Question 1

What is the median H-1B salary at University of California, Santa Cruz?

Accepted Answer

University of California, Santa Cruz pays a median H-1B salary of $90,000 for sponsored positions, with an average of $99,487. The average prevailing wage across University of California, Santa Cruz's filings is $75,124. These figures are based on Labor Condition Application filings with the Department of Labor.

Question 2

What is a prevailing wage determination?

Accepted Answer

A prevailing wage determination (PWD) is a wage rate set by the Department of Labor for a specific occupation and geographic area. Before filing an LCA, employers request a PWD from the DOL, which surveys wage data to determine what workers in similar roles are typically paid in that location. H-1B employers must pay at least the prevailing wage or the actual wage paid to other employees in the same role, whichever is higher. The prevailing wage column in the table above shows the DOL-determined floor for each position.

Question 3

How does University of California, Santa Cruz pay compared to the prevailing wage?

Accepted Answer

University of California, Santa Cruz's average offered wage is $99,487, compared to an average prevailing wage of $75,124 across its filings. When a company pays above the prevailing wage, it indicates the offered salary exceeds the DOL-determined market rate for the occupation and area. The salary table above shows both the offered and prevailing wages for each individual filing.

Question 4

What are H-1B wage levels I through IV?

Accepted Answer

The DOL sets prevailing wages at four levels: Level I (Entry) at the 17th percentile, Level II (Qualified) at the 34th percentile, Level III (Experienced) at the 50th percentile, and Level IV (Expert) at the 67th percentile. These levels reflect the complexity of the job duties and experience required. The prevailing wage is specific to each occupation (SOC code) and metropolitan statistical area. Higher wage levels indicate more senior positions.

Question 5

What is the H-1B salary requirement?

Accepted Answer

There is no single minimum salary for H-1B visas. Employers must pay the higher of the actual wage (what they pay other employees in the same role) or the prevailing wage determined by the DOL for the specific occupation and geographic area. The prevailing wage varies by job, location, and wage level. A Level I software engineer in a small metro area will have a very different floor than a Level IV software engineer in San Francisco or New York.

Job Title	Positions	Min	Median	Max
Assistant Professor	90	$75,000	$105,800	$180,000
Assistant Project Scientist	48	$54,800	$77,150	$95,900
Postdoctoral Scholar	38	$51,324	$66,924	$85,933
Associate Project Scientist	15	$68,900	$81,120	$100,300
Professor	10	$90,000	$203,800	$309,500
Assistant Researcher	9	$72,800	$92,900	$117,900
Specialist	8	$87,000	$113,250	$130,000
Lecturer	7	$76,814	$83,000	$130,790
Post Doctoral Scholar	7	$56,400	$60,000	$68,189
Assistant Research Scientist	6	$110,000	$114,550	$158,700
Associate Researcher	4	$98,000	$102,950	$133,500
Adaptive Optics Simulation Scientist	4	$75,800	$85,015	$96,100
Associate Professor	4	$127,000	$143,650	$150,000
Associate Specialist	4	$67,400	$81,750	$99,700
Assistant Specialist	3	$61,300	$61,300	$65,000
Postdoctoral Fellow	3	$56,100	$75,712	$90,000
Acting Professor	3	$131,700	$170,000	$190,000
Lecturer With Potential Security Of Employment	3	$81,000	$102,000	$107,705
Business Systems Analyst 3	2	$83,949	$88,931	$93,912
Acting Assistant Professor	2	$122,000	$124,800	$127,600

Location	Positions	Min	Median	Max
Santa Cruz, California	284	$51,324	$90,000	$360,000
La Jolla, California	8	$79,186	$96,550	$107,900
Monterey, California	7	$73,000	$89,773	$95,900
Scotts Valley, California	3	$82,480	$116,750	$126,432
Berkeley, California	2	$67,250	$75,075	$82,900
Castro Valley, California	2	$125,676	$141,714	$157,752
Sacramento, California	2	$86,820	$92,410	$98,000
Santa Clara, California	2	$125,000	$139,650	$154,300
Mt. Hamilton, California	1	$111,500	$111,500	$111,500
Nebraska City, Nebraska	1	$77,500	$77,500	$77,500

University of California, Santa Cruz — H-1B Sponsored Salaries

University of California, Santa Cruz H1B Salaries

Salary Distribution (2026)

Salary by Job Title (2026)

Salary by Location (2026)

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