H-1B wage levels explained (Level I–IV)
Published November 10, 2026 · Data through FY2026 Q3
Every H-1B Labor Condition Application (LCA) lists a prevailing wage level from I to IV. The level is one of the most useful fields in the filing for anyone trying to read an offer, because it tells you roughly where the employer places the job on the experience and responsibility ladder for that occupation and area. This guide explains what the four levels mean and shows what they pay in practice, using 931,595 certified LCA filings from FY2025–FY2026. FY2026 data covers only the first three quarters (Q1–Q3).
All figures are annual base salary from certified LCA filings. They exclude bonuses and stock. A certified LCA is not a visa approval, and one filing can cover more than one worker.
What the four levels mean
The Department of Labor sets prevailing wages for each occupation and metro area at four levels. In broad terms:
- Level I is for entry-level roles: the worker is expected to have a basic understanding of the job and to perform routine tasks under close supervision.
- Level II is for qualified workers with some experience who perform moderately complex tasks with limited judgment.
- Level III is for experienced workers who use independent judgment and may supervise others.
- Level IV is for fully competent, highly experienced workers, often in senior, specialist or lead roles.
The level is chosen by the employer based on the job's requirements, such as years of experience, education and special skills, not on the specific person hired. The prevailing wage for the chosen level is a floor: the employer must pay at least that amount or the actual wage it pays similar workers, whichever is higher. Many employers pay well above the floor, which is why the salaries below are actual offered wages, not the prevailing wage itself.
What each level pays across all jobs
Across all occupations in the window, the median base salary rises steadily from level to level. A Level IV filing's median is almost exactly double a Level I filing's median.
| Wage level | Share of filings | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | 20% | $69,471 | $83,959 | $104,779 |
| Level II | 41% | $92,000 | $109,638 | $135,764 |
| Level III | 21% | $116,768 | $138,000 | $171,080 |
| Level IV | 18% | $141,773 | $166,052 | $206,315 |
A few things stand out:
- Level II is the most common level by far. It accounts for about 41% of filings, roughly twice the share of any other level. About 9% of filings in the data do not list a level at all.
- The step between levels is large. The median goes from about $84k at Level I to $110k at Level II, $138k at Level III and $166k at Level IV. The gap between Level I and Level IV medians is about $82,000.
- The ranges overlap. The 75th percentile at Level I ($104,779) is above the 25th percentile at Level II ($92,000). Level is a strong signal, but occupation and location still move pay a lot within each level.
- The top end spreads out. The 90th percentile is $139,050 at Level I and $250,000 at Level IV, while the 10th percentile ranges from $59,000 to $122,000.
Software engineers by level
Software engineering is the single largest occupation in the H-1B data, so it is worth looking at on its own. Software engineers earn more than the all-jobs figures at every level, but the gap between levels is a little narrower.
| Wage level | Filings | Share | 10th pct | Median | 90th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | 37,067 | 15% | $82,971 | $101,000 | $148,400 |
| Level II | 114,372 | 45% | $102,000 | $121,078 | $182,000 |
| Level III | 54,649 | 22% | $125,000 | $151,819 | $213,506 |
| Level IV | 47,108 | 19% | $145,018 | $177,861 | $248,408 |
The Level I median for software engineers is $101,000, about $17,000 above the all-jobs Level I median. At Level IV the median is $177,861, about 1.8 times the Level I figure. Level II again dominates, with about 45% of software engineer filings.
Data scientists by level
Data scientists follow a similar pattern, but start lower and climb more steeply.
| Wage level | Filings | Share | Median | 25th pct | 75th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | 10,598 | 20% | $83,200 | $73,195 | $102,275 |
| Level II | 22,050 | 42% | $110,739 | $96,034 | $135,000 |
| Level III | 11,349 | 21% | $145,000 | $122,990 | $172,170 |
| Level IV | 8,937 | 17% | $170,000 | $145,000 | $200,000 |
The Level I median for data scientists ($83,200) is close to the all-jobs Level I median, but by Level III it reaches $145,000, within about $7,000 of the software engineer Level III median of $151,819. The Level IV median ($170,000) is about twice the Level I median.
Location matters as much as level
Wage level is set relative to a local prevailing wage, so the same level pays very different amounts in different metro areas. The table below shows Level II software engineer filings in the ten metros with the most such filings.
| Metro | Level II SE filings | Median | 25th pct | 75th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 17,666 | $112,923 | $106,000 | $115,000 |
| Seattle, WA | 11,398 | $161,734 | $149,240 | $173,700 |
| New York, NY | 8,156 | $133,120 | $126,000 | $160,000 |
| San Jose, CA | 7,419 | $189,280 | $184,681 | $200,000 |
| Atlanta, GA | 5,294 | $109,283 | $105,500 | $120,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 5,062 | $176,657 | $161,637 | $190,000 |
| Austin, TX | 4,699 | $114,755 | $109,415 | $135,000 |
| Washington, DC | 3,594 | $126,090 | $122,999 | $138,498 |
| Chicago, IL | 3,520 | $108,077 | $106,600 | $120,700 |
| Charlotte, NC | 3,105 | $112,986 | $112,500 | $124,000 |
The median Level II software engineer in San Jose earns $189,280, about $76,000 more than the median Level II software engineer in Dallas ($112,923). The San Jose Level II median is even higher than the national Level IV median for software engineers ($177,861). In other words, a "Level II" label tells you where a job sits within its local market, not what it pays nationally.
Notice also how tight some of these ranges are. In Dallas, half of Level II software engineer filings fall between $106,000 and $115,000, and in Charlotte between $112,500 and $124,000. Narrow ranges like these often mean many filings sit close to the local prevailing wage floor.
How to use wage levels when reading an offer
- Check the level and the area together. Compare an offer with filings at the same level, in the same occupation and metro, rather than with a national average.
- Remember the level describes the job, not you. Two people with different backgrounds can be hired into the same Level II role.
- Look at the range, not just the median. The 25th–75th percentile band shows what is typical; a figure near the bottom of the band may be worth a closer look.
- Base salary is only part of pay. LCA data does not include bonus or equity, which can be significant at some employers.
This guide describes patterns in public data. It is not legal or immigration advice; questions about how a level applies to your own case belong with an immigration attorney.
How we calculated this
We used certified H-1B LCA filings from FY2025–FY2026 (FY2026 through Q3), annualized base wages, and grouped them by the prevailing wage level on each filing. Medians and percentiles are computed per filing. Filings without a wage level (about 9%) are excluded from the level tables. Full details are on our methodology page.