Minimal H-1B Activity for GIS Technologists and Technicians
Explore H-1B visa filings for Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 100 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 92% |
| Average Salary | $86,712 |
| Salary Range | $35,000 - $187,657 |
| Top Sponsor | Utility Data Contractors, LLC (formerly Inc.) |
| Primary Location | California |
Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians is one of the H-1B visa categories with 13 filings and an average salary of $106,857. H-1B hiring for Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians is extremely limited, with only 13 total petitions filed. The vast majority of petitions (12 out of 13) were filed for FY2025, indicating a very recent and nascent trend. Geographic distribution is highly concentrated, with Texas and California receiving the most petitions (3 each).
| Total Filings | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 92% |
| Average Salary | $86,712 |
| Median Salary | $77,436 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,560 |
| 75th Percentile | $104,000 |
| Minimum Salary | $35,000 |
| Maximum Salary | $187,657 |
| 10th Percentile | $58,802 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,560 |
| Median (50th) | $77,436 |
| 75th Percentile | $104,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $132,579 |
| Average | $86,712 |
| Sample Size | 98 |
| Visa Class | Filings |
|---|---|
| H-1B | 95 |
| E-3 AUSTRALIAN | 5 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 100 |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| California | 19 |
| Florida | 10 |
| Texas | 10 |
| Massachusetts | 5 |
| Virginia | 5 |
| North Carolina | 5 |
| Missouri | 4 |
| Maryland | 4 |
| Illinois | 4 |
| New York | 3 |
Given the extremely low H-1B petition volume, focus on building a strong network and demonstrating highly specialized GIS skills that are in demand by employers who may not typically sponsor.
The average H-1B salary for Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians is $106,857, with a median of $91,100. The 25th-75th percentile range is $84,219 to $117,582.
Top H-1B sponsors for Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians include Board of Water and Sewer Commissioner of the City of Mobile, Indigo Beam LLC, Utility Data Contractors, LLC (formerly Inc.), Texas A&M Forest Service, Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.. A total of 10 employers have filed for this role.
There are 13 H-1B filings on record for Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians positions. 84.6% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians positions are Texas (3), California (3), Alabama (2), Pennsylvania (2), Missouri (1).
Yes, Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 13 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians salaries range from $68,000 to $187,657. The median salary is $91,100.
The approval rate for Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians H-1B petitions is 84.6%. The extremely low petition count suggests a highly competitive or niche market for H-1B employment in this role.
The overwhelming focus on FY2025 petitions indicates that employers are just beginning to explore or utilize H-1B for this specific occupation.
Given the extremely low H-1B petition volume, focus on building a strong network and demonstrating highly specialized GIS skills that are in demand by employers who may not typically sponsor.
The data does not provide enough volume to establish significant geographic trends beyond the top two states.
The Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians occupation (SOC code 15-129902) is classified under the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The SOC system groups workers into occupational categories based on the type of work performed, providing a standardized framework for comparing wages, employment levels, and workforce trends across the United States.
Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians positions fall within the specialty occupation category required for H-1B visa sponsorship, meaning they typically require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at minimum a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in the specific specialty. Based on H-1B filing data, the most common education requirement for Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians positions is Not Specified (100 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 100 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians positions show an average offered salary of $86,712, with a range from $35,000 at the entry level to $187,657 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in California (19 filings) and Florida (10 filings).
Career outlook for Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians professionals is closely tied to industry demand for specialized skills. Employers sponsoring H-1B workers for this role are demonstrating that they could not find sufficient qualified U.S. workers to fill these positions, which often signals strong demand and competitive compensation. Workers in this occupation may also be eligible for other visa categories including L-1 intracompany transfers, O-1 extraordinary ability visas, or employment-based green card sponsorship through the PERM process.
To sponsor a foreign worker for an H-1B visa in a Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians role, U.S. employers must satisfy several requirements established by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and enforced by both the Department of Labor (DOL) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):
The position must qualify as a "specialty occupation," meaning it requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at minimum a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a specific specialty directly related to the position. For Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians roles, H-1B filings indicate that employers most commonly require a Not Specified degree. USCIS evaluates whether the position itself, not just the employer's preference, genuinely requires specialized education.
Employers must pay H-1B workers at least the prevailing wage for the occupation in the geographic area of employment, as determined by the DOL. The prevailing wage is based on four skill levels (Level 1 through Level 4) that reflect the complexity of the job duties and required experience. For Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians positions, the average offered salary of $86,712 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 10.9%, with 63% of filings offering above the prevailing wage.
Before filing the H-1B petition, employers must obtain a certified LCA from the DOL. The LCA requires employers to attest to four conditions: (1) paying at least the prevailing wage or actual wage, whichever is higher; (2) providing working conditions that do not adversely affect similarly employed U.S. workers; (3) no strike or lockout at the worksite; and (4) proper notice of the filing to workers. The overall LCA approval rate for Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians positions is 92%.
The annual H-1B cap is set at 65,000 regular visas plus 20,000 for beneficiaries with U.S. master's degrees or higher (the "master's cap"). Certain employers, including institutions of higher education, nonprofit research organizations, and government research organizations, are exempt from the cap. Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians positions at cap-exempt employers can be filed at any time during the year, while cap-subject employers must participate in the annual H-1B lottery, typically held in March for the following fiscal year.
H-1B visas are initially granted for up to three years and can be extended for a maximum of six years total. Workers who have an approved I-140 immigrant petition (part of the green card process) may be eligible for extensions beyond the six-year limit under the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act (AC21). The average contract duration for Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians H-1B filings is approximately 34 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians positions.
| City | State | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Houston | Texas | 5 |
| Sunrise | Florida | 5 |
| Chicago | Illinois | 4 |
| WINDERMERE | Florida | 3 |
| Sacramento | California | 3 |
| Alhambra | California | 3 |
| Los Angeles | California | 3 |
| Laurel | Maryland | 3 |
| New York | New York | 2 |
| Westborough | Massachusetts | 2 |
Other H-1B job categories related to Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians, grouped by similar SOC classification codes.