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California Association for Research in Astronomy: H-1B salaries and sponsorship
California Association for Research in Astronomy filed 6 labor condition applications for H-1B and related visas in fiscal years 2023–2026; certified: 6. Median offered salary: $116,000.
Does California Association for Research in Astronomy sponsor H-1B visas?
California Association for Research in Astronomy filed 6 labor condition applications in fiscal years 2023–2026, the latest submitted on Jan 13, 2026. An LCA is the first step of an H-1B petition, so the employer has sponsored or prepared to sponsor H-1B workers; it does not guarantee sponsorship for any particular job. Check the employer's own job listings.
Salaries by job title
| Job title | LCAs | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Optics Scientist / Engineer | 1 | $115,000 |
| Adaptive Optics (AO) Scientist | 1 | $110,000 |
| Mechanical Engineer | 1 | $117,000 |
| Systems Engineer | 1 | $157,647 |
| Staff Astronomer I | 1 | $87,000 |
| Mechanical Engineer II | 1 | $117,000 |
Applications by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | LCAs | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| FY2024 | 2 | $113,500 |
| FY2025 | 3 | $115,000 |
| FY2026 | 1 | $117,000 |
Prevailing wage levels
The Department of Labor sets four prevailing wage levels for each occupation and area, from Level I (entry) to Level IV (fully competent). The employer picks the level that matches the job's requirements.
Where the jobs are
Occupations
Latest applications
| Job title | Base salary | Location | Submitted | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer II | $117,000 E-3 · Level IV | Kamuela, HI | Jan 13, 2026 | Feb 26, 2026 | Certified |
| Staff Astronomer I | $87,000 Level II | Kamuela, HI | Jul 17, 2025 | Aug 11, 2025 | Certified |
| Systems Engineer | $157,647 Level IV | Kamuela, HI | Dec 4, 2024 | Mar 30, 2025 | Certified, then withdrawn |
| Adaptive Optics (AO) Scientist | $110,000 Level II | Kamuela, HI | Jun 4, 2024 | Jul 15, 2024 | Certified |
| Mechanical Engineer | $117,000 E-3 · Level IV | Kamuela, HI | Mar 25, 2024 | Apr 8, 2024 | Certified |
| Adaptive Optics Scientist / Engineer | $115,000 Level II | Kamuela, HI | Sep 6, 2023 | Sep 21, 2023 | Certified, then withdrawn |
Salaries are the lower end of the wage offered on each application, converted to a yearly amount; statistics use certified full-time applications only. An LCA is not a visa approval and one LCA can cover several positions. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, fiscal years 2023–2026 (latest decision Jun 30, 2026).