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 #63

Key metrics

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

MetricComputer ProgrammersCost Estimators
Median wage$68,640$75,000
P25 wage$61,000$60,000
P75 wage$80,000$98,000
Wage spread (P75 − P25)$19,000$38,000
Total filings307,20913,578
Wage samples305,92513,478
Rank#6#63

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$99k
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$110k

Top 5 hiring states — Computer Programmers

  • 1CA37,498$75,000
  • 2TX37,159$69,200
  • 3NJ28,375$70,000
  • 4IL21,419$66,082
  • 5NY15,839$70,500

Top 5 hiring states — Cost Estimators

  • 1NY2,301$72,088
  • 2CA2,281$85,747
  • 3TX1,690$78,978
  • 4NJ839$71,800
  • 5FL563$65,000
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Computer Programmers vs Cost Estimators — H-1B Salary Comparison · H1B Report