Costco H-1B Visa Sponsorship Data 2026
Costco filed 84 H-1B labor condition applications in fiscal year 2026, ranking #510 out of 1,000 sponsoring employers in our database — down 43.6% from last year.
Of those filings, 91.7% were certified by the Department of Labor, with a median offered salary of $151,650, 20% above the national H-1B median of $126,403.
18% of Costco's filings were at prevailing-wage Level III or above. Under the 2026 wage-weighted lottery, that translates to an average of 1.9 lottery entries per candidate — roughly in line with the broader market.
Costco's most-sponsored roles in FY2026 were Software Engineer (46 cases), Quality Engineer (6 cases), Devops Engineer (5 cases). Its heaviest H-1B hiring was in WA (70), TX (8), IL (6).
FY2026 filings
84
Rank #510 nationally
Approval rate
91.7%
77 certified
Median salary
$151,650
National median $126,403
Avg. lottery entries
1.9×
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. 18% of Costco's FY2026 filings were Level III or above, giving its candidates an average of 1.9 entries per filing.
Most-sponsored job titles
| Job title | Filings | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 46 | $154,183 |
| Quality Engineer | 6 | $141,950 |
| Devops Engineer | 5 | $155,040 |
| Bi Engineer | 5 | $157,940 |
| Data Engineer | 4 | $155,825 |
| Security Engineer | 3 | $190,133 |
| Platform Engineer | 3 | $168,067 |
| Functional Analyst | 2 | $154,750 |
| Solution Architect | 2 | $192,600 |
| Tax Accountant | 1 | $99,750 |
Top worksite states
WA
70 filings
TX
8 filings
IL
6 filings
Year-over-year trend
Costco filed 149 H-1B applications in FY2025 versus 84 in FY2026 — a decrease of 43.6%.
Costco H-1B FAQs
Does Costco sponsor H-1B visas?
Yes. Costco filed 84 H-1B labor condition applications in FY2026, ranking #510 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 Costco's H-1B approval rate?
91.7% of Costco'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 Costco pay H-1B workers?
Costco's median offered salary for H-1B roles in FY2026 was $151,650 (average $156,749). Individual offers vary by role, level, and worksite — the tables above break it down by job title.
Which jobs does Costco sponsor most on H-1B?
Software Engineer leads with 46 filings in FY2026 at an average offered salary of $154,183. Other frequently sponsored roles are listed in the table above.
Where does Costco hire H-1B workers?
WA is Costco's top H-1B worksite state with 70 filings in FY2026, followed by TX (8) and IL (6). Worksite reflects where the job is performed, which may differ from headquarters.
What are the H-1B lottery odds at Costco?
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 Costco's FY2026 wage mix, its candidates averaged 1.9 entries per filing. Higher-wage offers at the same employer carry better odds.
Other top H-1B sponsors
University Of South Florida
85 filings
Centene Management
84 filings
Credit Karma
84 filings
Oregon Health & Science University
84 filings
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.