H-1B Demand for Atmospheric and Space Scientists Surges, Led by California
Explore H-1B visa filings for Atmospheric and Space 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 | 95% |
| Average Salary | $102,550 |
| Salary Range | $60,528 - $260,000 |
| Top Sponsor | University Corporation for Atmospheric Research |
| Primary Location | California |
Atmospheric and Space Scientists is one of the H-1B visa categories with 62 filings and an average salary of $106,304. H-1B hiring for Atmospheric and Space Scientists is heavily concentrated in California, with a significant increase in recent fiscal years. The average salary for this role is competitive, aligning closely with the median salary. While the number of H-1B petitions is relatively low, the trend shows a substantial upward trajectory in recent years, indicating growing demand. The data suggests a strong preference for experienced professionals, given the high average and median salaries.
| Total Filings | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 95% |
| Average Salary | $102,550 |
| Median Salary | $104,722 |
| 25th Percentile | $83,270 |
| 75th Percentile | $120,000 |
| Minimum Salary | $60,528 |
| Maximum Salary | $260,000 |
| 10th Percentile | $66,489 |
| 25th Percentile | $83,270 |
| Median (50th) | $104,722 |
| 75th Percentile | $120,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $128,916 |
| Average | $102,550 |
| Sample Size | 100 |
| Visa Class | Filings |
|---|---|
| H-1B | 99 |
| E-3 AUSTRALIAN | 1 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 100 |
| Employer | Filings | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| University Corporation for Atmospheric Research | 11 | $100k |
| Battelle Memorial Institute | 10 | $109k |
| Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC | 9 | $129k |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO | 6 | $104k |
| University of California, Los Angeles | 4 | $87k |
| University of Oklahoma | 4 | $71k |
| Brookhaven National Laboratory | 4 | $128k |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | 4 | $95k |
| University of Colorado | 3 | $85k |
| Universities Space Research Association | 3 | $114k |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| California | 31 |
| Colorado | 14 |
| Washington | 11 |
| New York | 9 |
| Maryland | 7 |
| Florida | 5 |
| Massachusetts | 4 |
| Oklahoma | 4 |
| Virginia | 3 |
| Illinois | 3 |
Focus on developing specialized skills in areas like climate modeling or space exploration technology, and target employers in California to maximize H-1B opportunities in Atmospheric and Space Sciences.
The average H-1B salary for Atmospheric and Space Scientists is $106,304, with a median of $106,543. The 25th-75th percentile range is $83,270 to $123,383.
Top H-1B sponsors for Atmospheric and Space Scientists include University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, Battelle Memorial Institute, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO, University of Colorado. A total of 28 employers have filed for this role.
There are 62 H-1B filings on record for Atmospheric and Space Scientists positions. 91.9% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Atmospheric and Space Scientists positions are California (23), Colorado (15), Washington (6), Maryland (5), New York (5).
Yes, Atmospheric and Space Scientists is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 62 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Atmospheric and Space Scientists salaries range from $62,430 to $260,000. The median salary is $106,543.
The approval rate for Atmospheric and Space Scientists H-1B petitions is 91.9%. California is the dominant state for H-1B employment in this field, accounting for a significant portion of the petitions.
There's a clear and accelerating trend of increasing H-1B petitions for Atmospheric and Space Scientists from FY2022 to FY2025.
Focus on developing specialized skills in areas like climate modeling or space exploration technology, and target employers in California to maximize H-1B opportunities in Atmospheric and Space Sciences.
The average salary ($106,304) is very close to the median salary ($106,543), suggesting a relatively consistent pay scale across employers.
The Atmospheric and Space Scientists occupation (SOC code 19-202100) 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.
Atmospheric and Space 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 Atmospheric and Space Scientists positions is Not Specified (100 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 100 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Atmospheric and Space Scientists positions show an average offered salary of $102,550, with a range from $60,528 at the entry level to $260,000 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in California (31 filings) and Colorado (14 filings).
Career outlook for Atmospheric and Space 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 Atmospheric and Space 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 Atmospheric and Space 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 Atmospheric and Space Scientists positions, the average offered salary of $102,550 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 25.5%, with 86% 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 Atmospheric and Space Scientists positions is 95%.
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. Atmospheric and Space 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 Atmospheric and Space Scientists H-1B filings is approximately 28 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Atmospheric and Space Scientists positions.