H-1B Hiring Trends for Soil and Plant Scientists
Explore H-1B visa filings for Soil and Plant Scientists. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 100 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 97% |
| Average Salary | $75,424 |
| Salary Range | $43,202 - $180,000 |
| Top Sponsor | Qcworldfruit Limited Liability Company |
| Primary Location | California |
Soil and Plant Scientists is one of the H-1B visa categories with 117 filings and an average salary of $71,853. The vast majority of H-1B petitions for Soil and Plant Scientists are new filings, indicating a strong demand for new talent. The average salary offered is slightly above the median, suggesting competitive compensation for this role. California is the leading state for H-1B hires, followed by Wisconsin and Washington.
| Total Filings | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 97% |
| Average Salary | $75,424 |
| Median Salary | $64,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,399 |
| 75th Percentile | $85,800 |
| Minimum Salary | $43,202 |
| Maximum Salary | $180,000 |
| 10th Percentile | $50,066 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,399 |
| Median (50th) | $64,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $85,800 |
| 90th Percentile | $120,000 |
| Average | $75,424 |
| Sample Size | 100 |
| Visa Class | Filings |
|---|---|
| H-1B | 73 |
| H-1B1 CHILE | 26 |
| E-3 AUSTRALIAN | 1 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 100 |
| Employer | Filings | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| QCWORLDFRUIT LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | 5 | $56k |
| Washington State University | 5 | $79k |
| Saniglobal Sanitation LLC | 4 | $51k |
| NATURIPE FARMS IMPORTS, INC. | 3 | $75k |
| Boisset Family Estates | 3 | $50k |
| University of Minnesota | 3 | $65k |
| Oregon State University | 3 | $57k |
| BASF Agricultural Solutions US LLC | 3 | $132k |
| Purdue University | 3 | $63k |
| Johnny's Selected Seeds | 3 | $92k |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| California | 15 |
| Pennsylvania | 7 |
| New Jersey | 7 |
| Texas | 6 |
| Minnesota | 6 |
| Washington | 6 |
| Indiana | 4 |
| North Carolina | 4 |
| Missouri | 4 |
| Nebraska | 4 |
Focus on roles in California and be prepared for competitive salaries, as the demand for Soil and Plant Scientists appears to be growing.
The average H-1B salary for Soil and Plant Scientists is $71,853, with a median of $62,000. The 25th-75th percentile range is $56,000 to $80,800.
Top H-1B sponsors for Soil and Plant Scientists include Washington State University, University of Wisconsin System, University of Georgia, North Carolina State University, Purdue University. A total of 63 employers have filed for this role.
There are 117 H-1B filings on record for Soil and Plant Scientists positions. 98.3% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Soil and Plant Scientists positions are California (13), Wisconsin (8), Washington (8), North Carolina (6), Missouri (6).
Yes, Soil and Plant Scientists is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 117 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Soil and Plant Scientists salaries range from $42,162 to $180,000. The median salary is $62,000.
The approval rate for Soil and Plant Scientists H-1B petitions is 98.3%. The number of petitions filed shows a significant spike in FY2025, suggesting a potential surge in hiring.
The average salary for Soil and Plant Scientists is $71,853, which is higher than the median salary of $62,000.
Focus on roles in California and be prepared for competitive salaries, as the demand for Soil and Plant Scientists appears to be growing.
The data indicates a low number of petitions for existing employees (d=1) and transfers (w=1), emphasizing new job creation.
The Soil and Plant Scientists occupation (SOC code 19-101300) 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.
Soil and Plant Scientists 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 Soil and Plant Scientists positions is Not Specified (100 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 100 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Soil and Plant Scientists positions show an average offered salary of $75,424, with a range from $43,202 at the entry level to $180,000 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in California (15 filings) and Pennsylvania (7 filings).
Career outlook for Soil and Plant Scientists 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 Soil and Plant Scientists 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 Soil and Plant Scientists 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 Soil and Plant Scientists positions, the average offered salary of $75,424 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 18.9%, with 79% 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 Soil and Plant Scientists positions is 97%.
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. Soil and Plant Scientists 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 Soil and Plant Scientists H-1B filings is approximately 32 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Soil and Plant Scientists positions.
| City | State | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Vineland | New Jersey | 4 |
| Kennett Square | Pennsylvania | 3 |
| St. Helena | California | 3 |
| Corvallis | Oregon | 3 |
| Davis | California | 3 |
| Pullman | Washington | 3 |
| Albion | Maine | 3 |
| Lincoln | Nebraska | 3 |
| Delano | California | 2 |
| Oxnard | California | 2 |