H-1B Demand for Geoscientists Surges in Recent Years
Explore H-1B visa filings for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 100 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 98% |
| Average Salary | $101,634 |
| Salary Range | $48,838 - $416,000 |
| Top Sponsor | Oregon State University |
| Primary Location | Texas |
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers is one of the H-1B visa categories with 79 filings and an average salary of $104,172. H-1B hiring for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers, shows a significant increase in recent fiscal years. The majority of H-1B positions are concentrated in a few key states, indicating geographic hotspots for this role. The average salary offered for this role is considerably higher than the median, suggesting a wide range in compensation. While the number of positions is relatively small compared to broader tech roles, the trend indicates growing demand.
| Total Filings | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 98% |
| Average Salary | $101,634 |
| Median Salary | $85,300 |
| 25th Percentile | $71,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $105,300 |
| Minimum Salary | $48,838 |
| Maximum Salary | $416,000 |
| 10th Percentile | $63,132 |
| 25th Percentile | $71,000 |
| Median (50th) | $85,300 |
| 75th Percentile | $105,300 |
| 90th Percentile | $165,000 |
| Average | $101,634 |
| Sample Size | 99 |
| Visa Class | Filings |
|---|---|
| H-1B | 81 |
| E-3 AUSTRALIAN | 16 |
| H-1B1 CHILE | 3 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 100 |
| Employer | Filings | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon State University | 8 | $65k |
| Nevada Gold Mines LLC | 5 | $109k |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 4 | $71k |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO | 3 | $115k |
| California Institute of Technology | 3 | $80k |
| Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution | 3 | $82k |
| Pure Lithium Corporation | 2 | $416k |
| TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company | 2 | $133k |
| Freeport-McMoRan Exploration Corporation | 2 | $85k |
| The Trustees of Princeton University | 2 | $80k |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| Texas | 23 |
| California | 14 |
| Nevada | 11 |
| Massachusetts | 9 |
| Arizona | 9 |
| Oregon | 8 |
| Colorado | 4 |
| Georgia | 3 |
| New York | 3 |
| Maryland | 3 |
Focus your H-1B job search on states like Texas and California, and highlight advanced skills and experience to justify salaries above the median, as demand appears to be increasing.
The average H-1B salary for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers is $104,172, with a median of $79,960. The 25th-75th percentile range is $70,000 to $101,352.
Top H-1B sponsors for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers include UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO, The University of Texas at Austin, California Institute of Technology, Oregon State University, University of Alaska. A total of 52 employers have filed for this role.
There are 79 H-1B filings on record for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers positions. 98.7% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers positions are Texas (19), California (18), Massachusetts (5), Arizona (4), Oregon (4).
Yes, Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 79 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers salaries range from $48,838 to $989,280. The median salary is $79,960.
The approval rate for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers H-1B petitions is 98.7%. Texas and California are the primary states for H-1B employment in this field.
There's a notable spike in H-1B applications for FY2025, suggesting a strong future demand.
Focus your H-1B job search on states like Texas and California, and highlight advanced skills and experience to justify salaries above the median, as demand appears to be increasing.
The average salary ($104,172) is substantially higher than the median salary ($79,960).
The Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers occupation (SOC code 19-204200) 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.
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers 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 Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers positions is Not Specified (100 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 100 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers positions show an average offered salary of $101,634, with a range from $48,838 at the entry level to $416,000 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in Texas (23 filings) and California (14 filings).
Career outlook for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers 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 Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers 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 Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers 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 Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers positions, the average offered salary of $101,634 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 22.4%, with 82% 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 Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers positions is 98%.
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. Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers 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 Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers H-1B filings is approximately 32 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers positions.
| City | State | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Houston | Texas | 11 |
| Corvallis | Oregon | 8 |
| Tucson | Arizona | 4 |
| Cambridge | Massachusetts | 4 |
| Elko | Nevada | 3 |
| La Jolla | California | 3 |
| Pasadena | California | 3 |
| Woods Hole | Massachusetts | 3 |
| HOUSTON | Texas | 3 |
| Crescent Valley | Nevada | 2 |