Cognizant H-1B Visa Sponsorship Data 2026
Cognizant filed 5,799 H-1B labor condition applications in fiscal year 2026, ranking #3 out of 1,000 sponsoring employers in our database — down 48.1% from last year.
Of those filings, 99.9% were certified by the Department of Labor, with a median offered salary of $111,030, below the national H-1B median of $126,403.
72% of Cognizant's filings were at prevailing-wage Level III or above. Under the 2026 wage-weighted lottery, that translates to an average of 2.9 lottery entries per candidate — meaning its candidates get meaningfully better odds than the typical Level I–II filing.
Cognizant's most-sponsored roles in FY2026 were Manager Jc50 (2,509 cases), Associate Jc60 -Computer Systems Engineers (1,024 cases), Manager Jc45 (771 cases). Its heaviest H-1B hiring was in TX (992), NJ (598), NC (499).
FY2026 filings
5,799
Rank #3 nationally
Approval rate
99.9%
5,794 certified
Median salary
$111,030
National median $126,403
Avg. lottery entries
2.9×
Wage-weighted system
H-1B lottery positioning
Under the 2026 wage-weighted lottery, Level I filings receive 1 entry, Level II get 2, Level III get 3, and Level IV get 4. 72% of Cognizant's FY2026 filings were Level III or above, giving its candidates an average of 2.9 entries per filing.
Most-sponsored job titles
| Job title | Filings | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|
| Manager Jc50 | 2,509 | $115,632 |
| Associate Jc60 -Computer Systems Engineers | 1,024 | $89,337 |
| Manager Jc45 | 771 | $141,375 |
| Sa Jc60 | 470 | $89,225 |
| Mgr. Jc50 | 429 | $110,205 |
| Mgr. Jc45 | 202 | $140,189 |
| Ad Jc40 | 144 | $147,585 |
| Associate Jc60 | 142 | $104,743 |
| Mgr Jc45-Software Quality Assurance Analysts And Testers | 65 | $132,124 |
| Associate Director Jc40 | 19 | $151,155 |
Top worksite states
TX
992 filings
NJ
598 filings
NC
499 filings
CA
415 filings
IL
402 filings
CT
359 filings
GA
343 filings
OH
236 filings
VA
187 filings
AZ
164 filings
Year-over-year trend
Cognizant filed 11,164 H-1B applications in FY2025 versus 5,799 in FY2026 — a decrease of 48.1%.
Cognizant H-1B FAQs
Does Cognizant sponsor H-1B visas?
Yes. Cognizant filed 5,799 H-1B labor condition applications in FY2026, ranking #3 nationally. A labor condition application (LCA) is the required first step before an H-1B petition, so this filing volume is a strong signal of active sponsorship.
What is Cognizant's H-1B approval rate?
99.9% of Cognizant's FY2026 H-1B filings were certified by the Department of Labor. Note that LCA certification is distinct from USCIS petition approval, but a high certification rate indicates clean, compliant filings.
How much does Cognizant pay H-1B workers?
Cognizant's median offered salary for H-1B roles in FY2026 was $111,030 (average $113,524). Individual offers vary by role, level, and worksite — the tables above break it down by job title.
Which jobs does Cognizant sponsor most on H-1B?
Manager Jc50 leads with 2,509 filings in FY2026 at an average offered salary of $115,632. Other frequently sponsored roles are listed in the table above.
Where does Cognizant hire H-1B workers?
TX is Cognizant's top H-1B worksite state with 992 filings in FY2026, followed by NJ (598) and NC (499). Worksite reflects where the job is performed, which may differ from headquarters.
What are the H-1B lottery odds at Cognizant?
No employer can guarantee lottery selection, but wage levels matter: under the 2026 wage-weighted system, Level I filings get 1 entry while Level IV get 4. Based on Cognizant's FY2026 wage mix, its candidates averaged 2.9 entries per filing. Higher-wage offers at the same employer carry better odds.
Other top H-1B sponsors
Data source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification — Labor Condition Application disclosure data, FY2024–FY2026. An LCA is filed by the employer before an H-1B petition; disclosure data does not indicate USCIS petition outcomes. Last updated: October 2026.