H1B Report
Salary comparison

Computer Programmers vs Cost Estimators

Side-by-side H-1B prevailing-wage comparison using the same DOL LCA data that drives every page on H1B Report. Quartiles, hiring geography, top sponsors and yearly wage drift.

Occupation A
Computer Programmers
SOC 15-1251Rank #6
Occupation B
Cost Estimators
SOC 13-1051Rank #62

Key metrics

Wage figures are offered annual wage; volume is total LCA count.

MetricComputer ProgrammersCost Estimators
Median wage$68,848$75,000
P25 wage$61,000$60,000
P75 wage$80,184$99,623
Wage spread (P75 − P25)$19,184$39,623
Total filings313,85614,309
Wage samples312,55614,208
Rank#6#62

Median wage by year

Year-over-year drift of the typical offered wage.

Computer Programmers
Time series: 17 points from FY2010 to FY2026
Time series
PeriodValue
FY2010$60k
FY2011$62k
FY2012$62k
FY2013$63k
FY2014$65k
FY2015$67k
FY2016$68k
FY2017$69k
FY2018$74k
FY2019$77k
FY2020$78k
FY2021$85k
FY2022$87k
FY2023$86k
FY2024$94k
FY2025$94k
FY2026$98k
Cost Estimators
Time series: 17 points from FY2010 to FY2026
Time series
PeriodValue
FY2010$62k
FY2011$60k
FY2012$61k
FY2013$65k
FY2014$62k
FY2015$63k
FY2016$69k
FY2017$66k
FY2018$70k
FY2019$73k
FY2020$77k
FY2021$82k
FY2022$90k
FY2023$93k
FY2024$93k
FY2025$93k
FY2026$97k

Top 5 hiring states — Computer Programmers

  • 1TX38,662$69,200
  • 2CA38,151$75,000
  • 3NJ29,022$70,251
  • 4IL21,834$66,100
  • 5NY16,102$70,735

Top 5 hiring states — Cost Estimators

  • 1NY2,451$74,360
  • 2CA2,383$87,360
  • 3TX1,778$79,792
  • 4NJ877$71,800
  • 5FL606$66,062

Top 5 sponsors — Computer Programmers

Swap an entity
Replace either occupation above without losing the comparison. 2-way for now; 3+ comparison coming soon.
Or browse the full occupation index.