Biochemists and Biophysicists
H-1B wage levels in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
SOC 19-1021 Wage year July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 San Diego County
Wage levels
- Below I
- Level I $81,827
- Level II $104,270
- Level III $126,693
- Level IV $149,136
| Level | A year | An hour | Entries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level I entry | $81,827 | $39.34 | 1 |
| Level II qualified | $104,270 | $50.13 | 2 |
| Level III experienced | $126,693 | $60.91 | 3 |
| Level IV fully competent | $149,136 | $71.70 | 4 |
Yearly is hourly times 2,080 hours, rounded to the dollar. Entries: 8 CFR 214.2(h)(8)(iii)(A)(4)(ii).
How the selection uses them
When registrations exceed the cap, USCIS runs a weighted selection:
If a random selection is necessary, USCIS will assign each unique beneficiary to the lowest OEWS wage level among all registrations submitted on the beneficiary's behalf and will enter each unique beneficiary into the selection pool in a weighted manner as follows: a beneficiary assigned wage level IV will be entered into the selection pool four times, a beneficiary assigned wage level III will be entered into the selection pool three times, a beneficiary assigned wage level II will be entered into the selection pool two times, and a beneficiary assigned wage level I will be entered into the selection pool one time.
This is what the table and the rule say. It is not a prediction of who is selected.
How the registration level is chosen
The level on the registration comes from the wage:
On the registration, the registrant must select the highest Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) wage level that the beneficiary's proffered wage equals or exceeds for the relevant Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code in the area(s) of intended employment. If the beneficiary's proffered wage is lower than OEWS wage level I, because it is based on a prevailing wage from another legitimate source (other than OEWS) or an independent authoritative source, the registrant must select “wage level I.”
What a level means on an LCA
On a Labor Condition Application (LCA) the employer states the wage level, set by what the job requires (experience, education, supervision) under the Department of Labor's guidance. A salary at a level's number does not by itself make the job that level.
- Level I
Level I (entry) wage rates are assigned to job offers for beginning level employees who have only a basic understanding of the occupation.
- Level II
Level II (qualified) wage rates are assigned to job offers for qualified employees who have attained, either through education or experience, a good understanding of the occupation.
- Level III
Level III (experienced) wage rates are assigned to job offers for experienced employees who have a sound understanding of the occupation and have attained, either through education or experience, special skills or knowledge.
- Level IV
Level IV (fully competent) wage rates are assigned to job offers for competent employees who have sufficient experience in the occupation to plan and conduct work requiring judgment and the independent evaluation, selection, modification, and application of standard procedures and techniques.
DOL's own definitions: DOL PWD Guidance (Nov. 2009), p. 7.
What employers filed here
| Fiscal year | Filings | Median salary | Wage level stated, I to IV |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2023 | 120 | $71,952 | |
| FY2024 | 146 | $77,834 | |
| FY2025 | 136 | $79,300 | |
| FY2026 so far | 113 | $79,881 |
Certified H-1B filings (LCAs). Shares are of filings that state a level. They were filed under earlier wage years' tables. >99% of filings since FY2023 are placed in a wage area; the rest aren't counted.
- Gilead Sciences, Inc.
- Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- The Scripps Research Institute
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
Employers with the most of these filings, A to Z. Not a ranking.
Sources
- Wage levels: Department of Labor (OFLC) prevailing wages for July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, all industries. Our copy is from October 3, 2026.
- Selection rule: 8 CFR 214.2(h)(8)(iii)(A)(4), from eCFR.
- Level definitions: DOL PWD Guidance (Nov. 2009), p. 7.
- Filings: Department of Labor LCA data, FY2023 through June 30, 2026.
About this job and area
Biochemists and Biophysicists, as DOL defines it: Study the chemical composition or physical principles of living cells and organisms, their electrical and mechanical energy, and related phenomena. May conduct research to further understanding of the complex chemical combinations and reactions involved in metabolism, reproduction, growth, and heredity. May determine the effects of foods, drugs, serums, hormones, and other substances on tissues and vital processes of living organisms.
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA covers San Diego County (CA).
The wage file: https://flag.dol.gov/sites/default/files/wages/OFLC_Wages_2026-27.zip