What is a prevailing wage level?
For every occupation (SOC code) in every one of 530 U.S. wage areas, the Department of Labor's Office of Foreign Labor Certification publishes four wage levels. Employers use them to set the minimum pay for H-1B, H-1B1, E-3 and PERM green card cases, and since FY 2027 USCIS uses them to weight the H-1B lottery.
Which percentile is each level?
The levels come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS wage survey. BLS gives DOL two special estimates for each job and area. Level I is the average wage of the lower-paid third of workers, about the 17th percentile. Level IV is the average of the higher-paid two-thirds, about the 67th percentile. Levels II and III are set evenly in between.
| Level | Approximate percentile | Typical meaning in DOL guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Level I | 17th | Entry level: basic understanding of duties, close supervision |
| Level II | 34th | Qualified: some experience, moderately complex tasks |
| Level III | 50th | Experienced: special skills, independent judgment |
| Level IV | 67th | Fully competent: advanced skills, supervises or leads |
Hourly levels are converted to an annual salary by multiplying by 2,080 hours. Some occupations, such as teachers, are published as annual figures directly.
Why does the same job have different levels in different cities?
Each wage area is surveyed separately, so local pay sets local levels. For Software Developers in the 2026–27 wage year, Level I is $152,797 in San Jose but $89,877 in Detroit. That is why one salary can earn one entry in one city and four in another.
What does GeoLvl mean?
When an area has too few survey responses for a job, DOL borrows data from a wider geography. The published file marks this with a GeoLvl number above 1. Those levels are still the official numbers for that area.
What if DOL publishes no levels for my job?
A few occupations, such as many physicians, are marked "High Wage" because their pay sits above what the survey reports. Others show "No Leveled Wage". For those, the weighted-lottery level can't be read from OEWS tables. Ask your attorney.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service: Prevailing wage requirements for H-1B workers
- DOL OFLC: FLAG wage data downloads
- DHS final rule: Weighted Selection Process (90 FR 60864)
Not legal advice. Confirm your situation with your employer or an immigration attorney.