Computer and Information Research Scientists: H-1B wage levels by area (2026-27)
For Computer and Information Research Scientists (SOC 15-1221), the salary that reaches H-1B wage Level II ranges from $69,680 in Lansing, MI to $183,290 in Portland, OR among the 60 areas with the most jobs in the occupation (Department of Labor wage file for 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, read on 7 November 2026). Level II gives 2 lottery entries, Level IV gives 4.
US mean wage (OEWS May 2025): $153,930
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor (OFLC), wage data file 2026-27 (OFLC_Wages_2026-27.zip, updated 1 July 2026); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Read on 7 November 2026. U.S. government data, public domain.
Not legal or immigration advice. This page reports the Department of Labor wage file and the DHS rule as we read them. The level on a registration also depends on the job duties, the SOC code and the place of work chosen for the job, and the employer attests to it. Check with USCIS and the Department of Labor, and ask an immigration lawyer about your own case.
Wage levels in the 60 areas with the most jobs
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3,420 | $110,926 | $138,258 | $165,610 | $192,941 | 1 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,210 | $141,336 | $178,755 | $216,195 | $253,614 | 1 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,100 | $107,515 | $150,738 | $193,960 | $237,182 | 1 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,680 | $83,762 | $107,806 | $131,872 | $155,917 | 1 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,670 | $100,422 | $137,779 | $175,136 | $212,493 | 1 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,620 | $96,678 | $133,702 | $170,726 | $207,750 | 1 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,620 | $123,302 | $163,072 | $202,862 | $242,632 | 1 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 1,070 | $111,322 | $133,307 | $155,293 | $177,278 | 1 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 940 | $93,870 | $126,630 | $159,390 | $192,150 | 1 |
| Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 850 | $93,829 | $112,757 | $131,685 | $150,613 | 1 |
| Ogden, UT | 810 | $81,432 | $93,038 | $104,624 | $116,230 | 1 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 660 | $143,832 | $183,290 | $222,768 | $262,226 | 1 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 650 | $76,606 | $85,634 | $94,640 | $103,667 | 1 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 560 | $73,694 | $86,070 | $98,467 | $110,843 | 1 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 510 | $93,038 | $110,594 | $128,128 | $145,683 | 1 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 490 | $91,208 | $106,891 | $122,574 | $138,258 | 1 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 490 | $75,608 | $109,387 | $143,146 | $176,925 | 1 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 460 | $95,888 | $115,378 | $134,888 | $154,378 | 1 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 430 | $75,317 | $107,141 | $138,986 | $170,810 | 2 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 400 | $90,730 | $106,392 | $122,034 | $137,696 | 1 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 380 | $82,451 | $107,744 | $133,058 | $158,350 | 1 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 360 | $99,798 | $118,726 | $137,634 | $156,562 | 1 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 350 | $88,587 | $104,187 | $119,787 | $135,387 | 1 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 350 | $88,858 | $107,952 | $127,026 | $146,120 | 1 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 300 | $79,914 | $111,987 | $144,082 | $176,155 | 1 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 290 | $98,238 | $120,058 | $141,877 | $163,696 | 1 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 280 | $118,810 | $131,206 | $143,582 | $155,979 | 1 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 250 | $85,010 | $106,850 | $128,690 | $150,530 | 1 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 220 | $128,170 | $155,667 | $183,186 | $210,683 | 1 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 200 | $133,432 | $157,914 | $182,374 | $206,856 | 1 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 160 | $96,928 | $115,149 | $133,390 | $151,611 | 1 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 160 | $92,040 | $118,144 | $144,248 | $170,352 | 1 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 160 | $85,925 | $140,379 | $194,854 | $249,309 | 1 |
| Richmond, VA | 160 | $107,952 | $134,222 | $160,514 | $186,784 | 1 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 160 | $102,482 | $142,334 | $182,166 | $222,019 | 2 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 160 | $90,958 | $109,845 | $128,731 | $147,618 | 1 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 150 | $109,782 | $124,405 | $139,027 | $153,650 | 1 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | 150 | $70,387 | $86,382 | $102,357 | $118,352 | 1 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 150 | $96,242 | $117,666 | $139,110 | $160,534 | 1 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | 140 | $81,411 | $95,514 | $109,595 | $123,698 | 1 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 140 | $95,597 | $129,334 | $163,072 | $196,810 | 1 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 130 | $83,907 | $99,382 | $114,858 | $130,333 | 1 |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 130 | $87,922 | $99,362 | $110,822 | $122,262 | 1 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 120 | $64,771 | $79,248 | $93,725 | $108,202 | 1 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 120 | $81,848 | $101,982 | $122,096 | $142,230 | 1 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 120 | $75,733 | $99,923 | $124,134 | $148,325 | 1 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 110 | $102,107 | $134,014 | $165,901 | $197,808 | 1 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 110 | $83,117 | $101,275 | $119,413 | $137,571 | 1 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 110 | $82,659 | $100,818 | $118,997 | $137,155 | 1 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 110 | $66,227 | $69,680 | $73,154 | $76,606 | 1 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 110 | $79,206 | $110,032 | $140,878 | $171,704 | 1 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 100 | $90,085 | $123,219 | $156,374 | $189,509 | 1 |
| Boulder, CO | 90 | $126,048 | $152,027 | $178,027 | $204,006 | 1 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 90 | $85,072 | $118,123 | $151,174 | $184,226 | 1 |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80 | $82,930 | $99,965 | $117,000 | $134,035 | 1 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 80 | $84,344 | $98,571 | $112,798 | $127,026 | 1 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 70 | $111,821 | $142,293 | $172,744 | $203,216 | 1 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 60 | $83,616 | $113,235 | $142,875 | $172,494 | 1 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 60 | $118,934 | $141,669 | $164,403 | $187,138 | 1 |
| Tucson, AZ | 60 | $57,054 | $75,442 | $93,808 | $112,195 | 1 |
Yearly salary from which each level starts. Jobs: people employed in the occupation in the area (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Geo level 1 = wage computed from the area itself; 2 = area plus contiguous areas; 3 = statewide; 4 = national (OFLC). Tap a column heading to sort.
The US mean wage for computer and information research scientists is $153,930 (median $140,300). In 5 of these 60 areas Level II starts above the US mean.
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor (OFLC), wage data file 2026-27 (OFLC_Wages_2026-27.zip, updated 1 July 2026); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Read on 7 November 2026. U.S. government data, public domain.
Lottery entries
Level I = 1 entry, Level II = 2, Level III = 3, Level IV = 4 (90 FR 60864). DHS estimated a 15.29% chance at Level I and 61.16% at Level IV for its assumed pool: how the odds work.
Questions people ask
What are the H-1B wage level salary ranges for computer and information research scientists?
They depend on the area. Among the 60 areas with the most jobs, Level I starts between $57,054 and $143,832 a year, and Level IV between $76,606 and $262,226.
What is the H-1B Level II salary for computer and information research scientists?
From $69,680 in Lansing, MI to $183,290 in Portland, OR among the main areas; in 5 of the 60 areas it is above the US mean wage of the occupation ($153,930).
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