Uber Technologies Inc. has ramped up its pursuit of global talent amid a push into artificial intelligence and super-app ambitions, with recent H-1B visa filings shedding light on the compensation packages it’s offering to foreign workers in the U.S. According to data analyzed from the company’s submissions to the U.S. Department of Labor, Uber is dangling six-figure salaries to attract engineers, data scientists, and project managers, often exceeding industry averages in competitive tech hubs like San Francisco and New York.

The filings, which cover positions approved in the first half of 2025, reveal a median base salary of around $173,600 for tech roles, with top earners in senior engineering positions commanding up to $360,000 annually. This surge in H-1B applications—nearly 500 this year, a 43% increase from 2024—signals Uber’s aggressive expansion beyond ride-hailing into areas like autonomous vehicles and AI-driven services.

AI Focus Drives Premium Pay for Specialists

For data scientists, a critical role in Uber’s AI initiatives, base salaries range from $150,000 to $230,000, depending on experience and location. A senior data scientist in San Francisco, for instance, can earn $225,000, plus bonuses and equity that push total compensation higher. This aligns with broader trends in the tech sector, where companies are vying for AI expertise amid a talent shortage.

Project managers, overseeing complex integrations for Uber’s evolving platform, see salaries between $140,000 and $220,000. One filing highlighted a senior project manager role in Seattle at $210,000, reflecting the premium placed on professionals who can navigate regulatory and technical challenges in the gig economy.

Engineering Roles Command Top Dollar

Software engineers form the backbone of Uber’s H-1B hires, with staff-level positions offering $225,000 to $258,800 in base pay. According to a report in The Times of India, these figures underscore Uber’s strategy to build a “super app” that combines rides, food delivery, and more, requiring top-tier coding talent. Comparatively, similar roles at rivals like Amazon show engineers earning up to $263,700, as detailed in a Financial Express analysis of Amazon’s 2025 filings.

Beyond base pay, Uber’s packages often include stock options and performance bonuses, potentially elevating total compensation to over $400,000 for elite performers. This is evident in disclosures for roles like machine learning engineers, where salaries hit $250,000, fueled by the company’s investments in predictive algorithms for routing and pricing.

Broader Implications for Tech Hiring

The data also highlights disparities: while senior roles fetch high pay, entry-level H-1B positions at Uber start around $100,000, which some critics argue undercuts U.S. workers. Posts on X (formerly Twitter) reflect mixed sentiment, with users noting that average H-1B tech salaries hover at $123,000 industry-wide, raising questions about whether these visas truly target “top talent” or serve as cost-saving measures. One viral thread pointed out that 65% of renewed H-1B visas in 2024 were for tech jobs exceeding that average, yet debates persist on platforms like X about prioritizing American graduates.

Uber’s approach mirrors industry peers; a Business Insider Africa piece revealed similar salary bands for Uber’s developers, emphasizing the ride-hailing giant’s need for diverse skills in a post-pandemic recovery.

Regulatory and Economic Context

These revelations come as the H-1B program faces scrutiny, with updates in 2025 aiming to streamline processes for employers, per a Paycor overview. Uber, with over 1,100 H-1B records from 2022 showing a median of $173,600, continues to leverage the visa to fuel growth, but not without controversy. Critics, echoing sentiments in X discussions, argue that such hiring depresses wages for domestic talent, especially when filings show some roles as low as $60,000 in unrelated sectors.

For industry insiders, Uber’s salary data offers a benchmark: data scientists at Amazon earn up to $230,900, per News18, suggesting Uber’s offers are competitive but not leading. As the company eyes further AI integration, expect these figures to climb, potentially reshaping compensation norms in mobility tech.

Looking Ahead: Talent Wars Intensify

Insiders note that Uber’s H-1B strategy isn’t just about cost—it’s about speed. With rivals like Tesla and Meta also filing aggressively, as seen in H1BData.info archives, the battle for global engineers is heating up. Recent X posts highlight how foreign talent earns 20.5% more when adjusted for experience, countering narratives of wage suppression.

Ultimately, these disclosures provide a rare glimpse into Uber’s inner workings, revealing a company willing to pay premiums for innovation while navigating the complexities of U.S. immigration policy. As 2025 progresses, monitoring these trends will be key for tech recruiters and policymakers alike.