Cadence salaries by job title (2026)
Cadence filed 315 certified H-1B applications for full-time roles in FY2026 Q1–Q3 (decisions Oct 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026). The median base salary is $153,493, and the middle half of offers fall between $127,234 and $171,592.
Cadence base salary by job title
| Job title | Median base | Middle 50% | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Application Engineer | $132,766 | $118,971 – $139,334 | 28 |
| Lead Software Engineer | $153,110 | $129,597 – $153,493 | 25 |
| Software Engineer II | $131,082 | $114,754 – $151,429 | 23 |
| Principal Software Engineer | $154,271 | $153,493 – $161,342 | 19 |
| Principal Application Engineer | $161,179 | $148,054 – $166,899 | 17 |
| Lead Design Engineer | $133,370 | $123,750 – $138,699 | 14 |
| Sr. Principal Software Engineer | $183,585 | $161,036 – $187,741 | 12 |
| Software Architect | $189,284 | $179,420 – $220,702 | 11 |
| Principal Product Engineer | $170,976 | $144,170 – $171,704 | 10 |
| Sr Application Engineer | $115,460 | $110,656 – $115,666 | 10 |
| Principal Design Engineer | $155,501 | $145,538 – $161,179 | 9 |
| Sr. Principal Application Engineer | $168,958 | $161,179 – $198,702 | 9 |
| Design Engineer II | $121,663 | $110,874 – $134,938 | 8 |
| Lead Product Engineer | $138,937 | $131,784 – $155,198 | 7 |
| Product Engineering Architect | $213,512 | $197,508 – $216,091 | 7 |
By location
| Worksite | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $156,760 | 178 |
| Austin, TX | $135,907 | 62 |
| Burlington, MA | $131,082 | 16 |
| Cary, NC | $122,034 | 11 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $105,113 | 6 |
Take-home pay
Most of Cadence's filings are for jobs in California. There, the median base of $153,493 leaves about $104,153 a year, or $8,679 a month, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and California taxes for a single filer with no 401(k) contributions. For Lead Application Engineer ($132,766), it is about $92,183 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 | 6% |
| II: Qualified | 40% |
| III: Experienced | 21% |
| IV: Fully competent | 32% |
By occupation
| Occupation | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $153,493 | 100 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $135,907 | 99 |
| Sales Engineers | $152,136 | 44 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $213,512 | 24 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $121,336 | 10 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $123,115 | 6 |
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 Cadence?
The median base salary in Cadence's 315 certified H-1B filings is $153,493 a year, and the middle half fall between $127,234 and $171,592. Bonuses and stock are extra.
How much does a Lead Application Engineer at Cadence make?
The median base salary for Lead Application Engineer is $132,766 across 28 filings (middle 50%: $118,971 – $139,334).
Where does Cadence pay the most?
Among locations with at least five filings, San Jose, CA has the highest median base salary at $156,760.
What is $153,493 after tax in California?
About $104,153 a year ($8,679 a month) for a single filer after federal, Social Security, Medicare and California taxes.