SOC 13-2051 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Financial and Investment Analysts H-1B wage levels in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $121,452. Level III starts at $105,997, Level II at $90,522 and Level I at $75,068.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Financial and Investment Analysts in Santa Cruz, CA?
For the 2026–27 wage year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027), the U.S. Department of Labor sets four H-1B prevailing wage levels for Financial and Investment Analysts (SOC 13-2051) in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA wage area: Level I is $75,068 a year, Level II $90,522, Level III $105,997 and Level IV $121,452. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $121,452 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $75,068 up to $90,521 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Santa Cruz, CA has the #51 highest Level IV wage for this job. The same $90,522 offer that is Level II here reaches Level III in Indianapolis, IN. These figures apply to the FY 2028 registration in March 2027.
| Wage level | Annual salary at least | Hourly | Lottery entries | DHS projected odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | $75,068 | $36.09 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $90,522 | $43.52 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $105,997 | $50.96 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $121,452 | $58.39 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Santa Cruz, CA
Thresholds here sit at the major-metro median.
Where a $90,522 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Other California metros
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Financial and Investment Analysts in Santa Cruz, CA?
At least $121,452 a year ($58.39/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 13-2051 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Santa Cruz County, CA.
Do these numbers apply to the March 2027 registration?
Yes. The FY 2028 registration in March 2027 uses the wage year in effect then, July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.
Financial and Investment Analysts wages in all 530 areas · All occupations in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Learn more: How to legitimately raise your wage level · Lottery level vs. LCA level · FY 2028 registration
Annual salary in U.S. dollars, rounded up. Source: DOL OFLC prevailing wage data, effective July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027, computed directly from the DOL file (methodology). Page updated 2026-10-14.