New minimum salaries for tech workers holding or applying for H1B visas

New minimum salaries for tech workers holding or applying for H1B visas

On October 8, the Trump administration announced higher pay requirements for H-1B Visa eligibility.

Under the new rule, companies would have to pay entry-level workers (who are also H-1B applicants or holders) in the 45th percentile of their profession’s salary rather than the 17th percentile. Wages for higher-skilled workers would rise to the 95th percentile from the 67th percentile.

New percentiles:

  • Level 1 (entry-level): 45th
  • Level 2 (experienced): 62th
  • Level 3 (qualified): 78th
  • Level 4 (competent): 95th

The U.S. government’s Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLCDC) doesn’t give the exact 45th and 95th percentiles for all roles, but it does provide the median wage for each category as well as 50th and 90th percentiles.

The wage data below is effective for the period from October 8, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

Computer Systems Analysts

Occupation description: Analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to implement and improve computer systems. Analyze user requirements, procedures, and problems to automate or improve existing systems and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and scheduling limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software.

San Francisco — Oakland — Hayward:

  • 50th percentile: $120,180
  • 90th percentile: $172,290

San Jose — Sunnyvale — Santa Clara:

  • 50th percentile: $118,600
  • 90th percentile: $182,340

New York — Newark — Jersey City:

  • 50th percentile: $105,690
  • 90th percentile: $172,900

Wages by level (California):

  • Level 1 Wage: $56.23/hour – $116,958/year
  • Level 2 Wage: $68.91/hour – $143,333/year
  • Level 3 Wage: $81.59/hour – $169,707/year
  • Level 4 Wage: $94.27/hour – $196,082/year
  • Mean Wage (H-2B): $58.32/hour – $121,306/year

Information Security Analysts

Occupation description: Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

San Francisco — Oakland — Hayward:

  • 50th percentile: $118,590
  • 90th percentile: $188,520

San Jose — Sunnyvale — Santa Clara:

  • 50th percentile: $132,530
  • 90th percentile: $197,860

New York — Newark — Jersey City:

  • 50th percentile: $124,300
  • 90th percentile: $192,660

Wages by level (California):

  • Level 1 Wage: $55.79/hour – $116,043/year
  • Level 2 Wage: $70.90/hour – $147,472/year
  • Level 3 Wage: $86.02/hour – $178,922/year
  • Level 4 Wage: $101.13/hour – $210,350/year
  • Mean Wage (H-2B): $58.93/hour – $122,574/year

Computer Programmers

Occupation description: Create, modify, and test the code, forms, and script that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software developers or other individuals. May assist software developers by analyzing user needs and designing software solutions. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

San Francisco — Oakland — Hayward:

  • 50th percentile: $114,060
  • 90th percentile: $164,820

San Jose — Sunnyvale — Santa Clara:

  • 50th percentile: $113,010
  • 90th percentile: $163,000

New York — Newark — Jersey City:

  • 50th percentile: $92,100
  • 90th percentile: $154,540

Wages by level (California):

  • Level 1 Wage: $53.82/hour – $111,946/year
  • Level 2 Wage: $66.58/hour – $138,486/year
  • Level 3 Wage: $79.34/hour – $165,027/year
  • Level 4 Wage: $92.10/hour – $191,568/year
  • Mean Wage (H-2B): $55.96/hour – $116,397/year

Software Developers, Applications

Occupation description: Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Design software or customize software for client use with the aim of optimizing operational efficiency. May analyze and design databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team. May supervise computer programmers.

San Francisco — Oakland — Hayward:

  • 50th percentile: $140,960
  • 90th percentile: $205,590

San Jose — Sunnyvale — Santa Clara:

  • 50th percentile: $141,550
  • 90th percentile: $207,200

New York — Newark — Jersey City:

  • 50th percentile: $117,680
  • 90th percentile: $181,210

Wages by level (California):

  • Mean Wage (H-2B): $69.83/hour – $145,246/year

Software Developers, Systems Software

Occupation description: Research, design, develop, and test operating systems-level software, compilers, and network distribution software for medical, industrial, military, communications, aerospace, business, scientific, and general computing applications. Set operational specifications and formulate and analyze software requirements. May design embedded systems software. Apply principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis.

San Francisco — Oakland — Hayward:

  • 50th percentile: $140,960
  • 90th percentile: $205,590

San Jose — Sunnyvale — Santa Clara:

  • 50th percentile: $141,550
  • 90th percentile: $207,200

New York — Newark — Jersey City:

  • 50th percentile: $117,680
  • 90th percentile: $181,210

Wages by level (California):

  • Mean Wage (H-2B): $69.83/hour – $145,246/year

Web Developers

Occupation description: Design, create, and modify Web sites. Analyze user needs to implement Web site content, graphics, performance, and capacity. May integrate Web sites with other computer applications. May convert written, graphic, audio, and video components to compatible Web formats by using software designed to facilitate the creation of Web and multimedia content.

San Francisco — Oakland — Hayward:

  • 50th percentile: $110,530
  • 90th percentile: $169,950

San Jose — Sunnyvale — Santa Clara:

  • 50th percentile: $96,410
  • 90th percentile: $160,410

New York — Newark — Jersey City:

  • 50th percentile: $79,800
  • 90th percentile: $150,010

Wages by level (California):

  • Level 1 Wage: $50.18/hour – $104,374/year
  • Level 2 Wage: $63.83/hour – $132,766/year
  • Level 3 Wage: $77.49/hour – $161,179/year
  • Level 4 Wage: $91.14/hour – $189,571/year
  • Mean Wage (H-2B): $53.26/hour – $110,781/year

Database Administrators

Occupation description: Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.

