Prevailing Wage · 2025-26
H1B Prevailing Wage in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, 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 Maria-Santa Barbara, CA across 109 occupations, from entry (Level I) to senior (Level IV).
For example, the H1B prevailing wage for Software Developers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA is $106,621 at Level I (entry), rising to $187,678 at Level IV (senior), for the 2025-26 wage year.
| Occupation | Level IEntry | Level IIQualified | Level IIIExperienced | Level IVSenior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $106,621 | $133,640 | $160,659 | $187,678 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $71,032 | $93,662 | $116,314 | $138,944 |
| Data Scientists | $68,890 | $95,493 | $122,096 | $148,699 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $134,659 | $169,354 | $204,027 | $238,722 |
| Computer Programmers | $72,696 | $89,190 | $105,706 | $122,200 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $82,784 | $103,522 | $124,238 | $144,976 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $98,405 | $118,477 | $138,528 | $158,600 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $86,819 | $110,386 | $133,973 | $157,539 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $69,930 | $88,837 | $107,765 | $126,672 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $59,987 | $78,395 | $96,824 | $115,232 |
| Database Administrators | $80,579 | $99,029 | $117,499 | $135,949 |
| Electrical Engineers | $86,986 | $120,910 | $154,856 | $188,781 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $94,349 | $114,670 | $135,013 | $155,334 |
| Management Analysts | $68,286 | $91,520 | $114,774 | $138,008 |
| Operations Research Analysts | $68,786 | $83,242 | $97,677 | $112,133 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $70,886 | $89,024 | $107,162 | $125,299 |
| Industrial Engineers | $85,842 | $109,470 | $133,120 | $156,749 |
| Physicians, All Other | $117,166 | $158,974 | $200,762 | $242,570 |
| Database Architects | $91,104 | $129,126 | $167,149 | $205,171 |
| Information Security Analysts | $81,557 | $109,034 | $136,510 | $163,987 |
| Civil Engineers | $81,349 | $100,131 | $118,914 | $137,696 |
| Project Management Specialists | $70,762 | $91,957 | $113,152 | $134,347 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $50,710 | $69,930 | $89,128 | $108,347 |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists | $40,830 | $52,936 | $65,042 | $77,147 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $144,394 | $168,917 | $193,461 | $217,984 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $132,371,200 | $160,353,440 | $188,337,760 | $216,320,000 |
| Sales Engineers | $89,710 | $121,347 | $153,005 | $184,642 |
| Computer Network Architects | $97,344 | $113,069 | $128,794 | $144,518 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $157,289,600 | $238,257,760 | $319,223,840 | $400,192,000 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $132,454,400 | $166,795,200 | $201,136,000 | $235,476,800 |
| Lawyers | $98,904 | $143,333 | $187,782 | $232,211 |
| Marketing Managers | $104,562 | $141,835 | $179,130 | $216,403 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $135,220,800 | $196,996,800 | $258,772,800 | $320,548,800 |
| Chemists | $64,938 | $82,597 | $100,235 | $117,894 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $161,782,400 | $214,350,240 | $266,920,160 | $319,488,000 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $59,322 | $83,866 | $108,389 | $132,933 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $117,582 | $145,475 | $173,368 | $201,261 |
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $206,939,200 | $292,462,560 | $377,983,840 | $463,507,200 |
| Physical Therapists | $90,022 | $105,394 | $120,765 | $136,136 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $89,565 | $108,264 | $126,942 | $145,642 |
| Financial Managers | $103,459 | $141,981 | $180,502 | $219,024 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $71,074 | $103,542 | $135,990 | $168,459 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $71,802 | $93,995 | $116,210 | $138,403 |
| Construction Managers | $84,843 | $106,662 | $128,502 | $150,322 |
| Logisticians | $64,438 | $82,035 | $99,632 | $117,229 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $68,328 | $92,019 | $115,731 | $139,422 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $129,334,400 | $153,046,400 | $176,758,400 | $200,470,400 |
| Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $196,393,600 | $268,222,240 | $340,052,960 | $411,881,600 |
| Registered Nurses | $103,730 | $117,728 | $131,747 | $145,746 |
| Dentists, General | $118,248 | $139,402 | $160,534 | $181,688 |
| Biological Technicians | $42,494 | $51,605 | $60,694 | $69,805 |
| General and Operations Managers | $64,522 | $99,944 | $135,387 | $170,810 |
| Occupational Therapists | $92,310 | $104,333 | $116,355 | $128,378 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $87,734 | $112,902 | $138,070 | $163,238 |
