Apple salaries by job title (2026)
Apple filed 4,825 certified H-1B applications for full-time roles in FY2026 Q1–Q3 (decisions Oct 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026). The median base salary is $173,930, and the middle half of offers fall between $148,828 and $198,598.
Apple base salary by job title
| Job title | Median base | Middle 50% | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineering Applications | $181,100 | $162,500 – $205,482 | 519 |
| Software Development Engineering | $184,974 | $160,114 – $212,202 | 447 |
| Software Engineering Systems | $181,100 | $159,674 – $204,039 | 302 |
| Machine Learning | $190,635 | $174,124 – $212,202 | 264 |
| Software Developer | $149,302 | $139,500 – $175,053 | 144 |
| Software Development Engineer - Test | $174,304 | $153,493 – $187,283 | 133 |
| Design Verification | $160,553 | $139,500 – $197,822 | 119 |
| Tools and Automation Engineer | $172,100 | $147,050 – $185,224 | 111 |
| Physical Design Engineer | $162,500 | $148,866 – $197,047 | 89 |
| Electronics Engineer | $144,129 | $128,898 – $162,500 | 86 |
| Software Development Engineer - Firmware | $181,914 | $154,199 – $198,384 | 82 |
| FE Engineering | $171,600 | $160,553 – $201,725 | 80 |
| Hardware Systems Engineering | $174,304 | $152,126 – $195,061 | 71 |
| Data Scientist | $159,527 | $141,800 – $174,783 | 70 |
| Module Design Engineer | $158,621 | $147,400 – $182,616 | 64 |
By location
| Worksite | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Cupertino, CA | $181,100 | 2,010 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | $181,100 | 871 |
| Austin, TX | $154,600 | 609 |
| San Diego, CA | $157,581 | 379 |
| Seattle, WA | $180,710 | 331 |
| Santa Clara, CA | $181,100 | 186 |
| San Jose, CA | $181,831 | 74 |
| New York, NY | $181,100 | 58 |
| Cambridge, MA | $162,500 | 35 |
| Culver City, CA | $156,502 | 34 |
Take-home pay
Most of Apple's filings are for jobs in California. There, the median base of $173,930 leaves about $115,956 a year, or $9,663 a month, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and California taxes for a single filer with no 401(k) contributions. For Software Engineering Applications ($181,100), it is about $120,096 a year. Use the California paycheck calculator to add a 401(k), a spouse or children.
Experience levels
Each filing names the prevailing-wage level the job was matched to, from entry level (I) to fully competent (IV).
| Wage level | Share of filings |
|---|---|
| I: Entry level | 8% |
| II: Qualified | 30% |
| III: Experienced | 16% |
| IV: Fully competent | 45% |
By occupation
| Occupation | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $181,100 | 2,054 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $163,031 | 712 |
| Electrical Engineers | $159,890 | 302 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $224,534 | 219 |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $172,100 | 202 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $162,500 | 188 |
About this data
- Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification, LCA disclosure data for FY2026 Q1–Q3 (decisions Oct 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026). Only certified H-1B applications for full-time positions are counted (384,130 filings).
- Each figure is the base wage the employer stated on the application, converted to a yearly amount. Bonuses, stock (RSUs) and benefits are not included, so total pay at large tech firms is usually much higher.
- An application is filed before a worker starts and can cover a range of pay; we use the lower end of that range. Not every application leads to a hire.
- Median: half of filings are above, half below. Middle 50%: the range between the 25th and 75th percentiles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary at Apple?
The median base salary in Apple's 4,825 certified H-1B filings is $173,930 a year, and the middle half fall between $148,828 and $198,598. Bonuses and stock are extra.
How much does a Software Engineering Applications at Apple make?
The median base salary for Software Engineering Applications is $181,100 across 519 filings (middle 50%: $162,500 – $205,482).
Where does Apple pay the most?
Among locations with at least five filings, San Jose, CA has the highest median base salary at $181,831.
What is $173,930 after tax in California?
About $115,956 a year ($9,663 a month) for a single filer after federal, Social Security, Medicare and California taxes.