Uber ramped up its use of the H‑1B visa in 2025, filing nearly 500 applications by midyear—a 43% jump from the same period in 2024—as top corporate roles, especially at the Senior Director and advanced Engineering levels, now carry base pay that often tops $350,000. Company listings show almost 800 open jobs as of August, with most openings in engineering, sales, and operations.
The push reflects Uber’s public plan under CEO Dara Khosrowshahi to grow into a “super app” that links ride‑hailing, food delivery, logistics, and new technologies, including self‑driving systems. Uber’s filings and job ads indicate the company is competing hard for AI, software, and data science talent in the United States 🇺🇸, offering pay packages designed to draw scarce specialists.
Hiring focus and compensation trends
The latest headcount strategy is focused on corporate employees rather than drivers. According to company job postings and pay bands:
- Base salaries are strong across technical and management tracks, with total compensation often higher once bonuses and stock awards are included.
- By mid‑2025, Uber’s H‑1B activity—reflected in Labor Condition Applications and subsequent visa petitions—had accelerated in tandem with that expansion plan.
- VisaVerge.com reports this approach matches broader hiring patterns among major tech firms fighting for AI and back‑end platform skills.
Industry analysts say Uber’s approach fits a larger pattern: companies that run complex platforms and logistics networks need expert engineers and data teams to grow new products. Raising base pay at the Senior Director and Staff levels helps close deals with candidates who may have multiple offers. Labor market experts add that this pattern can raise salaries for both domestic and international workers as firms try to keep critical teams staffed.
Salary benchmarks and open roles
Uber’s published base pay ranges (excluding bonuses and equity) show the steepest growth at the top of the ladder, where the H‑1B pipeline often feeds senior technical leadership. The company’s ranges include:
- Senior Director, Engineering: up to $360,000
- Manager, Engineering: $235,100–$287,000
- Staff Software Engineer: $225,200–$266,400
- Senior Software Engineer: $151,819–$235,500
- Senior Technical Program Manager: up to $215,900
- Senior Manager: $230,800–$299,700
- Data Scientist: $125,950–$175,019
- Senior Data Scientist: $150,400–$164,300
- Staff Scientist, Tech: $219,400–$250,000
- Applied Scientist: $133,100–$179,100
- Product Manager: $158,700–$197,000
- Operations and Logistics Managers: $138,650–$142,850
- Regional Operations Manager: $108,600–$140,950
- Manager, Sales Operations: around $157,400
Base pay tells only part of the story. Uber’s total pay is often higher for senior roles due to stock options and annual bonuses. That matters for global candidates comparing offers across the Bay Area and other hubs.
The company listed almost 800 open roles in August 2025, suggesting the hiring cycle remained active in the second half of the year. Given the mix of roles—software, data science, applied research, and operations—the H‑1B route remains central to filling highly specialized jobs that need advanced degrees or deep experience.
Process, approvals, and long‑term sponsorship
Under H‑1B rules, employers must first file a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the U.S. Department of Labor, confirming the wage level for the job and location. Uber follows this step for each role before petitioning U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Petition approvals then allow qualified candidates to work in the U.S. in specialty occupations.
Official program details are available from USCIS on the H‑1B page, which explains eligibility, wage rules, and employer duties.
Key filing data and forms:
- In fiscal year 2025, Uber filed 352
<a href="https://www.uscis.gov/i-129">Form I-129</a>H‑1B petitions, with 351 approved and only 1 denied—a very high approval rate.Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Workeris the core filing used to request H‑1B status; the form and instructions are published by USCIS. - For the wage step, employers use the Department of Labor’s LCA process; the
<a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/forms/eta-9035-9035e">ETA-9035/9035E Labor Condition Application</a>sets wage and location terms ahead of the H‑1B petition. - Beyond temporary visas, Uber filed 481 labor petitions for green cards in the first three quarters of FY2025, signaling an intent to retain top international talent long term.
