# SOC 19-2012: Physicists

> Occupation profile: https://www.xh1b.org/soc/19-2012

Employers submitted 13,375 certified H-1B applications for Physicists (19-2012) roles, requesting 15,461 workers. The average offered wage is $87,507/yr, 49% below the BLS national median ($172,250/yr). (2025, SOC 19-2012) The largest filers are Brookhaven National Laboratory, Fermi Research Alliance, LLC and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total filings | 13,375 |
| Total workers | 15,461 |
| Average offered wage | $88K |
| Average prevailing wage | $70K |
| BLS median wage | $172K |
| Latest BLS year in scope | 2025 |
| Profile benchmark SOC | 19-2012 |
| BLS area | U.S. |

Filing wage badges use the latest national BLS median. Their detail shows the benchmark code and year. A mapped comparator can use a different occupation from the direct-code profile benchmark above. It is a screening comparison, not a claim that the occupations are identical.

| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Offered vs BLS benchmark | -49% |

## Top employers (of 1,113)

| Employer | Filings | Workers | Avg wage | BLS median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Brookhaven National Laboratory](https://www.xh1b.org/org/brookhaven-national-laboratory-40f4b77fe5) | 937 | 937 | $102K | $172K |
| [Fermi Research Alliance, LLC](https://www.xh1b.org/org/fermi-research-alliance-llc-9265b6c2f7) | 371 | 371 | $71K | $172K |
| [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory](https://www.xh1b.org/org/lawrence-berkeley-national-laboratory-295779c1f2) | 363 | 363 | $95K | $172K |
| [UChicago Argonne LLC](https://www.xh1b.org/org/uchicago-argonne-llc-209fb0184b) | 336 | 997 | $86K | $172K |
| [UT-BATTELLE, LLC (OAK Ridge National LABORATORY)](https://www.xh1b.org/org/ut-battelle-llc-oak-ridge-national-labor-a59151e50f) | 323 | 323 | $103K | $172K |
| [Triad National Security, LLC](https://www.xh1b.org/org/triad-national-security-llc-14c34cc0af) | 294 | 294 | $112K | $172K |
| [Los Alamos National Security, LLC](https://www.xh1b.org/org/los-alamos-national-security-llc-abc83721e6) | 289 | 289 | $95K | $172K |
| [The Trustees of Princeton University](https://www.xh1b.org/org/the-trustees-of-princeton-university-0c304a62f9) | 287 | 294 | $78K | $172K |
| [University of Maryland, College Park](https://www.xh1b.org/org/university-of-maryland-college-park-fec69a080b) | 285 | 285 | $71K | $172K |
| [Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC](https://www.xh1b.org/org/lawrence-livermore-national-security-llc-597cde1ad7) | 253 | 253 | $138K | $172K |

## Filing trend

| Year | Filings | Workers | Median offered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 18 | 18 | $56K |
| 2010 | 222 | 231 | $63K |
| 2011 | 928 | 959 | $63K |
| 2012 | 819 | 854 | $66K |
| 2013 | 729 | 753 | $62K |
| 2014 | 733 | 828 | $68K |
| 2015 | 760 | 829 | $62K |
| 2016 | 692 | 772 | $65K |
| 2017 | 617 | 692 | $69K |
| 2018 | 825 | 994 | $74K |
| 2019 | 918 | 1,083 | $76K |
| 2020 | 916 | 1,779 | $80K |
| 2021 | 893 | 970 | $77K |
| 2022 | 920 | 1,062 | $81K |
| 2023 | 947 | 1,066 | $79K |
| 2024 | 957 | 982 | $83K |
| 2025 | 918 | 996 | $85K |
| 2026 | 214 | 262 | $90K |

## State filing trends (2015 to 2026)

| State | Total filings | 2026 filings | 2026 filings per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| [California](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ca) | 2,120 | 33 | 0.1 |
| [New York](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ny) | 1,437 | 64 | 0.3 |
| [Illinois](https://www.xh1b.org/state/il) | 1,097 | 18 | 0.1 |
| [Texas](https://www.xh1b.org/state/tx) | 645 | 10 | 0.0 |
| [Massachusetts](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ma) | 505 | 11 | 0.2 |
| [New Mexico](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nm) | 438 | 4 | 0.2 |
| [New Jersey](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nj) | 424 | 11 | 0.1 |
| [Maryland](https://www.xh1b.org/state/md) | 418 | 7 | 0.1 |
| [Tennessee](https://www.xh1b.org/state/tn) | 387 | 12 | 0.2 |
| [Michigan](https://www.xh1b.org/state/mi) | 274 | 12 | 0.1 |
| [Virginia](https://www.xh1b.org/state/va) | 266 | 9 | 0.1 |
| [Colorado](https://www.xh1b.org/state/co) | 208 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Pennsylvania](https://www.xh1b.org/state/pa) | 202 | 6 | 0.0 |
| [North Carolina](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nc) | 136 | 5 | 0.0 |
| [Washington](https://www.xh1b.org/state/wa) | 135 | 2 | 0.0 |
| [Florida](https://www.xh1b.org/state/fl) | 132 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Indiana](https://www.xh1b.org/state/in) | 129 | 2 | 0.0 |
| [Arizona](https://www.xh1b.org/state/az) | 128 | 4 | 0.1 |
| [Ohio](https://www.xh1b.org/state/oh) | 126 | 2 | 0.0 |
| [Connecticut](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ct) | 114 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Wisconsin](https://www.xh1b.org/state/wi) | 108 | 4 | 0.1 |
| [Iowa](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ia) | 106 | 2 | 0.1 |
| [Minnesota](https://www.xh1b.org/state/mn) | 105 | 4 | 0.1 |
| [Missouri](https://www.xh1b.org/state/mo) | 89 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Alabama](https://www.xh1b.org/state/al) | 71 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Georgia](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ga) | 68 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [Nebraska](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ne) | 65 | 5 | 0.2 |
| [Louisiana](https://www.xh1b.org/state/la) | 57 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [District of Columbia](https://www.xh1b.org/state/dc) | 53 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Oregon](https://www.xh1b.org/state/or) | 48 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [Kansas](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ks) | 39 | 2 | 0.1 |
| [Idaho](https://www.xh1b.org/state/id) | 36 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Oklahoma](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ok) | 35 | 2 | 0.0 |
| [Utah](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ut) | 32 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [New Hampshire](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nh) | 30 | 1 | 0.1 |
| [West Virginia](https://www.xh1b.org/state/wv) | 29 | 5 | 0.3 |
| [South Dakota](https://www.xh1b.org/state/sd) | 25 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Rhode Island](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ri) | 23 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Mississippi](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ms) | 22 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [South Carolina](https://www.xh1b.org/state/sc) | 22 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Hawaii](https://www.xh1b.org/state/hi) | 21 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Nevada](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nv) | 16 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [Delaware](https://www.xh1b.org/state/de) | 14 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Kentucky](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ky) | 12 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Arkansas](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ar) | 8 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Vermont](https://www.xh1b.org/state/vt) | 8 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Montana](https://www.xh1b.org/state/mt) | 7 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Alaska](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ak) | 6 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Maine](https://www.xh1b.org/state/me) | 4 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [North Dakota](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nd) | 4 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Wyoming](https://www.xh1b.org/state/wy) | 3 | 0 | 0.0 |


Per 100k residents uses the U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimate for that state and year; years after the latest published estimate carry that estimate forward. The latest filing year may be a partial period.

## More

- Full page (charts, tables, interactive): https://www.xh1b.org/soc/19-2012
- JSON API: https://www.xh1b.org/api/soc-employers?code=19-2012
- JSON API: https://www.xh1b.org/api/soc-filings?code=19-2012


## References

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1. Dataset documentation · DOL OFLC. [LCA public disclosure record layout (FY2026 Q3)](https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/oflc/pdfs/FY26Q3/LCA_Record_Layout_FY2026_Q3.pdf). Pages 1–4: application, DOL outcome and dates, requested positions, employer, representatives, worksites and pay units. This layout covers determinations issued October 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. It documents employer-provided application fields and DOL decisions, not USCIS decisions, payroll verification, legal bills or worker-linked moves. Older layouts can differ. Checked 2026-10-17.

<a id="reference-data-lca-data-bls-data-soc-system-calculation-method-indicators-method-bls-data"></a>

2. Dataset documentation · BLS. [OEWS technical notes (May 2025)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/2025/may/oes_tec.htm). Scope of the survey; occupational coding; concepts and estimation methodology. Documents occupation and geographic wage estimates, not an individual worker’s pay. Use the estimate year and geography stated by the site; older releases can differ. Checked 2026-10-17.

<a id="reference-data-lca-data-bls-data-soc-system-calculation-method-indicators-method-soc-system"></a>

3. Guidance · BLS. [Standard Occupational Classification](https://www.bls.gov/soc/finding_soc_code.htm). Classification Principles 1–2 and Coding Guideline 2; job duties, not job titles. Checked 2026-10-08.

<a id="reference-data-lca-data-bls-data-soc-system-calculation-method-indicators-method-calculation-method"></a>
<a id="reference-data-lca-data-bls-data-soc-system-calculation-method-indicators-method-indicators-method"></a>

4. XH1B method or registry · XH1B. [Calculation and Matching Methods; Reading Public Records and Derived Indicators](https://www.xh1b.org/data-sources). Filing units, annualization, weighting, wage comparisons, and inference limits; Reading records: units, source coverage, wage gaps, entity links, and inference limits. These are the site's review methods, not validated predictions of wrongdoing. Inspect underlying records and alternative explanations.