Prevailing Wage · 2025-26
H1B Prevailing Wage in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
The U.S. Department of Labor sets four prevailing wage levels for every occupation in each wage area. These are the legal minimum H1B salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA across 81 occupations, from entry (Level I) to senior (Level IV).
For example, the H1B prevailing wage for Software Developers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA is $96,221 at Level I (entry), rising to $172,661 at Level IV (senior), for the 2025-26 wage year.
| Occupation | Level IEntry | Level IIQualified | Level IIIExperienced | Level IVSenior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $96,221 | $121,701 | $147,181 | $172,661 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $70,429 | $93,205 | $116,002 | $138,778 |
| Data Scientists | $74,006 | $99,549 | $125,112 | $150,654 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $129,147 | $164,590 | $200,013 | $235,456 |
| Computer Programmers | $80,434 | $99,507 | $118,560 | $137,634 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $79,893 | $96,054 | $112,237 | $128,398 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $93,850 | $136,614 | $179,400 | $222,165 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $93,184 | $115,128 | $137,093 | $159,037 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $68,016 | $82,410 | $96,824 | $111,218 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $60,486 | $76,710 | $92,914 | $109,138 |
| Database Administrators | $76,939 | $94,806 | $112,674 | $130,541 |
| Electrical Engineers | $86,070 | $107,557 | $129,043 | $150,530 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $96,408 | $118,435 | $140,442 | $162,469 |
| Management Analysts | $66,602 | $89,253 | $111,925 | $134,576 |
| Operations Research Analysts | $62,795 | $77,626 | $92,456 | $107,286 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $81,390 | $97,157 | $112,923 | $128,690 |
| Industrial Engineers | $90,085 | $105,934 | $121,805 | $137,654 |
| Information Security Analysts | $60,341 | $81,515 | $102,690 | $123,864 |
| Civil Engineers | $83,346 | $100,859 | $118,373 | $135,886 |
| Project Management Specialists | $68,806 | $88,296 | $107,765 | $127,254 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $49,691 | $67,434 | $85,155 | $102,898 |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists | $55,182 | $66,186 | $77,168 | $88,171 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $132,517 | $160,181 | $187,824 | $215,488 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $124,633,600 | $152,491,040 | $180,350,560 | $208,208,000 |
| Computer Network Architects | $73,923 | $93,995 | $114,088 | $134,160 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $127,004,800 | $163,169,760 | $199,332,640 | $235,497,600 |
| Lawyers | $115,253 | $157,248 | $199,243 | $241,238 |
| Marketing Managers | $98,738 | $131,643 | $164,528 | $197,434 |
| Chemists | $62,608 | $79,955 | $97,302 | $114,650 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $39,770 | $60,798 | $81,848 | $102,877 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $108,618 | $136,843 | $165,048 | $193,274 |
| Physical Therapists | $88,858 | $106,059 | $123,282 | $140,483 |
| Financial Managers | $104,499 | $142,272 | $180,024 | $217,797 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $61,048 | $88,712 | $116,397 | $144,061 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $62,546 | $82,638 | $102,710 | $122,803 |
| Construction Managers | $44,616 | $75,005 | $105,414 | $135,803 |
| Logisticians | $70,387 | $83,491 | $96,574 | $109,678 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $61,901 | $83,242 | $104,562 | $125,902 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $128,377,600 | $151,783,840 | $175,192,160 | $198,598,400 |
| Registered Nurses | $105,810 | $132,538 | $159,286 | $186,014 |
| Dentists, General | $120,890 | $157,019 | $193,149 | $229,278 |
| Biological Technicians | $44,096 | $53,581 | $63,086 | $72,571 |
| Graphic Designers | $44,512 | $58,677 | $72,842 | $87,006 |
| General and Operations Managers | $66,456 | $99,986 | $133,536 | $167,066 |
| Occupational Therapists | $97,573 | $112,632 | $127,670 | $142,730 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $83,304 | $110,760 | $138,237 | $165,693 |
| Rehabilitation Counselors | $38,688 | $44,054 | $49,442 | $54,808 |
| Web Developers | $45,074 | $69,077 | $93,101 | $117,104 |
| Cost Estimators | $52,894 | $72,238 | $91,603 | $110,947 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $71,427 | $97,573 | $123,739 | $149,885 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $142,459 | $177,757 | $213,054 | $248,352 |
| Human Resources Specialists | $59,758 | $74,360 | $88,962 | $103,563 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $63,960 | $76,502 | $89,024 | $101,566 |
| Mental Health Counselors | $43,181 | $54,080 | $64,958 | $75,858 |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | $122,553,600 | $152,624,160 | $182,692,640 | $212,763,200 |
| Pharmacists | $129,480 | $146,474 | $163,446 | $180,440 |
| Sales Managers | $63,128 | $94,765 | $126,381 | $158,018 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $75,816 | $117,104 | $158,392 | $199,680 |
| Environmental Engineers | $80,392 | $98,405 | $116,438 | $134,451 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $63,066 | $77,646 | $92,206 | $106,787 |
| Chief Executives | $95,326 | $167,523 | $239,699 | $311,896 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $106,496 | $138,195 | $169,894 | $201,594 |
| Instructional Coordinators | $64,792 | $82,701 | $100,589 | $118,498 |
| Veterinarians | $95,555 | $135,782 | $176,030 | $216,258 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $50,544 | $65,146 | $79,747 | $94,349 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other | $55,994 | $73,965 | $91,915 | $109,886 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $59,488 | $76,939 | $94,390 | $111,842 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $99,237 | $115,398 | $131,581 | $147,742 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $76,960,000 | $107,536,000 | $138,112,000 | $168,688,000 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | $75,858 | $93,766 | $111,654 | $129,563 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $44,387 | $60,424 | $76,482 | $92,518 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $74,818 | $99,882 | $124,966 | $150,030 |
| Clergy | $41,704 | $57,200 | $72,675 | $88,171 |
| Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products | $50,149 | $63,877 | $77,605 | $91,333 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $47,965 | $68,515 | $89,086 | $109,637 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $59,862 | $75,733 | $91,603 | $107,474 |
| Compliance Officers | $56,763 | $73,050 | $89,357 | $105,643 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $85,530 | $99,944 | $114,358 | $128,773 |
| Human Resources Managers | $105,560 | $142,189 | $178,838 | $215,467 |
| Engineers, All Other | $95,846 | $117,104 | $138,382 | $159,640 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $54,829 | $63,794 | $72,738 | $81,702 |
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Prevailing wages are published by the U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC for the 2025-26 wage year, based on BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA area. Hourly rates are annualized at 2,080 hours. These are the legal minimum an employer must pay; actual offers are often higher.