SOC 15-1221 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Computer and Information Research Scientists H-1B wage levels in State College, PA
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $149,594. Level III starts at $131,248, Level II at $112,903 and Level I at $94,557.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Computer and Information Research Scientists in State College, PA?
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 Computer and Information Research Scientists (SOC 15-1221) in the State College, PA wage area: Level I is $94,557 a year, Level II $112,903, Level III $131,248 and Level IV $149,594. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $149,594 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $94,557 up to $112,902 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, State College, PA has the #68 highest Level IV wage for this job, 7% below the median metro ($160,535). The same $112,903 offer that is Level II here reaches Level IV 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 | $94,557 | $45.46 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $112,903 | $54.28 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $131,248 | $63.10 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $149,594 | $71.92 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in State College, PA
Thresholds here are below the major-metro median, so a given salary earns more entries than in pricier metros.
DOL marks this wage with GeoLvl 3: there were too few local survey responses, so the levels are borrowed from a wider geography. They are still the official numbers for this area.
Where a $112,903 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Other Pennsylvania metros
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Computer and Information Research Scientists in State College, PA?
At least $149,594 a year ($71.92/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 15-1221 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Centre County, PA.
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.
Computer and Information Research Scientists wages in all 530 areas · All occupations in State College, PA
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.