H-1B Prevailing Wage Levels I–IV Explained (2026 Guide)
If you're on F-1/OPT or hunting for an H-1B sponsor, you'll hear "Level I" and "Level II" again and again. Wage levels used to matter mainly to employers and immigration lawyers. Since the FY2027 cap season they matter to you directly too, because the wage level of your offer now affects your odds in the H-1B selection.
Once you understand what the prevailing wage is and how the four levels are set, looking up the number for your own job takes minutes, and you walk into salary talks knowing where your offer sits. For the bigger picture, including the cap, cap-exempt employers, OPT timelines and how to find sponsors, see our guide to H-1B sponsorship jobs.
Not legal advice. Immigration rules change often, and individual cases differ. Confirm anything that affects your status with the employer's immigration attorney or an attorney you hire.
What the Prevailing Wage Is
For H-1B workers, the Department of Labor requires employers to pay at least the higher of two amounts (WHD Fact Sheet #62G):
- The actual wage the employer pays other workers with similar experience and qualifications in the same job, and
- The prevailing wage for that occupation in the area where you'll work.
The prevailing wage is meant to reflect what similarly employed workers are paid in that occupation and location. The employer promises to pay it on the Labor Condition Application (LCA, Form ETA-9035), which DOL must certify before the H-1B petition goes to USCIS (FLAG: LCA program).
Where the Numbers Come From
Most employers use DOL's Online Wage Library on the FLAG system (FLAG wage search). It publishes four wage levels for each occupation (SOC code) and geographic area, built from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey.
Details that trip people up: - The data updates once a year, usually on July 1, when DOL loads new OEWS data. The same job in the same city can have a different prevailing wage before and after July 1. - Location matters a lot. Areas are metropolitan or non-metropolitan statistical areas. The same occupation can pay very differently in two parts of one state. - The occupation code matters a lot too. "Software Developers" and "Computer Systems Analysts" have different wage tables. The employer (usually through counsel) picks the SOC code that best matches your duties. - Employers can also ask DOL for an official Prevailing Wage Determination (Form ETA-9141), or in some cases use another legitimate wage survey.
The Four Levels (Current Rules)
Under the current methodology, DOL sets the four levels at approximately these points of the OEWS wage distribution for the occupation and area, as described in DOL's March 2026 proposed rule:
| Level | Roughly who it's for | Current approximate OEWS percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (entry) | Entry-level roles needing a basic understanding of the job, close supervision | ~17th |
| Level II (qualified) | Some experience, moderately complex tasks, limited judgment | ~34th |
| Level III (experienced) | Special skills or experience, more independent judgment | ~50th (median) |
| Level IV (fully competent) | Advanced skills, supervising others, complex problem-solving | ~67th |
How a job is placed in a level
DOL's prevailing wage guidance assigns the level based on the job's requirements, not on you personally. It starts at Level I and moves up for things the employer requires, such as: - years of experience beyond what's normal for the occupation, - education above the usual level for the occupation, - special skills, licenses or languages, - supervisory duties.
So a master's-level hire into a role that only requires a bachelor's degree and no experience may still be a Level I job. What matters is how the employer writes the job requirements.
How to Look Up Your Own Prevailing Wage
You can check the number yourself in about five minutes, start to finish:
- Go to the FLAG wage search.
- Choose the H-1B / H-1B1 / E-3 / PERM wage data (the OFLC/OEWS "All Industries" table applies to most private employers. Some colleges, universities and research organizations use a separate ACWIA table).
- Search by occupation (SOC title or code) and area (state and county or metro).
- Read the four hourly and annual figures for Levels I–IV.
- Compare your offer: which is the highest level your offered salary meets or exceeds?
Two other public sources are worth a look: - LCA disclosure data. DOL publishes certified LCAs, including job title, worksite and wage, through the OFLC performance data. It shows what employers actually filed. - Your employer's public access file. Employers must keep certain LCA documents available for public review.
Why Wage Levels Now Affect the Lottery
On December 29, 2025, DHS published a final rule creating a weighted selection process for cap-subject H-1B registrations (Federal Register). It took effect February 27, 2026 and applied to the FY2027 registration season.
When registrations exceed the cap, USCIS enters each unique beneficiary into the selection pool based on the highest OEWS wage level the offered wage meets or exceeds for the SOC code and area (USCIS H-1B cap season): four entries at Level IV down to one at Level I. Our H-1B sponsorship jobs guide covers the full selection process and timeline; the rules below are the ones that decide which level your registration counts at.
Details from the USCIS registration FAQ: - If the offered wage is below Level I (because it's based on a non-OEWS survey), the registration is treated as Level I. - If you'll work in multiple locations, the employer must use the lowest level your wage reaches across those locations. - If the wage is a range, the bottom of the range counts. - Each beneficiary is counted once toward the cap numbers, however many times they're entered.
