H1B Sponsor CheckerHow to read LCA wage levels (Level I–IV) and H-1B salaries
Updated 2026-10-28. Sources are linked inline. Not legal advice.
The wage rule
By signing the LCA (Form ETA-9035/9035E), the employer attests that for the whole period of employment it will pay the H-1B worker the greater of the actual wage (what it pays others with similar experience and qualifications for the same job) or the prevailing wage, and offer benefits on the same basis as to U.S. workers (20 CFR 655.731(a)).
What the four levels mean
From the Department of Labor's prevailing wage guidance (DOL Prevailing Wage Determination Policy Guidance, Nov 2009):
| Level | DOL description (summarized) |
|---|---|
| I — entry | Beginning level: a basic understanding of the occupation, routine tasks, close supervision. Research fellows, workers in training and internships are indicators of Level I. |
| II — qualified | A good understanding of the occupation through education or experience; moderately complex tasks with limited judgment. |
| III — experienced | A sound understanding of the occupation and special skills or knowledge; uses judgment and may coordinate or supervise others. "Lead" or "senior" titles are indicators. |
| IV — fully competent | Sufficient experience to plan and conduct work independently with advanced skills and diversified knowledge; generally management or supervisory duties. |
The guidance starts every determination at Level I and moves it up for the experience, education, special skills and supervisory duties the job requires, compared with what is usual for the occupation. The level describes the job's requirements, not the worker's résumé (DOL guidance). The wages behind the levels come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment (OEWS) survey for the occupation and area (DOL guidance).
How common each level is
Our count of the DOL LCA disclosure files for FY2025 (decisions Oct 1, 2024 – Sep 30, 2025; H-1B visa class; status "Certified"; de-duplicated by case number): 529,460 certified LCAs.
| PW_WAGE_LEVEL | Share of certified H-1B LCAs, FY2025 |
|---|---|
| Level I | 18.7% |
| Level II | 38.7% |
| Level III | 19.3% |
| Level IV | 15.3% |
| No level listed | 7.9% |
Source: DOL OFLC LCA disclosure data, FY2025 Q1–Q4 files, counted by Orvix on 2026-10-28. LCAs are wage filings, not hires; one LCA can cover more than one position.
Reading the wage fields in LCA data
WAGE_RATE_OF_PAY_FROM/WAGE_RATE_OF_PAY_TO: the offered wage or range, in the unit inWAGE_UNIT_OF_PAY(Hour, Week, Month, Year…).PREVAILING_WAGEwithPW_UNIT_OF_PAY, andPW_WAGE_LEVEL(I–IV).- To compare hourly and yearly figures, DOL converts using 2,080 hours a year (DOL guidance).
- The offered wage is what the employer listed on the LCA, not necessarily the final salary.
Look up a prevailing wage yourself
Use DOL's FLAG wage search: pick the occupation (SOC code) and the work location to see the wage for each level. Then compare it with the offered wage on the employer's LCAs.
See filed wages on job pages
H1B Sponsor Checker shows the median and range of annualized offered wages on an employer's certified LCAs for similar titles, free, right on Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby and Workable job pages. Pro ($7/month or $49/year) adds offered wage vs. prevailing wage and the employer's wage level I–IV mix.