The same salary gives you wildly different lottery odds depending on where you file. Learn how geographic wage level arbitrage works.
Your H-1B selection odds are not just about luck — they are deeply influenced by your wage level, which is determined by your salary relative to the prevailing wage in your specific metro area. A $120,000 salary that maps to Wage Level 1 in San Francisco (15% selection odds) could map to Wage Level 4 in Indianapolis (62% odds). This guide explains the wage-level-by-city dynamic, shows you exactly how to calculate your odds, and reveals strategies for maximizing your selection probability through geographic optimization.
| Company | Total H-1B Filings | Primary Filing Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 55,150 | Seattle, Arlington, Nashville |
| Microsoft | 34,626 | Redmond, Atlanta, Charlotte |
| 33,416 | Mountain View, New York, Austin | |
| Infosys | 32,840 | Multiple client sites nationwide |
| Tata | 28,950 | Multiple client sites nationwide |
| Cognizant | 26,700 | Multiple client sites nationwide |
| Deloitte | 18,200 | New York, Chicago, Dallas |
| Apple | 15,800 | Cupertino, Austin, San Diego |
| Meta | 14,900 | Menlo Park, New York, Austin |
| JPMorgan | 12,400 | New York, Columbus, Wilmington |
Since USCIS implemented the wage-level-based selection system, your H-1B lottery odds are no longer purely random. Registrations are ranked by wage level relative to the prevailing wage for your occupation and metro area, with Level 4 (significantly above prevailing wage) selected first, followed by Level 3, Level 2, and finally Level 1. The critical insight most applicants miss is that the same dollar salary produces different wage levels in different cities. The Department of Labor sets prevailing wages based on local labor market data, so a Software Developer earning $120,000 is well-compensated in Indianapolis (Level 4) but entry-level in San Francisco (Level 1). This creates a powerful optimization opportunity.
Consider this comparison for a Software Developer at $120,000 annual salary across different metro areas: In San Francisco, the prevailing wage thresholds are approximately Level 1: $118K, Level 2: $145K, Level 3: $172K, Level 4: $199K — placing $120K at Level 1 with roughly 15% selection odds. In Austin, TX, thresholds are approximately Level 1: $95K, Level 2: $115K, Level 3: $135K, Level 4: $155K — placing $120K at Level 2 with roughly 31% odds. In Raleigh, NC, thresholds are approximately Level 1: $85K, Level 2: $102K, Level 3: $120K, Level 4: $138K — placing $120K at Level 3 with roughly 46% odds. In Indianapolis, IN, thresholds are approximately Level 1: $78K, Level 2: $94K, Level 3: $110K, Level 4: $126K — placing $120K at Level 3-4 with roughly 62% odds. Same person, same salary, dramatically different outcomes.
Employers with multiple office locations can legally optimize by having the employee work from (and filing the LCA for) a location where the prevailing wage is lower, resulting in a higher wage level classification. This is not gaming the system — it is simply filing accurately for where the work will be performed. Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Apple have increasingly distributed their engineering teams across cities like Nashville, Austin, Raleigh, and Columbus partly because of cost efficiency, but the H-1B wage level advantage is a meaningful secondary benefit. For candidates evaluating job offers, understanding this dynamic can be the difference between a 15% chance and a 60%+ chance of H-1B selection.
Example 1: Google filed an H-1B petition for a Software Engineer in Austin, TX at $142,000 per year. In Austin, this salary maps to Wage Level 3, giving the applicant approximately 46% selection odds. The same salary filed at Google's Mountain View, CA headquarters would have been Wage Level 1 with only 15% odds.
Example 2: Amazon filed for a Cloud Support Engineer in Nashville, TN at $118,000 annually. Nashville's lower prevailing wages placed this at Wage Level 3, with approximately 50% selection odds. At Amazon's Seattle headquarters, the same salary would have been Level 1-2 with significantly lower odds.
Example 3: JPMorgan Chase filed for a Data Analyst in Columbus, OH at $105,000 per year. In the Columbus metro area, this salary corresponds to Wage Level 4, maximizing selection probability at approximately 62%. The same role and salary filed in New York City would have been Wage Level 1 at roughly 15% odds.
| Metro Area | Wage Level at $120K | Estimated Selection Odds |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | Level 1 | ~15% |
| New York, NY | Level 1-2 | ~20% |
| Austin, TX | Level 2 | ~31% |
| Raleigh, NC | Level 3 | ~46% |
| Nashville, TN | Level 3 | ~50% |
| Indianapolis, IN | Level 3-4 | ~62% |
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Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →USCIS ranks all H-1B registrations by wage level relative to the prevailing wage for the specific occupation and worksite location. Level 4 registrations (salaries significantly above prevailing wage) are selected first. If slots remain, Level 3 registrations are selected, then Level 2, and finally Level 1. Within each wage level, selection is random if there are more registrations than remaining slots. This means your absolute salary matters less than your salary relative to the prevailing wage in your specific metro area — making geographic location a critical factor in your selection odds.
Yes, but only if you will genuinely perform work at that location. The LCA must reflect the actual worksite where the employee will work, and the employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for that specific location. If your company has offices in both San Francisco and Austin, and you would legitimately work from the Austin office, your employer can file the LCA for Austin where your salary may map to a higher wage level. However, filing for a location where you will not actually work is fraud. Many companies are legitimately offering remote or relocated positions at satellite offices specifically to take advantage of this wage level geography dynamic.
The four prevailing wage levels correspond to experience and skill requirements. Level 1 (17th percentile) is for entry-level positions requiring basic understanding of the occupation. Level 2 (34th percentile) is for qualified workers with moderate experience. Level 3 (50th percentile) is for experienced workers who can work independently and handle special assignments. Level 4 (67th percentile) is for fully competent workers in senior or expert roles. Your actual wage level is determined by comparing your offered salary to these percentile thresholds for your specific occupation code (SOC) in your specific metro area. The same salary can fall into different levels depending on location.
Not necessarily — but you should factor wage level geography into your decision-making. The optimal strategy is to find an employer offering a competitive salary in a metro area where that salary maps to a higher wage level. For example, a $130,000 offer in Raleigh, NC might be Level 3 or 4 (giving you 46-62% odds) while also providing excellent purchasing power and quality of life. Compare that to a $145,000 offer in San Francisco that maps to Level 1 (15% odds) with much higher cost of living. Many candidates find that mid-tier tech hubs like Austin, Nashville, Raleigh, Columbus, and Salt Lake City offer the best combination of strong salaries, high wage levels, and reasonable living costs.