San Diego, CA H-1B Wage Level Breakdown 2026
Most certified H-1B petitions in San Diego, CA are filed at Level II (Qualified)(43.4% of 20,644 filings). Because the 2026 wage-weighted lottery gives higher DOL prevailing wage levels more entries in the selection pool (Level IV = 4, III = 3, II = 2, I = 1), where your employer files directly shapes your selection odds.
Wage Level Distribution & 2026 Lottery Entry Weight
| DOL Wage Level | Share of Filings | Median Wage | 25th–75th | 2026 Lottery Entries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 9.1% | $83K | $73K–$102K | 1× |
| Level II (Qualified) | 43.4% | $113K | $101K–$127K | 2× |
| Level III (Experienced) | 26.7% | $139K | $123K–$152K | 3× |
| Level IV (Expert) | 20.8% | $169K | $149K–$185K | 4× |
Distribution across 20,644 certified LCA filings with a San Diego, CA worksite (DOL FY2022–2026). Entry-weight column reflects the DHS wage-weighted selection rule effective February 27, 2026 (Level IV = 4 entries, III = 3, II = 2, I = 1 in the registration pool). USCIS has not published official aggregate selection-rate percentages by wage level, so none are stated here.
San Diego Employers Filing at Level III–IV
These San Diego, CA employers most often file petitions at the higher prevailing wage levels, the tiers with the strongest selection odds under the 2026 wage-weighted lottery.
| Employer | Level | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. | Level IV | 1,043 | $171K |
| Apple Inc. | Level IV | 652 | $177K |
| Asml US, LLC | Level III | 161 | $130K |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | Level III | 128 | $173K |
| Intuit Inc. | Level IV | 107 | $185K |
| ServiceNow, Inc. | Level IV | 101 | $152K |
| Illumina, Inc. | Level IV | 82 | $147K |
| Qualcomm Innovation Center, Inc. | Level IV | 76 | $171K |
Ranked by Level III–IV filing volume in San Diego, CA. Linked employers have a full sponsorship profile.
What DOL Wage Levels Mean
Every H-1B Labor Condition Application is filed at one of four DOL prevailing wage levels, set by the role's required experience and the OES survey for the occupation and location:
- Level I (Entry): roughly the 17th percentile wage, new graduates and early-career hires.
- Level II (Qualified): ~34th percentile, some experience, the most common H-1B level.
- Level III (Experienced): ~50th percentile, independent, senior-leaning roles.
- Level IV (Expert): ~67th percentile and up, lead, principal, and managerial roles.
Related H-1B Data
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Wage-level distribution aggregated from DOL LCA disclosure files (FY2022–2026), filtered to certified petitions with wages between $30K and $1M. Based on 20,644 certified filings with a San Diego, CA worksite and a reported DOL prevailing wage level. Lottery entry-weight figures reflect the DHS wage-weighted selection rule effective February 27, 2026; USCIS has not published official aggregate selection-rate percentages by wage level.