Caterpillar salaries by job title (2026)
Caterpillar filed 250 certified H-1B applications for full-time roles in FY2026 Q1–Q3 (decisions Oct 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026). The median base salary is $111,675, and the middle half of offers fall between $95,680 and $130,499.
Caterpillar base salary by job title
| Job title | Median base | Middle 50% | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $108,077 | $108,077 – $118,456 | 21 |
| Control Systems Senior Engineer | $111,675 | $110,198 – $113,001 | 14 |
| Embedded Software Engineer | $92,789 | $92,789 – $92,789 | 13 |
| Embedded Software Senior Engineer | $127,587 | $111,675 – $127,587 | 12 |
| Senior Software Engineer | $138,288 | $127,587 – $153,317 | 12 |
| Lead Software Engineer | $153,317 | $153,317 – $153,317 | 11 |
| Control Systems Engineer | $92,789 | $85,405 – $95,680 | 9 |
| Performance/Simulation/Application Engineer | $95,680 | $94,234 – $95,680 | 7 |
| Senior Design Engineer | $113,443 | $109,387 – $125,653 | 7 |
| Performance / Simulation / Application Engineer | $104,562 | $95,680 – $113,443 | 6 |
| Manufacturing Engineer | $95,451 | $95,451 – $95,451 | 5 |
| Senior Performance / Simulation / Application Engineer | $106,850 | $93,330 – $131,227 | 5 |
By location
| Worksite | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Chillicothe, IL | $107,611 | 121 |
| Chicago, IL | $132,434 | 45 |
| Peoria, IL | $127,587 | 23 |
| Irving, TX | $130,130 | 14 |
| East Peoria, IL | $131,872 | 5 |
| Pontiac, IL | $92,310 | 5 |
Take-home pay
Most of Caterpillar's filings are for jobs in Illinois. There, the median base of $111,675 leaves about $82,010 a year, or $6,834 a month, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Illinois taxes for a single filer with no 401(k) contributions. For Software Engineer ($108,077), it is about $79,657 a year. Use the Illinois 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 | 3% |
| II: Qualified | 33% |
| III: Experienced | 18% |
| IV: Fully competent | 46% |
By occupation
| Occupation | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $127,587 | 106 |
| Electrical Engineers | $107,099 | 41 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $102,128 | 37 |
| Data Scientists | $124,530 | 9 |
| Manufacturing Engineers | $95,451 | 8 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $91,374 | 7 |
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 Caterpillar?
The median base salary in Caterpillar's 250 certified H-1B filings is $111,675 a year, and the middle half fall between $95,680 and $130,499. Bonuses and stock are extra.
How much does a Software Engineer at Caterpillar make?
The median base salary for Software Engineer is $108,077 across 21 filings (middle 50%: $108,077 – $118,456).
Where does Caterpillar pay the most?
Among locations with at least five filings, Chicago, IL has the highest median base salary at $132,434.
What is $111,675 after tax in Illinois?
About $82,010 a year ($6,834 a month) for a single filer after federal, Social Security, Medicare and Illinois taxes.