SCIENTIFIC CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS, INC. · ASHEVILLE, North Carolina
Case #I-200-23087-884751
SCIENTIFIC CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS, INC. filed an H-1B petition for a SEAFOOD SUSTAINABILITY SCIENTIST position in ASHEVILLE, North Carolina at $144k per year — 93% above the prevailing wage of $74k. The case was certified in 170 days during the FY FY2023 cycle. This position is for continued employment.
| Case Number | I-200-23087-884751 |
| Case Status | Certified - Withdrawn |
| Visa Class | H-1B |
| Fiscal Year | FY 2023 |
| Employer | SCIENTIFIC CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS, INC. |
| Employer Location | EMERYVILLE, California |
| Job Title | SEAFOOD SUSTAINABILITY SCIENTIST |
| SOC Code | 19-204100 – Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health |
| Worksite | ASHEVILLE, North Carolina |
| Annual Wage | $144k |
| Prevailing Wage | $74k |
| Wage Premium | +93.4% |
| Positions | 1 (0 new, 1 continued) |
| Job Title | Salary | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sr. Marketing Analyst | $111k | CERTIFIED | May 1, 2025 |
| Sr. Technical Specialist, Aquaculture | $76k | CERTIFIED | Apr 25, 2025 |
| Technical Specialist | $70k | CERTIFIED | Apr 15, 2025 |
| Life Cycle Associate | $85k | CERTIFIED | Dec 17, 2024 |
| Life Cycle Associate | $82k | CERTIFIED | May 16, 2024 |
This Labor Condition Application (LCA) was filed by SCIENTIFIC CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS, INC. for the position of SEAFOOD SUSTAINABILITY SCIENTIST in ASHEVILLE, North Carolina. The offered annual salary is $144k, compared to the prevailing wage of $74k for this occupation and location. This represents a wage premium of +93.4% above the prevailing wage.
The LCA is the first step in the H-1B visa process. Employers must file an LCA with the Department of Labor certifying that they will pay the foreign worker at least the prevailing wage for the occupation in the area of intended employment. A certified LCA is required before the employer can file an H-1B petition with USCIS.
Case status: Certified - Withdrawn. This means the employer or their representative withdrew the application.
A Labor Condition Application (LCA) is a mandatory document that U.S. employers must file with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) before they can petition for a foreign worker under the H-1B, H-1B1, or E-3 visa categories. The LCA process was established under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to protect both foreign and domestic workers by ensuring fair wages and working conditions.
When a U.S. company identifies a foreign national to fill a specialty occupation position, they must first obtain DOL certification through the LCA process before filing the H-1B petition (Form I-129) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In this case, SCIENTIFIC CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS, INC. filed LCA case number I-200-23087-884751 to sponsor a SEAFOOD SUSTAINABILITY SCIENTIST position at their worksite in ASHEVILLE, North Carolina. By filing this LCA, the employer attests to four key conditions: (1) paying the higher of the actual wage or prevailing wage, (2) providing working conditions that will not adversely affect other similarly employed workers, (3) no strike or lockout at the worksite, and (4) providing notice of the filing to the bargaining representative or posting notice at the worksite.
The DOL establishes four wage levels for each occupation and geographic area, representing the progression from entry-level to fully competent workers:
For this filing, the offered wage of $144k compares to the DOL prevailing wage of $74k for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health positions in the ASHEVILLE, North Carolina area. The positive wage premium of +93.4% indicates the employer is offering above the DOL-determined average for this occupation and location.
The prevailing wage is the average wage paid to similarly employed workers in a specific occupation in the area of intended employment. The DOL determines prevailing wages using data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employers must pay H-1B workers the higher of the prevailing wage or the actual wage paid to other employees in similar positions at the company. This requirement is designed to prevent employers from using H-1B workers to undercut domestic wages.
A "Certified-Withdrawn" status means this LCA was initially certified by the DOL but was later withdrawn by the employer. This can happen for various reasons: the foreign worker may have declined the position, found employment elsewhere, the employer may have decided to refile with updated information, or business conditions may have changed. A withdrawal does not negatively affect the employer's ability to file future LCAs.
This LCA was received by the DOL on Mar 28, 2023 and a decision was rendered on Sep 14, 2023, a processing time of approximately 170 business days. The standard DOL processing time for LCA applications is 7 to 10 business days. This application took longer than the standard timeframe, which may indicate additional review was required.
The offered salary of $144k for this SEAFOOD SUSTAINABILITY SCIENTIST position provides a data point for evaluating compensation trends in H-1B visa sponsorship. When reviewing H-1B salary data, consider that wages vary significantly based on geographic location, employer size, industry sector, and the worker's experience level. This position falls under SOC code 19-204100 (Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health), which standardizes how the Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies occupations across industries. Metropolitan areas like New York, San Francisco, and Seattle typically command higher salaries due to higher costs of living, while positions in smaller markets may offer lower nominal wages but comparable purchasing power.
The offered annual salary for this SEAFOOD SUSTAINABILITY SCIENTIST position at SCIENTIFIC CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS, INC. is $144k. The Department of Labor prevailing wage for this occupation and location is $74k. The offered wage represents a +93.4% premium over the prevailing wage.
This H-1B filing is for a position located in ASHEVILLE, North Carolina. The employing company, SCIENTIFIC CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS, INC., is headquartered in EMERYVILLE, California.
This Labor Condition Application is filed under the H-1B visa classification. The H-1B visa is designed for specialty occupation workers who possess at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent in a specific field related to the job.
The employer for this filing is SCIENTIFIC CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS, INC., located in EMERYVILLE, California. SCIENTIFIC CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS, INC. filed this Labor Condition Application (case number I-200-23087-884751) for a SEAFOOD SUSTAINABILITY SCIENTIST position during fiscal year FY 2023. View all SCIENTIFIC CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS, INC. H-1B filings.
Certified-Withdrawn means this LCA was initially certified by the DOL but was subsequently withdrawn by the employer or their authorized representative.