For candidates, a clear plan for permanent residence can be as important as headline salary: many engineers and scientists favor offers that include a pathway to a green card after settling into a role.
How the application mechanics work
The mechanics of applying are straightforward:
- Submit your application through the company’s careers portal.
- If selected, the employer initiates the LCA with the Department of Labor.
- Once the LCA is certified, the company files the H‑1B petition (Form I‑129) with USCIS.
- After approval, the worker can start or transfer into the role and complete any visa issuance steps if outside the U.S.
Uber lists its main office as 1515 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, though many roles span multiple U.S. locations.
Eligibility, role expectations, and timing
For many candidates, the first question is eligibility. Uber’s current openings point to degrees and experience in:
- Software engineering
- AI and applied research
- Data science
- Operations management
Senior jobs often expect proven leadership over large systems or teams. Staff Software Engineer and Senior Director roles, for example, typically ask for both depth in code or platform architecture and a track record of guiding complex projects.
The timing is important:
- By mid‑2025, Uber had filed almost 500 H‑1B applications, up from about 350 in the same period of 2024—a 43% year‑over‑year rise.
- Combined with almost 800 vacancies, this signals continued demand through the rest of 2025 and beyond.
- The surge has arrived as Uber competes in cities where AI hiring remains tight, often meaning early interviews, short decision windows, and strong counteroffers from other firms.
Candidates frequently ask how base pay compares across cities. While listed bands reflect the higher end of the market, total pay can exceed base pay significantly, especially when equity grants vest over several years. For leadership roles like Senior Director, Engineering, equity and bonuses can push total compensation well above the $360,000 base ceiling, depending on performance.
Practical tips for applicants
A few steps can help prospective applicants:
- Review the role’s minimum requirements and preferred skills, and map your experience to them in plain terms.
- If you receive an interview request, ask early about H‑1B transfer or cap‑subject timing, especially if you are abroad or need a change of status.
- Understand that the LCA must match your job location; remote or hybrid arrangements still require accurate worksite details.
- Confirm whether the role includes green card sponsorship and when the process begins during tenure.
- For high‑pay roles (Senior Director, Staff Engineer, Staff Scientist), early and clear communication about work authorization can help teams move faster on offers.
Important: Speed matters in this market. Early engagement about work authorization and visa timing can materially improve your chance of receiving a timely offer.
Market context and outlook
Analysts say the broader market impact could include higher pay for senior engineers and scientists across the sector as companies match offers to hold teams together. This can also raise bidding for domestic candidates because firms want to keep blended teams intact. Despite higher labor costs, companies expect long‑term gains in faster product delivery and stable platform operations.
Uber’s move does not happen in a vacuum. Many tech companies cut headcount in 2023 and early 2024, then returned to selective hiring in late 2024 and 2025 focused on AI, safety, payments, and logistics. Uber’s history shows steady growth in H‑1B filings over several years, with 2025 marking a clear jump as the company adds features under its super app plan and extends into new markets.
With hundreds of open roles and strong petition approval data, the company appears set to keep recruiting specialized talent through the end of the year.
Official resources and where to apply
For official program rules on who qualifies for H‑1B and how employers file, see these USCIS and Department of Labor resources:
- USCIS H‑1B Specialty Occupations page: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations
- Form I‑129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (USCIS): https://www.uscis.gov/i-129
- ETA‑9035/9035E Labor Condition Application (Department of Labor): https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/forms/eta-9035-9035e
Uber’s careers portal remains the single best window into live roles, pay bands, and hiring locations: https://careers.uber.com.
Given the tight market, move quickly on strong matches—especially for high‑pay technical and leadership roles. Early, transparent discussion of work authorization and sponsorship can help speed offers and secure top positions.
This Article in a Nutshell
Uber boosted H‑1B filings to nearly 500 by mid‑2025 (up 43% year‑over‑year) and advertised almost 800 roles in August, prioritizing senior engineering, AI and data science hires with top base pay up to $360,000 and active green‑card sponsorship.
