Interactive tool · DOL LCA

H-1B Salary Calculator

Look up H-1B salary ranges by occupation and state, with prevailing wage levels (I–IV), top sponsoring employers, and salary trends drawn live from DOL LCA disclosures.

Compiled byPlainVisa Editorial, H-1B Visa Editorial Team

1,885,316
LCA petitions: 1207
Occupations: I–IV
Wage levels

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Foreign Labor Certification, every H-1B hire requires a Labor Condition Application disclosing the offered wage and its prevailing-wage level. This calculator draws on more than 1,885,316 of those filings from fiscal year 2023 through fiscal year 2026; select an occupation and state to see the wage range by level, the top sponsors, and how offered pay has trended. See our methodology for how each figure is derived.

Occupation

State

Level I (Entry)

$87,525
Level II (Qualified)

$113,389
Level III (Experienced)

$142,385
Level IV (Expert)

$172,298

What this shows Offered wages climb steeply with level: a Level IV (expert) role averages roughly twice a Level I (entry) role. Pick an occupation and state above for the exact ranges.

I–IV

Prevailing wage levels

See the offered-wage range for each DOL wage level, from entry (I) to expert (IV).

1,207

Occupations × 50 states

Every SOC occupation, in every state, with the top sponsoring employers for that pairing.

FY23–26

Salary trends

Year-over-year offered-wage movement, drawn live from DOL LCA disclosures.

Popular comparisons

One-tap into the most-searched occupation and state pairings.

Software Developers in California → Computer Systems Engineers/Architects in New York → Information Technology Project Managers in Texas → Computer Systems Analysts in Washington → Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in New Jersey → Data Scientists in Illinois →

Frequently Asked Questions

What are H-1B prevailing wage levels?

The DOL defines four prevailing wage levels (I through IV) based on the complexity and experience required. Level I is entry-level (17th percentile), Level II is qualified (34th percentile), Level III is experienced (50th percentile), and Level IV is expert (67th percentile). Employers must pay at least the prevailing wage for the assigned level.

How is the H-1B salary determined?

H-1B employers must pay the higher of the actual wage (what similar employees earn at the company) or the prevailing wage for the occupation and area. The prevailing wage is based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data.

What data does this calculator use?

This tool uses DOL Labor Condition Application (LCA) disclosure data from FY2023 through FY2026. It includes all H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 petitions filed with the Department of Labor.

Why do salaries vary so much between wage levels?

Wage levels reflect different experience and skill requirements. A Level I software developer may earn $80,000 while a Level IV earns $200,000+ because Level IV requires expert knowledge, innovation ability, and often supervisory responsibilities.

Can I use this data for salary negotiation?

Yes. LCA wage data shows what employers have committed to pay H-1B workers. This is public data and can help benchmark competitive compensation. However, actual offers may vary based on company, location within a state, and specific qualifications.

Data from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Foreign Labor Certification disclosure data (FY2023-FY2026). Hourly wages annualized at 2,080 hours/year. Salary figures represent wages filed on LCA petitions and may not reflect final compensation. Not legal or financial advice.

Every figure on PlainVisa is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.