For FY2027, USCIS announced on March 31, 2026 that it had received enough registrations to reach the cap (USCIS) and on July 17, 2026 that it had received enough petitions to reach the 65,000 regular cap and the 20,000 master's cap (USCIS).
DOL's 2026 Proposal to Raise the Levels (Not in Effect)
On March 27, 2026, DOL published a proposed rule that would raise the four levels to approximately the 34th, 52nd, 70th and 88th percentiles for H-1B, H-1B1, E-3 and PERM (Federal Register, DOL news release). The comment period closed May 26, 2026 (per the Federal Register entry).
As of October 23, 2026, this is still a proposal. The only Federal Register document for it (RIN 1205-AC30) is the March 27, 2026 proposed rule, and no final rule has been published, so the current levels (about the 17th, 34th, 50th and 67th percentiles) still apply. If it's finalized, entry-level prevailing wages would rise substantially. Check the Federal Register before relying on either set of numbers.
What This Means When You Negotiate
You can't choose your SOC code or wage level, but understanding them helps you ask sharper questions:
- Look up the levels for your job and city before you discuss salary. Then you know where the offer sits.
- Ask which level the role will be filed at. It's a fair question for HR or the immigration team: "Which SOC code and wage level do you expect to use for the LCA?"
- Small raises can move you up a level. If your offer is just below the next level's figure, a modest increase could add an extra entry in the selection pool. That's a concrete, non-personal reason to ask.
- Remember the employer's side. Higher levels cost the employer more every year, not only at filing. Frame the ask around market data, as covered in our salary expectations guide.
- Don't accept a pay cut later to stay on the LCA. The employer must keep paying at least the required wage. Paying below it, or making you cover certain H-1B costs, can violate DOL rules (Fact Sheet #62G).
Frequently Asked Questions
What are H-1B wage levels 1, 2, 3 and 4?
They're DOL's four prevailing wage tiers for an occupation in a specific area, based on BLS OEWS data. Under current rules they sit at roughly the 17th, 34th, 50th and 67th percentiles of local pay for that occupation.
How do I check the prevailing wage for my job?
Use the FLAG Online Wage Library at flag.dol.gov. Choose the occupation (SOC code) and the county or metro where you'll work, and read the four levels.
Does a higher wage level improve my H-1B lottery chances?
Yes, starting with FY2027. Under the weighted selection rule, Level IV registrations are entered four times, Level III three, Level II two and Level I once.
Is the new DOL prevailing wage rule in effect?
No. As of October 23, 2026, the March 2026 rule raising the levels is still a proposal. The current levels apply until a final rule is published and takes effect.
Who decides my wage level?
Your employer (usually through its immigration attorney), based on the job's requirements under DOL guidance, such as required experience, education, special skills and supervisory duties.
When does the prevailing wage data change?
DOL generally updates the OEWS-based wage tables each July 1.
Keep Going
For the cap, cap-exempt employers and finding sponsors, read H-1B sponsorship jobs, and find more in our job search guides. The FLAG tables show hourly and annual figures; to compare an offer quoted the other way, use the hourly to salary calculator. When you're ready to talk numbers, see salary expectations and our salary negotiation guide.
General information only, not legal advice.
Sources
- U.S. DOL, WHD, "Fact Sheet #62G: Must an H-1B worker be paid a guaranteed wage?": https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/62g-h1b-required-wage
- U.S. DOL, OFLC FLAG, Labor Condition Applications: https://flag.dol.gov/programs/lca
- U.S. DOL, OFLC FLAG, Online Wage Library search: https://flag.dol.gov/wage-data/wage-search
- U.S. DOL, OFLC performance and disclosure data: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/performance
- Federal Register, Dec 29, 2025, DHS final rule "Weighted Selection Process for Registrants and Petitioners Seeking To File Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions": https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/29/2025-23853/weighted-selection-process-for-registrants-and-petitioners-seeking-to-file-cap-subject-h-1b
- USCIS, "H-1B Cap Season": https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations/h-1b-cap-season
- USCIS, "H-1B Electronic Registration Frequently Asked Questions": https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations/h-1b-electronic-registration-frequently-asked-questions
- USCIS, "FY 2027 H-1B Initial Registration Selection Process Completed" (Mar 31, 2026): https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/fy-2027-h-1b-initial-registration-selection-process-completed and "USCIS Reaches Fiscal Year 2027 H-1B Cap" (Jul 17, 2026): https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-reaches-fiscal-year-2027-h-1b-cap
- Federal Register, Mar 27, 2026, DOL NPRM "Improving Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Foreign Nationals in the United States": https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/27/2026-06017/improving-wage-protections-for-the-temporary-and-permanent-employment-of-certain-foreign-nationals
- U.S. DOL news release, Mar 26, 2026: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20260326-0
Weekly salary tips
One short email a week on pay, offers and taxes in the U.S. No spam; unsubscribe anytime. See our privacy policy.