What are the typical starting salaries I can expect after graduation in the tech industry in the USA?
Indian graduates from US universities can expect $80,000 to $140,000 as a starting tech salary, with strong software engineering offers from Microsoft, Google, and Meta reaching $160,000 to $196,000 in total compensation, though H-1B sponsorship ultimately shapes long-term earning potential.
Nationality is not what sets your starting salary in US tech; an Indian graduate from a US university is generally competing in the same salary bands as any other new graduate for the same role and employer. The bigger variable is which companies you can realistically target and whether they sponsor work authorization.
Typical New-Grad Compensation by Role
| Role | Typical Base | Strong Total Comp |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $90,000 to $130,000 | $130,000 to $200,000+ |
| Data Scientist or ML Engineer | $100,000 to $140,000 | $140,000 to $200,000+ |
| Cybersecurity | $80,000 to $120,000 | $110,000 to $160,000+ |
| Product Manager | $90,000 to $130,000 | $120,000 to $180,000+ |
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a $135,980 median annual wage for software developers as of May 2025, though this figure includes experienced professionals and should not be read as a new-graduate number. Levels.fyi data puts the US entry-level software engineer median total compensation closer to $144,000, with the middle 50 percent falling roughly between $100,000 and $189,000.
What Pushes Offers to the High End
At large technology employers, new-grad packages including stock and bonus can run considerably higher: current Levels.fyi figures show approximately $160,000 at Microsoft, $196,000 at Google, and $181,000 at Meta for entry-level software engineers. These figures represent the strongest end of the market, not a typical outcome.
The Immigration Factor That Changes Everything
Your ability to work in the US after graduation, and for how long, depends on your visa status. As of September 2026, an ongoing $100,000 fee policy affects certain new H-1B petitions, which is reshaping which employers are willing to sponsor international graduates.
This Information Is Also Available On
US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for software developers.
My Advice
Do not anchor your expectations to headline figures from Google or Meta, since those represent the most competitive tier of the market; a solid, realistic new-grad target for most students is $90,000 to $120,000, with sponsorship availability mattering as much as the salary number itself.
Will you actually get a job after your US master's?
Talk to a counsellor about real outcomes, salaries and which courses employers hire from.
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