H-1B Demand for Airfield Operations Specialists Remains Extremely Low
Explore H-1B visa filings for Airfield Operations Specialists. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 14 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 14 |
| Approval Rate | 79% |
| Average Salary | $64,906 |
| Salary Range | $36,088 - $105,000 |
| Top Sponsor | Washington International Flight Academy |
| Primary Location | Maryland |
Airfield Operations Specialists is one of the H-1B visa categories with 3 filings and an average salary of $73,057. The role of Airfield Operations Specialist is currently experiencing very low H-1B demand, with only 3 petitions filed in FY2025. The average salary for this role is $73,057, which is below the median salary of $81,120. Geographic concentration is minimal, with Maryland and Texas being the only states with reported petitions.
| Total Filings | 14 |
| Approval Rate | 79% |
| Average Salary | $64,906 |
| Median Salary | $72,800 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $74,339 |
| Minimum Salary | $36,088 |
| Maximum Salary | $105,000 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,814 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,000 |
| Median (50th) | $72,800 |
| 75th Percentile | $74,339 |
| 90th Percentile | $81,120 |
| Average | $64,906 |
| Sample Size | 14 |
| Visa Class | Filings |
|---|---|
| H-1B | 7 |
| E-3 AUSTRALIAN | 6 |
| H-1B1 CHILE | 1 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 14 |
| Employer | Filings | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Washington International Flight Academy | 4 | $77k |
| City of Midland | 3 | $57k |
| Washington International Flight Academy LLC | 2 | $74k |
| J & M Alaska Air Tours, Inc. | 2 | $52k |
| Tavaero Jet Charter, Corporation | 1 | $105k |
| Florida Institute of Technology | 1 | $38k |
| Averett University | 1 | $36k |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| Maryland | 6 |
| Texas | 4 |
| Alaska | 2 |
| Florida | 1 |
| Virginia | 1 |
Given the extremely low H-1B demand for Airfield Operations Specialists, H-1B seekers may find more opportunities by exploring roles with higher demand or by targeting employers who are known to sponsor H-1B visas in related aviation or logistics fields.
The average H-1B salary for Airfield Operations Specialists is $73,057, with a median of $81,120. The 25th-75th percentile range is $56,932 to $81,120.
Top H-1B sponsors for Airfield Operations Specialists include Washington International Flight Academy, City of Midland. A total of 2 employers have filed for this role.
There are 3 H-1B filings on record for Airfield Operations Specialists positions. 100.0% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Airfield Operations Specialists positions are Maryland (2), Texas (1).
Yes, Airfield Operations Specialists is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 3 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Airfield Operations Specialists salaries range from $56,932 to $81,120. The median salary is $81,120.
The approval rate for Airfield Operations Specialists H-1B petitions is 100.0%. The extremely limited number of H-1B petitions suggests a niche or highly specialized field with minimal reliance on foreign talent for this specific role.
The average salary being lower than the median could indicate that the few positions being filled are at entry-level or in lower cost-of-living areas.
Given the extremely low H-1B demand for Airfield Operations Specialists, H-1B seekers may find more opportunities by exploring roles with higher demand or by targeting employers who are known to sponsor H-1B visas in related aviation or logistics fields.
The lack of significant geographic concentration further supports the idea that this is not a widespread H-1B hiring trend.
The Airfield Operations Specialists occupation (SOC code 53-202200) 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.
Airfield Operations Specialists 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 Airfield Operations Specialists positions is Not Specified (14 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 14 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Airfield Operations Specialists positions show an average offered salary of $64,906, with a range from $36,088 at the entry level to $105,000 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in Maryland (6 filings) and Texas (4 filings).
Career outlook for Airfield Operations Specialists 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 Airfield Operations Specialists 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 Airfield Operations Specialists 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 Airfield Operations Specialists positions, the average offered salary of $64,906 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 10.8%, with 93% 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 Airfield Operations Specialists positions is 79%.
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. Airfield Operations Specialists 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 Airfield Operations Specialists H-1B filings is approximately 31 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Airfield Operations Specialists positions.
| City | State | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Gaithersburg | Maryland | 5 |
| Midland | Texas | 3 |
| Anchorage | Alaska | 2 |
| GAITHERBURG | Maryland | 1 |
| Houston | Texas | 1 |
| Melbourne | Florida | 1 |
| Danville | Virginia | 1 |