Optum salaries by job title (2026)
Optum filed 343 certified H-1B applications for full-time roles in FY2026 Q1–Q3 (decisions Oct 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026). The median base salary is $129,042, and the middle half of offers fall between $114,998 and $142,412.
Optum base salary by job title
| Job title | Median base | Middle 50% | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Software Engineer | $125,798 | $119,922 – $134,971 | 81 |
| Lead Software Engineer | $135,408 | $129,042 – $149,433 | 35 |
| Software Engineer | $106,475 | $102,090 – $124,477 | 17 |
| Senior AI/ML Engineer | $152,644 | $131,206 – $160,805 | 11 |
| Senior Manager, Software Engineering | $145,018 | $143,178 – $154,804 | 11 |
| Senior Data Engineer | $125,224 | $119,381 – $130,099 | 10 |
| Senior Quality Engineer | $125,798 | $114,996 – $135,737 | 10 |
| Principal Engineer, TLCP | $146,006 | $132,418 – $151,868 | 8 |
| Lead AI/ML Engineer | $160,805 | $154,844 – $188,666 | 7 |
| Principal Data Engineering | $130,707 | $125,798 – $136,592 | 7 |
| Senior Data Analyst | $118,712 | $97,032 – $126,564 | 7 |
| Senior Data Scientist | $129,765 | $123,625 – $147,614 | 6 |
| Senior Principal Engineer, TLCP | $156,998 | $150,468 – $160,376 | 5 |
By location
| Worksite | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Eden Prairie, MN | $125,798 | 37 |
| Minnetonka, MN | $125,798 | 7 |
| Raleigh, NC | $135,408 | 7 |
| Jersey City, NJ | $144,579 | 6 |
| Frisco, TX | $129,042 | 5 |
| Irving, TX | $112,923 | 5 |
| Mount Juliet, TN | $103,334 | 5 |
| Schaumburg, IL | $144,552 | 5 |
Take-home pay
Most of Optum's filings are for jobs in Texas. There, the median base of $129,042 leaves about $99,466 a year, or $8,289 a month, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Texas taxes for a single filer with no 401(k) contributions. For Senior Software Engineer ($125,798), it is about $97,249 a year. Use the Texas 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 | 4% |
| II: Qualified | 27% |
| III: Experienced | 42% |
| IV: Fully competent | 26% |
By occupation
| Occupation | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $129,740 | 216 |
| Data Scientists | $120,548 | 18 |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $102,617 | 14 |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $126,173 | 14 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $156,291 | 13 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $109,577 | 12 |
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 Optum?
The median base salary in Optum's 343 certified H-1B filings is $129,042 a year, and the middle half fall between $114,998 and $142,412. Bonuses and stock are extra.
How much does a Senior Software Engineer at Optum make?
The median base salary for Senior Software Engineer is $125,798 across 81 filings (middle 50%: $119,922 – $134,971).
Where does Optum pay the most?
Among locations with at least five filings, Jersey City, NJ has the highest median base salary at $144,579.
What is $129,042 after tax in Texas?
About $99,466 a year ($8,289 a month) for a single filer after federal, Social Security, Medicare and Texas taxes.