San Francisco — Oakland — Hayward:

  • 50th percentile: $102,130
  • 90th percentile: $165,240

San Jose — Sunnyvale — Santa Clara:

  • 50th percentile: $138,490
  • 90th percentile: $205,670

New York — Newark — Jersey City:

  • 50th percentile: $110,520
  • 90th percentile: $170,120

Wages by level (California):

  • Level 1 Wage: $44.34/hour – $92,227/year
  • Level 2 Wage: $61.20/hour – $127,296/year
  • Level 3 Wage: $78.07/hour – $162,386/year
  • Level 4 Wage: $94.93/hour – $197,454/year
  • Mean Wage (H-2B): $51.89/hour – $107,931/year

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Occupation description: Install, configure, and support an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and Internet systems or a segment of a network system. Monitor network to ensure network availability to all system users and may perform necessary maintenance to support network availability. May monitor and test Web site performance to ensure Web sites operate correctly and without interruption. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software. May supervise computer user support specialists and computer network support specialists. May administer network security measures.

San Francisco — Oakland — Hayward:

  • 50th percentile: $100,150
  • 90th percentile: $155,910

San Jose — Sunnyvale — Santa Clara:

  • 50th percentile: $114,500
  • 90th percentile: $191,490

New York — Newark — Jersey City:

  • 50th percentile: $99,880
  • 90th percentile: $159,660

Wages by level (California):

  • Level 1 Wage: $44.69/hour – $92,955/year
  • Level 2 Wage: $57.02/hour – $118,602/year
  • Level 3 Wage: $69.34/hour – $144,227/year
  • Level 4 Wage: $81.67/hour – $169,874/year
  • Mean Wage (H-2B): $50.18/hour – $104,374/year

Computer Network Architects

Occupation description: Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.

San Francisco — Oakland — Hayward:

  • 50th percentile: $140,140
  • 90th percentile: $196,990

San Jose — Sunnyvale — Santa Clara:

  • 50th percentile: $157,770
  • 90th percentile: $208,000+

New York — Newark — Jersey City:

  • 50th percentile: $130,130
  • 90th percentile: $196,250

Wages by level (California):

  • Level 1 Wage :$65.80/hour – $136,864/year
  • Level 2 Wage: $77.95/hour – $162,136/year
  • Level 3 Wage: $90.09/hour – $187,387/year
  • Level 4 Wage: $102.24/hour – $212,659/year
  • Mean Wage (H-2B): $66.21/hour – $137,717/year

Computer User Support Specialists

Occupation description: Provide technical assistance to computer users. Answer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, or via telephone or electronically. May provide assistance concerning the use of computer hardware and software, including printing, installation, word processing, electronic mail, and operating systems.

San Francisco — Oakland — Hayward:

  • 50th percentile: $72,810
  • 90th percentile: $111,630

San Jose — Sunnyvale — Santa Clara:

  • 50th percentile: $75,600
  • 90th percentile: $142,630

New York — Newark — Jersey City:

  • 50th percentile: $61,230
  • 90th percentile: $102,850

Wages by level (California):

  • Level 1 Wage: $35.16/hour – $73,133/year
  • Level 2 Wage: $43.25/hour – $89,960/year
  • Level 3 Wage: $51.35/hour – $106,808/year
  • Level 4 Wage: $59.44/hour – $123,635/year
  • Mean Wage (H-2B): $36.37/hour – $75,650/year

Computer Network Support Specialists

Occupation description: Analyze, test, troubleshoot, and evaluate existing network systems, such as local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and Internet systems or a segment of a network system. Perform network maintenance to ensure networks operate correctly with minimal interruption.

San Francisco — Oakland — Hayward:

  • 50th percentile: $82,680
  • 90th percentile: $130,440

San Jose — Sunnyvale — Santa Clara:

  • 50th percentile: $83,200
  • 90th percentile: $126,700

New York — Newark — Jersey City:

  • 50th percentile: $82,350
  • 90th percentile: $129,200

Wages by level (California):

  • Level 1 Wage: $36.12/hour – $75,130/year
  • Level 2 Wage: $47.64/hour – $99,091/year
  • Level 3 Wage: $59.16/hour – $123,053/year
  • Level 4 Wage: $70.68/hour – $147,014/year
  • Mean Wage (H-2B): $41.34/hour – $85,987/year

Computer Occupations, All Other

Other computer occupations include the following:

  • Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers: Develop and execute software test plans in order to identify software problems and their causes.
  • Database Architects: Design strategies for enterprise database systems and set standards for operations, programming, and security. Design and construct large relational databases. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.
  • Business Intelligence Analysts: Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.
  • Video Game Designers: Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.
  • And more.

San Francisco — Oakland — Hayward:

  • 50th percentile: $110,910
  • 90th percentile: $190,910

San Jose — Sunnyvale — Santa Clara:

  • 50th percentile: $135,290
  • 90th percentile: $202,700

New York — Newark — Jersey City:

  • 50th percentile: $88,550
  • 90th percentile: $153,520

Wages by level (California):

  • Level 1 Wage: $38.92/hour – $80,954/year
  • Level 2 Wage: $54.15/hour – $112,632/year
  • Level 3 Wage: $69.38/hour – $144,310/year
  • Level 4 Wage: $84.61/hour – $175,989/year
  • Mean Wage (H-2B): $43.93/hour – $91,374/year

According to The New York Times, the Department of Homeland Security’s rule, which takes effect in 60 days, would also tighten the eligibility for visa applicants. The rule would require the foreign workers to have a degree in the “specialty occupation” they apply for, rather than any college degree. Some would also need to show how their studies provided “a body of highly specialized knowledge” for a potential job in the United States.

Please share this article: