Updated
PERM occupation, SOC 17-2072.00, #14 of 1,410 by filings
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
- Biggest sponsor
- NVIDIA Corporation · 15% of its filings
- Busiest state
- CA · 58% of its filings
- Major group
- Architecture and engineering · SOC 17
Weighing an offer for this job?
Where it falls among certified offers, and the four wage levels DOL sets for it by area.
Median wage
$141,000
all PERM $103,272
Filings
3,555
#14 of 1,410
Approval
98.3%
field 96.8%
Median days
481
4 slower than the field
What it pays
Where its median offer sits among every occupation, then the whole ladder of certified offers by year and by state.
Median offered wage
$141,000above 89%
Approval rate
98.3%ahead of 73%
Median days to decision
481 daysahead of 36%
Each bar counts occupations at that value. More
- 5th to 95th
- 25th to 75th
- Median
- 10th and 90th
FY2024
$129,563 median · 146 certified cases
FY2025
$136,025 median · 1,830 certified cases
FY2026
$150,733 median · 1,346 certified cases
- 10th
- $105,946
- +17.7% since FY2024
- Median
- $150,733
- +16.3% since FY2024
- 90th
- $193,402
- +7.4% since FY2024
- 95th
- $208,000
- +6.7% since FY2024
These years are not measuring the same group of filings. The count moves by 12.5 times between the largest year and the smallest, so a change in the ladder is at least partly a change in which employers filed rather than a change in what the work pays. Read the shape, not the difference.
| Fiscal year | Cases | 5th | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | 95th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 | 146 | $78,166 | $90,000 | $107,983 | $129,563 | $155,000 | $180,000 | $195,000 |
| FY2025 | 1,830 | $93,933 | $103,623 | $121,498 | $136,025 | $160,534 | $180,383 | $198,000 |
| FY2026 | 1,346 | $95,601 | $105,946 | $123,886 | $150,733 | $175,188 | $193,402 | $208,000 |
A median answers whether pay moved. More
- 5th to 95th
- 25th to 75th
- Median
- 10th and 90th
CA
$151,091 median · 1,937 certified cases
TX
$147,298 median · 564 certified cases
| State | Cases | 5th | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | 95th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | 1,937 | $113,400 | $120,000 | $126,984 | $151,091 | $177,341 | $191,124 | $206,000 |
| TX | 564 | $103,520 | $109,470 | $124,701 | $147,298 | $165,000 | $190,210 | $205,000 |
One SOC code, one federal process, and a wage range that moves with the state. More
Who files it
The sponsors and firms with the most PERM filings under this code, the places the work sits, and who the workers were.
Sponsors filing it
- NVIDIA Corporation 527 filings · 92.4% approved
- Intel Corporation 467 filings · 100.0% approved
- Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. 247 filings · 99.2% approved
- APPLE INC. 221 filings · 100.0% approved
- SYNOPSYS, INC. 133 filings · 99.2% approved
- Arm, Inc. 71 filings · 100.0% approved
How this is counted
The employers with the most applications under this code. 1,666 of 3,555 filings, 47% of the total.
Firms filing it
- Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP 1,684 filings · 97.4% approved
- Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. 516 filings · 99.4% approved
- Tafapolsky & Smith LLP 192 filings · 99.5% approved
- Berry Appleman & Leiden 122 filings · 100.0% approved
- Fisher & Phillips LLP 76 filings · 98.6% approved
- Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P. 72 filings · 98.5% approved
How this is counted
The law firms named on the most applications under this code. 2,662 of 3,555 filings, 75% of the total.
Where the jobs are
- California 2,078
- Texas 607
- Massachusetts 110
- Michigan 105
- Oregon 104
- Arizona 99
How this is counted
The worksite state on the application, which is where the job is and not where the company is headquartered. Volume by state across everyone is on the state map. These 6 states cover 3,103 of 3,555 filings.
Where the work is
- Santa Clara, CA 1,037
- Austin, TX 507
- San Jose, CA 391
- Cupertino, CA 159
- Sunnyvale, CA 120
- San Diego, CA 105
How this is counted
The worksite city on the application, which is where the job is. These 6 cities cover 2,319 of 3,555 filings.
- Every sponsor that files it, by state, approval rate, offered wage and time to a decision
- Every filing for it, PERM, wage requests and H-1B, case by case
Newspapers it advertised in
- 1,201 cases
The Mercury News
- 479 cases
Austin American-Statesman
- 466 cases
San Jose Mercury News
- 105 cases
The San Diego Union-Tribune
- 90 cases
San Francisco Chronicle
- 88 cases
The Arizona Republic
How this is counted
The newspaper or professional journal named for each case's two print ads, one count per paper per case, however the filer spelled it.
Additional steps it used
- 2,930 cases
Local or ethnic newspapers
- 2,874 cases
Job search websites
- 1,488 cases
Trade or professional organizations
- 1,206 cases
The employer's website
- 917 cases
Employee referral programs
- 555 cases
Radio or TV ads
How this is counted
The steps a professional job needs beyond the job order and the ads, by the number of cases that name each.
How long before filing it began
- 0.0%
Under 30 days
- 0.0%
30 to 59 days
- 20%
60 to 89 days
- 24%
90 to 119 days
- 18%
120 to 149 days
- 38%
150 to 180 days
- 0.3%
Over 180 days
How this is counted
Days from the first recruitment step to the filing. 20 C.F.R. § 656.17(e) puts the job order and ads 30 to 180 days before filing.
Who filled these jobs, FY2016 to FY2023
From DOL's old form; the form in use since mid-2023 doesn't carry them. Top six of each.
Country of citizenship
- India 32
- China 8
- Canada 4
- Mexico 2
- Taiwan 2
- United Kingdom 2
Worker's education
- Master's 44
- Bachelor's 8
- Doctorate 3
- None 2
- Other 2
- High School 1
Visa held when filed
- H-1B 50
- L-1 6
- F-1 3
- TN 1
Schools
- NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY 4
- ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY 3
- PURDUE UNIVERSITY 3
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 3
- SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY 2
- THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY 2
Fields of study
- ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING 23
- ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING 9
- COMPUTER ENGINEERING 5
- COMPUTER SCIENCE 2
- PHYSICS 2
- COMPLETION OF ALL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR A PHD IN ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGIN 1
The job itself
What O*NET says the work is, what the market pays it by BLS's survey, its outlook, and DOL's wage levels year by year.
- United States96,900 jobs
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CASanta Clara, San Jose, Cupertino
- Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TXAustin
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CASan Diego
- middle half of pay (BLS)
- median
- 10th to 90th percentile
- DOL's Levels I to IV, left to right
- median PERM offer
| Area | BLS median | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $130,220 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $194,370 | $124,405 | $155,896 | $187,408 | $218,899 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $162,960 | $100,131 | $126,235 | $152,360 | $178,464 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $156,480 | $107,765 | $131,622 | $155,501 | $179,358 |
How these figures fit together
BLS surveys employers on what they pay everyone in a job; DOL builds its four levels from the same survey a year later (the July 2026 wage year uses BLS's May 2025 estimates). DOL publishes levels by area, not nationally, so the United States line has none. Levels are hourly in DOL's tables; here they're shown a year at 2,080 hours, as DOL computes them. The metros are the ones holding the most of this job's PERM filings, placed by Census's county files.
The block is the middle half of what employers report paying everyone in this job, citizen or not; the ticks under it are DOL's four prevailing wage levels for that metro, the floors a PERM or H-1B offer is held to. More
DOL's levels for this job in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, year by year
Each July DOL resets the four levels from BLS's newest survey. A determination keeps the figures of the year it was issued in.
| Wage year | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | $124,405 | $155,896 | $187,408 | $218,899 |
| 2025-26 | $127,234 | $156,853 | $186,472 | $216,091 |
| 2024-25 | $124,197 | $151,091 | $178,006 | $204,901 |
| 2023-24 | $100,485 | $126,984 | $153,504 | $180,003 |
| 2022-23 | $101,026 | $126,464 | $151,902 | $177,341 |
| 2021-22 | $100,152 | $124,176 | $148,221 | $172,245 |
What the job is
Research, design, develop, or test electronic components and systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use employing knowledge of electronic theory and materials properties. Design electronic circuits and components for use in fields such as telecommunications, aerospace guidance and propulsion control, acoustics, or instruments and controls.
- Preparation
- Considerable Preparation Needed
- O*NET Job Zone 4
- DOL's education basis
- Bachelor's degree
- Wage year 2026-27, on DOL's Appendix A list
- Jobs, 2025 to 2035
- +3.7%
- About 4,900 openings a year (BLS)
- Typical entry
- Bachelor's degree
- BLS
The work, most important first
- Design electronic components, software, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, medical, military, or scientific applications.
- Operate computer-assisted engineering or design software or equipment to perform electronics engineering tasks.
- Evaluate project work to ensure effectiveness, technical adequacy, or compatibility in the resolution of complex electronics engineering problems.
- Direct or coordinate activities concerned with manufacture, construction, installation, maintenance, operation, or modification of electronic equipment, products, or systems.
- Confer with engineers, customers, vendors, or others to discuss existing or potential electronics engineering projects or products.
- Provide technical support or instruction to staff or customers regarding electronics equipment standards.
The education workers in it report
- 14%
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
- 83%
Bachelor's Degree
Titles people use for it
Design Engineer, Integrated Circuit Design Engineer (IC Design Engineer), Product Engineer, Test Engineer, Compatibility Test Engineer, Electronics Design Engineer, Engineer, Evaluation Engineer.
O*NET also describes Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists under this SOC code.
Related jobs: Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment, Electrical Engineers, Microsystems Engineers, Mechatronics Engineers, Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists.
This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database and O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. PERM Tracker has modified some of this information (the shares are rounded and only the top tasks are shown); what changed. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Against other jobs
Where this sits in the ranking
Ranked 14 of 1,410 by volume: 13 filed at least as many filings, and 1,396 filed no more.
- Just above
- Accountants and Auditors 3,686 filings
- Just below
- Business Intelligence Analysts 3,466 filings
Other architecture and engineering roles
Occupations sharing this one's SOC major group, which is carried in the first two digits of the code. More
Occupations sharing this one's SOC major group, which is carried in the first two digits of the code. Wages inside a group still swing hard, because the group holds every seniority level and every metro.
- #17 Mechanical Engineers 2,992 filings · 64 denied
- #27 Electrical Engineers 2,460 filings · 31 denied
- #32 Civil Engineers 2,185 filings · 55 denied
- #33 Industrial Engineers 2,174 filings · 60 denied
- #39 Validation Engineers 1,603 filings · 14 denied
- #46 Electronics Engineers, Except Computer 1,367 filings · 21 denied
The same job on H-1B
51,431 certified H-1B labor condition applications for this occupation since FY2020, offering a median of $130,000 a year; the middle half ran $108,930 to $157,539. By state and year in the salary explorer.
Notes on these numbers
Reading the wage
A floor, not a salary survey: every level and metro mixed. DOL's four wage levels for this job, by area.
What the median is
The median wage employers committed to in federal filings for this occupation. It mixes every experience level and every metro, and it's a floor: the employer must offer at least the prevailing wage DOL determines for the occupation, level and county. Across all PERM filings the middle half of offered wages runs $45,178 to $141,357, so a figure inside that band is unremarkable whichever occupation it belongs to. The levels page reads DOL's OFLC wage search live.
What these numbers don't say
4 notes
- The code is the identity
- This one is SOC 17-2072.00. Two SOC codes can carry the same job title, so a title that looks duplicated on the ranking is two different occupations. Match on the code when you're checking a specific filing.
- A median isn’t an offer
- It's the middle of all 3,555 wages committed to for this occupation across the country, entry level and principal alike. The same role's medians swing hard by worksite, which the state map shows directly.
- Approval isn’t about the occupation
- The denial rate moves with what happened in the filing rather than with the job title, so nothing here is a property of Electronics Engineers, Except Computer. The measured factors are on the denial risk page, published as separate rates.
- Nothing here is pending
- All 3,555 counted here carry a decision date, because every case in DOL's disclosure files does, so a case still waiting is in none of them. The largest filer of this occupation is NVIDIA Corporation. Where the queue stands today is on the processing times page.
The window these figures cover: DOL's PERM disclosure files for fiscal years 2024 to 2026, through the third quarter of 2026, 373,939 decided cases. Nothing pending is counted here. How each figure is built
Weighing an offer?
Compare it against this median, then check the state map, where the same occupation's medians swing hard by worksite.
Setting one?
All 1,410 occupations sort together on the wages page, and denial rates show how outcome moves with the offered wage.
Filings newer than DOL's last published file can't be attributed to this occupation until DOL publishes them. The live list on the case search page carries them by employer.
Case data: DOL quarterly disclosure files (flag.dol.gov) · data through Jun 30, 2026 · quarterly
Employers and firms: Derived from the disclosure corpus · data through Aug 26, 2026 · rebuilt with each quarterly ingest
O*NET occupation data: O*NET Database, USDOL/ETA (onetcenter.org) · data through Aug 16, 2026 · twice a year
BLS market pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (bls.gov) · data through May 31, 2025 · yearly, each spring
BLS employment projections: BLS Employment Projections (bls.gov) · data through Dec 31, 2025 · yearly, each autumn
DOL wage tables: DOL OFLC wage data downloads (flag.dol.gov) · data through Jul 1, 2026 · yearly, each july
What each source includes
Case data: Decided PERM cases only. A case still waiting isn't in here, so counts and durations describe finished cases.
Employers and firms: Employers, law firms and occupations ranked from decided cases only.
O*NET occupation data: What O*NET says each occupation is and takes: its description, tasks, Job Zone and the education workers report. A description of the job everywhere, not of any one employer's opening.
BLS market pay: What employers report paying everyone in each job, nationally, by state and by metro, from BLS's yearly survey (May of the year named). Citizens and immigrants alike; not PERM offers.
BLS employment projections: BLS's ten-year projection of each job's employment and yearly openings, and the entry education it calls typical. A projection, not a count.
DOL wage tables: The four prevailing wage levels DOL publishes for every job in every area, each wage year from 2021-22, as DOL's own tables print them. The floors an offer is held to, not what anyone was paid.
Cite this page
Waiting on a PERM case?
- When it'll likely be decided
- An email when DOL moves it