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University Of California San Diego H-1B Visa Sponsorship Data 2026

University Of California San Diego filed 229 H-1B labor condition applications in fiscal year 2026, ranking #178 out of 1,000 sponsoring employers in our database — down 12.9% from last year.

Of those filings, 41.9% were certified by the Department of Labor, with a median offered salary of $85,000, below the national H-1B median of $126,403.

10% of University Of California San Diego's filings were at prevailing-wage Level III or above. Under the 2026 wage-weighted lottery, that translates to an average of 1.6 lottery entries per candidate — roughly in line with the broader market.

University Of California San Diego's most-sponsored roles in FY2026 were Postdoctoral Scholar-Employee (64 cases), Assistant Project Scientist (53 cases), Research Associate (30 cases). Its heaviest H-1B hiring was in CA (227), CO (1), NY (1).

University Of California San Diego appears to be a cap-exempt type employer (such as a university, nonprofit research organization, or hospital). Cap-exempt employers can sponsor H-1B workers at any time of year without going through the annual lottery — always confirm directly with the employer's immigration team.

FY2026 filings

229

Rank #178 nationally

Approval rate

41.9%

96 certified

Median salary

$85,000

National median $126,403

Avg. lottery entries

1.6×

Wage-weighted system

H-1B lottery positioning

Under the 2026 wage-weighted lottery, Level I filings receive 1 entry, Level II get 2, Level III get 3, and Level IV get 4. 10% of University Of California San Diego's FY2026 filings were Level III or above, giving its candidates an average of 1.6 entries per filing.

Level I
33 (56%)
Level II
20 (34%)
Level III
2 (3%)
Level IV
4 (7%)

Most-sponsored job titles

Job titleFilingsAvg. salary
Postdoctoral Scholar-Employee64$76,308
Assistant Project Scientist53$84,786
Research Associate30$79,911
Assistant Professor23$144,674
Assistant Research Scientist6$120,500
Research & Development Engineer5$90,400
Associate Project Scientist4$95,775
Field Researcher4$70,624
Assistant Adjunct Professor4$117,912
Lecturer4$90,579

Top worksite states

CA

227 filings

CO

1 filings

NY

1 filings

Year-over-year trend

University Of California San Diego filed 263 H-1B applications in FY2025 versus 229 in FY2026 — a decrease of 12.9%.

University Of California San Diego H-1B FAQs

Does University Of California San Diego sponsor H-1B visas?

Yes. University Of California San Diego filed 229 H-1B labor condition applications in FY2026, ranking #178 nationally. A labor condition application (LCA) is the required first step before an H-1B petition, so this filing volume is a strong signal of active sponsorship.

What is University Of California San Diego's H-1B approval rate?

41.9% of University Of California San Diego's FY2026 H-1B filings were certified by the Department of Labor. Note that LCA certification is distinct from USCIS petition approval, but a high certification rate indicates clean, compliant filings.

How much does University Of California San Diego pay H-1B workers?

University Of California San Diego's median offered salary for H-1B roles in FY2026 was $85,000 (average $97,111). Individual offers vary by role, level, and worksite — the tables above break it down by job title.

Which jobs does University Of California San Diego sponsor most on H-1B?

Postdoctoral Scholar-Employee leads with 64 filings in FY2026 at an average offered salary of $76,308. Other frequently sponsored roles are listed in the table above.

Where does University Of California San Diego hire H-1B workers?

CA is University Of California San Diego's top H-1B worksite state with 227 filings in FY2026, followed by CO (1) and NY (1). Worksite reflects where the job is performed, which may differ from headquarters.

What are the H-1B lottery odds at University Of California San Diego?

No employer can guarantee lottery selection, but wage levels matter: under the 2026 wage-weighted system, Level I filings get 1 entry while Level IV get 4. Based on University Of California San Diego's FY2026 wage mix, its candidates averaged 1.6 entries per filing. Higher-wage offers at the same employer carry better odds.

Other top H-1B sponsors

Data source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification — Labor Condition Application disclosure data, FY2024–FY2026. An LCA is filed by the employer before an H-1B petition; disclosure data does not indicate USCIS petition outcomes. Last updated: October 2026.