Search prevailing wages and actual salaries filed in H-1B Labor Condition Applications across every job title and metro area.
Every H-1B petition requires the employer to pay at least the prevailing wage for the occupation and work location. The Department of Labor publishes this wage data through the Foreign Labor Certification Data Center. Wisa compiles DOL LCA filings so you can search actual salaries offered to H-1B workers — not just wage floor estimates — and benchmark your own compensation.
The prevailing wage is the average wage paid to similarly employed workers in a specific occupation and geographic area. DOL defines four wage levels:
Understanding salary data helps you in multiple ways. If you are a job seeker, you can verify that an offer meets or exceeds the prevailing wage. If you are an employer, filing at an appropriate wage level reduces the risk of a USCIS Request for Evidence (RFE). Wage level also plays a role in H-1B lottery selection under the proposed wage-based allocation system.
Search by job title, SOC occupation code, company name, or work location. Each result shows the offered wage, prevailing wage, wage level, and employer details. You can filter by year, state, and industry to see trends over time. Use this data to negotiate compensation and verify that sponsor offers are compliant.
Software developers remain the highest-volume H-1B occupation with a median offered salary of approximately $130,000. Data scientists and machine learning engineers command similar or higher wages. Financial analysts, management consultants, and mechanical engineers are other high-volume categories. Median H-1B salaries have risen roughly 15% over the past three years as employers compete for talent and USCIS scrutinizes wage levels more closely.
Many employers file at wage levels above the floor. Wisa shows both the prevailing wage for the occupation-area combination and the actual wage offered on the LCA. Comparing these reveals how competitive an employer's offer truly is.
Search thousands of verified H-1B sponsors by company, industry, and location.
Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →A prevailing wage determination (PWD) is an official wage rate issued by the DOL for a specific job in a specific area. Employers can request a PWD from the National Prevailing Wage Center or use existing wage surveys. For H-1B LCAs, most employers use the Online Wage Library rather than requesting individual determinations.
No. The employer must pay at least the prevailing wage or the actual wage paid to similarly employed workers at the company, whichever is higher. Paying below the required wage is a violation of the LCA and can result in fines, back-pay orders, and debarment from the H-1B program.
Under proposed rules, USCIS would prioritize H-1B registrations with higher wage levels during the lottery. Level 4 wages would be selected first, then Level 3, and so on. While this rule has faced legal challenges, it signals that filing at higher wage levels may become strategically important.
Wisa's salary data comes from Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the DOL. These are public records that every H-1B employer must file. The data includes the employer name, job title, worksite location, wage offered, and prevailing wage level.