| Rehabilitation Counselors | $38,875 | $43,867 | $48,838 | $53,830 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $190,112,000 | $265,318,560 | $340,523,040 | $415,729,600 |
| Web Developers | $57,200 | $84,906 | $112,632 | $140,338 |
| Cost Estimators | $53,664 | $68,786 | $83,886 | $99,008 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $43,909 | $65,832 | $87,755 | $109,678 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $65,146 | $78,062 | $90,979 | $103,896 |
| Human Resources Specialists | $56,763 | $73,882 | $90,979 | $108,098 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $57,429 | $73,466 | $89,482 | $105,518 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $141,502,400 | $190,798,400 | $240,094,400 | $289,390,400 |
| Mental Health Counselors | $46,446 | $60,424 | $74,402 | $88,379 |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | $138,964,800 | $165,865,440 | $192,768,160 | $219,668,800 |
| Pharmacists | $127,504 | $146,411 | $165,318 | $184,226 |
| Sales Managers | $64,917 | $102,981 | $141,045 | $179,109 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $74,610 | $112,445 | $150,280 | $188,115 |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $54,558 | $63,502 | $72,446 | $81,390 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $144,643,200 | $202,564,960 | $260,484,640 | $318,406,400 |
| Environmental Engineers | $91,790 | $108,098 | $124,426 | $140,733 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $60,133 | $76,731 | $93,330 | $109,928 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $166,566,400 | $228,889,440 | $291,214,560 | $353,537,600 |
| Chief Executives | $96,762 | $172,994 | $249,226 | $325,458 |
| Purchasing Managers | $87,381 | $113,090 | $138,798 | $164,507 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $119,516,800 | $181,631,840 | $243,748,960 | $305,864,000 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $78,333 | $114,982 | $151,653 | $188,302 |
| Instructional Coordinators | $61,152 | $79,789 | $98,446 | $117,083 |
| Veterinarians | $97,344 | $127,920 | $158,475 | $189,051 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $47,632 | $63,627 | $79,602 | $95,597 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $52,686 | $68,744 | $84,822 | $100,880 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $60,986 | $80,142 | $99,299 | $118,456 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $75,213 | $92,581 | $109,970 | $127,338 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $72,571,200 | $95,478,240 | $118,387,360 | $141,294,400 |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | $139,672,000 | $186,569,760 | $233,465,440 | $280,363,200 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | $93,059 | $108,784 | $124,530 | $140,254 |
| Interior Designers | $54,454 | $73,195 | $91,915 | $110,656 |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | $139,651,200 | $185,063,840 | $230,478,560 | $275,891,200 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $41,205 | $57,283 | $73,362 | $89,440 |
| Budget Analysts | $77,688 | $92,019 | $106,350 | $120,682 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $93,516,800 | $151,958,560 | $210,398,240 | $268,840,000 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $65,832 | $92,602 | $119,350 | $146,120 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $124,384,000 | $166,447,840 | $208,513,760 | $250,577,600 |
| Clergy | $51,459 | $64,709 | $77,958 | $91,208 |
| Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products | $53,997 | $68,640 | $83,283 | $97,926 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $49,483 | $70,346 | $91,229 | $112,091 |
| Aerospace Engineers | $102,378 | $120,432 | $138,466 | $156,520 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $195,478,400 | $251,540,640 | $307,604,960 | $363,667,200 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $58,802 | $72,946 | $87,069 | $101,213 |
| Compliance Officers | $62,400 | $77,334 | $92,248 | $107,182 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $88,566 | $99,674 | $110,760 | $121,867 |
| Technical Writers | $70,304 | $89,939 | $109,574 | $129,210 |
| Human Resources Managers | $98,966 | $131,997 | $165,048 | $198,078 |
| Engineers, All Other | $87,235 | $112,570 | $137,904 | $163,238 |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $149,427,200 | $180,475,360 | $211,521,440 | $242,569,600 |
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $194,854,400 | $270,982,400 | $347,110,400 | $423,238,400 |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $119,558,400 | $165,644,960 | $211,729,440 | $257,816,000 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $95,472 | $115,814 | $136,157 | $156,499 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $53,310 | $61,901 | $70,470 | $79,061 |
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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 Maria-Santa Barbara, CA area. Hourly rates are annualized at 2,080 hours. These are the legal minimum an employer must pay; actual offers are often higher.