The same salary can be Level 2 in San Francisco and Level 4 in Cleveland. Understand how OEWS prevailing wages determine your lottery odds — and how to optimize them.
Under the wage-weighted H-1B lottery, your wage level directly determines your selection odds: Level 1 (15%), Level 2 (31%), Level 3 (46%), Level 4 (62%). But wage levels are not absolute dollar amounts — they are percentiles of the local prevailing wage for your specific occupation in your specific Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). This means a $140,000 salary for a Software Engineer is Level 2 in the San Francisco MSA but Level 4 in the Cleveland MSA. Understanding this system is critical for optimizing your H-1B lottery odds without necessarily earning more money.
Quick Answer: Your H-1B wage level is determined by your salary relative to the OEWS prevailing wage for your SOC code in your worksite MSA. Level 1 = 17th percentile, Level 2 = 34th, Level 3 = 50th (median), Level 4 = 67th. The same job at the same salary can be different levels in different cities. Remote workers: the LCA wage is based on WORKSITE location, not employer HQ.
| City (MSA) | Level 1 (17th) | Level 2 (34th) | Level 3 (50th) | Level 4 (67th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $128,000 | $156,000 | $185,000 | $213,000 |
| Seattle, WA | $118,000 | $142,000 | $168,000 | $193,000 |
| New York, NY | $112,000 | $138,000 | $162,000 | $188,000 |
| Austin, TX | $98,000 | $120,000 | $142,000 | $165,000 |
| Dallas, TX | $92,000 | $112,000 | $135,000 | $158,000 |
| Chicago, IL | $95,000 | $116,000 | $138,000 | $160,000 |
| Atlanta, GA | $88,000 | $108,000 | $130,000 | $152,000 |
| Cleveland, OH | $78,000 | $96,000 | $115,000 | $135,000 |
The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is the foundation of the H-1B prevailing wage system. When your employer files an LCA (Labor Condition Application) with the DOL, the prevailing wage for your position is determined by three factors: (1) your SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code, (2) your worksite MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area), and (3) the wage level claimed. The four levels correspond to percentile thresholds: Level 1 = 17th percentile (entry), Level 2 = 34th percentile (qualified), Level 3 = 50th percentile (experienced), Level 4 = 67th percentile (fully competent).
The critical insight for lottery optimization is that these percentiles are LOCAL. A Software Developer earning $140,000 in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward MSA falls at approximately the 34th percentile — Level 2 (31% lottery odds). That same developer earning $140,000 in the Cleveland-Elyria MSA would be at the 67th+ percentile — Level 4 (62% lottery odds). This is not gaming the system; it is how the system is designed. The prevailing wage reflects the local labor market, and employers in lower-cost areas legitimately pay less for equivalent roles.
The remote work dimension adds another strategic layer. Under DOL rules, the LCA prevailing wage is based on the actual worksite location where the employee performs work — not the employer's headquarters. If a San Francisco company hires a remote software engineer working from Austin, the LCA must use Austin MSA prevailing wages. At $140,000, that engineer would be Level 3 in Austin (46% odds) versus Level 2 in SF (31% odds). However, employers must be careful: the worksite must be the genuine, primary work location. Filing with a lower-cost MSA where the employee does not actually work is LCA fraud. For legitimate remote arrangements, this is a significant and often overlooked advantage.
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Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →Only if you actually work in that city. The LCA worksite must be the genuine, primary location where you perform your job duties. Filing an LCA with a lower-cost MSA where you do not actually work is LCA fraud and can result in visa denial, employer debarment, and criminal penalties. However, if you legitimately work remotely from a lower-cost city, or if your employer has offices in multiple locations and you are genuinely assigned to the lower-cost office, using that MSA is perfectly legal and can significantly improve your wage level.
Both are valid strategies. Negotiating to $185K+ would put you at Level 3 in SF (46% odds vs. 31% at Level 2). Alternatively, if your employer offers remote work from a lower-cost MSA like Austin, $140K would be Level 3 there (46% odds). The key question is which is more realistic for your situation. A $45K raise is significant, while a remote arrangement may be more achievable. Discuss both options with your employer — frame it as optimizing your H-1B success, which benefits them too since they are investing in the petition.
Use the FLC (Foreign Labor Certification) Data Center at flcdatacenter.com. Navigate to the OEWS Prevailing Wage search tool, enter your SOC code (e.g., 15-1252 for Software Developers) and your MSA. It will show all four wage levels for that occupation in that area. Your employer's immigration attorney will use this same tool when filing the LCA. You can also search on Wisa by company name to see what wage levels employers have historically filed at in specific locations.
Only the base salary listed on the LCA counts toward the prevailing wage determination. Bonuses, stock options, RSUs, and other variable compensation are NOT included in the wage level calculation. This is why some highly compensated employees at companies like Google or Meta may still have Level 3 base salaries even though their total compensation exceeds $400K — the equity component does not factor in. To reach a higher wage level, the base salary itself must meet the threshold.