in the H-1B program. They have filed 1,664 H-1B labor condition applications from FY 2020 to FY 2026, demonstrating ongoing commitment to hiring international talent. With 1,579 certified applications and a 0.2% denial rate, CATERPILLAR maintains a strong track record for H-1B sponsorship. The company sponsors positions across multiple job categories and locations, making them a viable option for professionals seeking H-1B visa sponsorship.

H-1B Filing History
20
21
22
23
24
25
26

In the most recent fiscal year (FY 2026), CATERPILLAR filed 35 H-1B applications, with 34 certified and 0 denied. Over 7 years of data, CATERPILLAR has consistently demonstrated commitment to H-1B sponsorship.

Note: These are Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the Department of Labor, which is a prerequisite for H-1B petitions. The actual number of H-1B petitions filed with USCIS may differ.

What is CATERPILLAR's H-1B approval rate?

CATERPILLAR's LCA (Labor Condition Application) denial rate is 0.2%, with 4 out of 1,664 applications denied across all years. This translates to a 99.8% certification rate, which indicates how successfully the company prepares and files H-1B applications. A lower denial rate suggests better compliance with Department of Labor requirements, proper wage documentation, and accurate job classification. Prospective H-1B applicants should consider this approval rate alongside other factors like salary, job role, and location when evaluating CATERPILLAR as a potential H-1B sponsor.

Approval vs Denial Rate
99.8% Certified
1,579 certified 4 denied

This is an excellent approval rate, indicating CATERPILLAR has strong H-1B sponsorship practices and typically meets DOL requirements. Applicants can feel confident in the company's H-1B track record.

What jobs does CATERPILLAR sponsor for H-1B?

CATERPILLAR sponsors H-1B visas for various specialty occupation positions requiring at least a bachelor's degree. Based on 1,579 certified filings, the most commonly sponsored job titles reflect the company's primary business functions and talent needs. These positions typically require specialized knowledge in fields like technology, engineering, finance, or scientific research. Understanding which roles CATERPILLAR most frequently sponsors can help job seekers target their applications effectively.

Most common H-1B job titles at CATERPILLAR:

Software Engineer
$103,530
Senior Software Engineer
$123,469
Lead Software Engineer
$144,426
Senior Systems Engineer
$103,293
Data Scientist
$95,000

The most frequently sponsored role is Software Engineer with 177 filings at a median salary of $103,530. This is followed by Senior Software Engineer (176 filings) and Lead Software Engineer.

Where are CATERPILLAR's H-1B jobs located?

CATERPILLAR's H-1B positions are distributed across multiple U.S. locations, with concentration in major metropolitan areas and tech hubs. Geographic distribution often reflects company office locations, client sites, and regional market demands. Location significantly impacts H-1B salary due to varying cost of living and local wage requirements. Understanding where CATERPILLAR sponsors H-1B workers can help candidates target specific offices and negotiate appropriate compensation for each market.

Top CATERPILLAR H-1B locations:

The largest H-1B hub for CATERPILLAR is Chillicothe, IL with 527 filings at a median salary of $100,443. The highest-paying location is Chicago, IL at $122,470 median. Salaries range from $98,200 to $122,470 across office locations.

How have CATERPILLAR's H-1B salaries changed over time?

CATERPILLAR's median H-1B salary has increased by +4% from FY 2020 ($106,356) to FY 2026 ($110,198). Tracking salary trends over time reveals how CATERPILLAR adjusts compensation to remain competitive in the H-1B labor market. Salary growth typically reflects inflation adjustments, increased demand for specialized skills, and evolving prevailing wage requirements. These historical trends can help applicants understand future salary expectations and negotiate appropriately when considering H-1B opportunities at CATERPILLAR.

Median Salary Trend
20
21
22
23
24
25
26

Year-by-year breakdown:

  • FY 2022: $106,347 (330 certified)
  • FY 2023: $108,500 (244 certified)
  • FY 2024: $103,293 (293 certified)
  • FY 2025: $112,299 (357 certified)
  • FY 2026: $110,198 (34 certified)

CATERPILLAR has maintained steady salary growth for H-1B positions over this period.

What wage level does CATERPILLAR use for H-1B?

CATERPILLAR primarily files H-1B applications at Wage Level II, accounting for 50% of their filings. DOL wage levels range from Level I (entry-level, 17th percentile of local wages) to Level IV (expert, 67th percentile). Wage level determines both salary requirements and, under recent H-1B rules, lottery selection priority. Higher wage levels receive preference in the H-1B lottery, making CATERPILLAR's wage level distribution an important factor for prospective applicants assessing their chances of H-1B selection.

Wage Level Distribution
II
III
IV
I: 2% II: 50% III: 28% IV: 20%

With 98% of positions at Level II or higher, CATERPILLAR typically offers competitive wages above entry-level. Higher wage levels receive priority in the H-1B lottery.

How does CATERPILLAR's H-1B salary compare to other employers?

CATERPILLAR's median H-1B salary of $107,477 is 10% lower than the national H-1B median of $120,000 across all employers and industries. This comparison provides context for evaluating CATERPILLAR's competitiveness in attracting H-1B talent. Keep in mind that industry, location, and job function significantly impact salary levels. Tech companies and financial institutions typically offer higher H-1B salaries than other sectors, while salaries in major metros like San Francisco and New York exceed those in smaller markets. Compare CATERPILLAR's offerings with similar companies in your field for a more accurate assessment.

vs National H-1B Median
CATERPILLAR
$107,477
National
$120,000
-10% below national median

CATERPILLAR's H-1B salaries are below the national median, though this may vary significantly by role, experience level, and location. Consider researching specific positions for more accurate compensation expectations.

How do new H-1B fees and rules affect CATERPILLAR's sponsorship?
Estimated H-1B Sponsorship Costs (FY 2025)
I-129 Base Filing Fee $1,655
ACWIA Fee (25+ employees) $1,500
Fraud Prevention Fee $500
Asylum Program Fee $600
H-1B Registration Fee $215
Premium Processing (optional) $2,805
Estimated Total per H-1B $4,470 - $7,275+

Recent H-1B rule changes have increased filing fees and introduced wage-level prioritization in the lottery. CATERPILLAR files 2% of positions at Level I, which may face more lottery competition under wage-level prioritization rules.

With 1,579 certified filings, CATERPILLAR invests significantly in H-1B sponsorship. The company's 0.2% denial rate suggests strong compliance with H-1B requirements and documentation standards.

Note: H-1B regulations are subject to change. Fees shown are estimates based on 2024 USCIS fee schedules. Actual costs may vary based on company size, premium processing, and future rule changes.

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