IBM H-1B Visa Sponsorship Data 2026
IBM filed 1,236 H-1B labor condition applications in fiscal year 2026, ranking #28 out of 1,000 sponsoring employers in our database — down 57.3% from last year.
Of those filings, 59.6% were certified by the Department of Labor, with a median offered salary of $129,258, 2% above the national H-1B median of $126,403.
55% of IBM'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.
IBM's most-sponsored roles in FY2026 were Application Developer (272 cases), Package Consultant (70 cases), Application Architect (60 cases). Its heaviest H-1B hiring was in TX (247), NJ (145), CA (127).
FY2026 filings
1,236
Rank #28 nationally
Approval rate
59.6%
736 certified
Median salary
$129,258
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. 55% of IBM'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 |
|---|---|---|
| Application Developer | 272 | $107,003 |
| Package Consultant | 70 | $127,346 |
| Application Architect | 60 | $149,339 |
| Software Developer | 56 | $189,892 |
| Test Specialist | 44 | $84,983 |
| Software Engineer | 37 | $161,479 |
| Data Engineer | 32 | $120,800 |
| Project Manager | 30 | $127,345 |
| Package Specialist | 29 | $124,488 |
| Research Scientist | 26 | $231,723 |
Top worksite states
TX
247 filings
NJ
145 filings
CA
127 filings
NY
122 filings
GA
99 filings
NC
76 filings
IL
53 filings
PA
46 filings
AZ
45 filings
MA
43 filings
Year-over-year trend
IBM filed 2,895 H-1B applications in FY2025 versus 1,236 in FY2026 — a decrease of 57.3%.
IBM H-1B FAQs
Does IBM sponsor H-1B visas?
Yes. IBM filed 1,236 H-1B labor condition applications in FY2026, ranking #28 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 IBM's H-1B approval rate?
59.6% of IBM'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 IBM pay H-1B workers?
IBM's median offered salary for H-1B roles in FY2026 was $129,258 (average $140,648). Individual offers vary by role, level, and worksite — the tables above break it down by job title.
Which jobs does IBM sponsor most on H-1B?
Application Developer leads with 272 filings in FY2026 at an average offered salary of $107,003. Other frequently sponsored roles are listed in the table above.
Where does IBM hire H-1B workers?
TX is IBM's top H-1B worksite state with 247 filings in FY2026, followed by NJ (145) and CA (127). Worksite reflects where the job is performed, which may differ from headquarters.
What are the H-1B lottery odds at IBM?
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 IBM'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.