Why a Bachelor's at Level 3 gives better odds than a Masters at Level 1
The wage-weighted lottery created a paradox: 36% of Masters registrations are at Level 1 (15% odds), while a Bachelor's at Level 3 has 46% odds. The degree that used to give a lottery advantage now provides none.
Quick Answer
Old system: Masters had ~50% odds in separate pool. 2026: no separate pool — everyone competes on wage level. 36% of Masters are Level 1 (15% odds). Bachelor's at Level 3 = 46% odds (3x better). Fix: negotiate Level 2+ salary before LCA filing. A $10K-20K raise can triple your odds.
| Company | H-1B Filings | Avg Wage Level |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 55,150 | Level 3 |
| Microsoft | 34,626 | Level 3 |
| 33,416 | Level 3-4 | |
| Infosys | 32,840 | Level 1 |
| Tata Consultancy | 28,950 | Level 1 |
| Deloitte | 18,200 | Level 2-3 |
| Apple | 15,800 | Level 3-4 |
| Meta | 14,900 | Level 3-4 |
| JPMorgan Chase | 12,400 | Level 2-3 |
Old system: 20K Masters pool + 65K regular pool. Masters had ~50% first-round odds plus second chance. New system: all 85K allocated by wage level — Level 4 (62%), Level 3 (46%), Level 2 (31%), Level 1 (15%). No Masters advantage.
Why 36% at Level 1? Prevailing wages are based on position experience, not education. Fresh Masters with 0-2 years = Level 1 regardless of degree. Bachelor's with 5+ years = Level 3. The system rewards salary tiers, not degrees.
MS CS Stanford — New Grad at Startup
Level 1 | $105K | 15% odds | Old system: ~50%
BS CS IIT — 5 Years at Amazon
Level 3 | $185K | 46% odds | Old system: ~30%
MBA — Mid-Career at Deloitte
Level 2 | $135K | 31% odds | Negotiated up from Level 1
See what wage levels employers file at and calculate your lottery odds.
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Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →Prevailing wages are based on position experience requirements, not candidate education. Entry-level positions require 0-2 years for Level 1 regardless of degree. Most Masters grads are early-career. To reach Level 2, the position must require 2+ years experience and pay Level 2 prevailing wage.
Yes, but employer must pay the actual higher prevailing wage. A Software Engineer at Level 1 in San Jose = $128K, Level 2 = $149K. If employer pays $149K with 2+ year experience requirements, you go from 15% to 31% odds for $21K more salary.
Mathematically yes in the wage-weighted system. Bachelor's with 5 years = Level 3 (46%). Fresh Masters = Level 1 (15%). But Masters provides STEM OPT extension (3 years vs 1), higher lifetime earnings, and employer requirements. Optimal: get Masters, work 2-3 years on STEM OPT to reach Level 2-3, then enter lottery.
Worse than Masters. Postdocs at $55K-70K = Level 1 (15% odds). A PhD from MIT has same odds as a new tech consultant at Infosys. Silver lining: most university positions are cap-exempt and skip the lottery. For industry transition, negotiate Level 3 salary ($160K+) for 46% odds.