Visa
H-1B Wage Levels Explained: How to Find Yours and Your 2027 Lottery Odds
Visahire Team
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H-1B $100k Fee Update
The $100K H-1B fee, first announced September 21, 2025, is currently not in effect while the federal government appeals two separate court orders that found the executive branch lacked authority to impose the fee.
Proposed Additional $103,265 H-1B Fee
On August 25, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed a new $103,265 filing fee for all H-1B cap-subject petitions.
If passed this fee would apply to all regular cap-subject H-1B petitions including change of status petitions.
The rule is currently not in effect. The DHS must review comments and issue a final rule, potentially by early 2027, before any implementation or legal challenges unfold.
Key Takeaways
Your wage level (I through IV) is determined by comparing your base offered salary against DOL OEWS percentiles for your SOC code and worksite.
Higher wage levels grant more entries in the weighted lottery pool (Level I = 1, Level II = 2, Level III = 3, Level IV = 4).
If working across multiple locations or backed by multiple employers, USCIS restricts your weighting to the lowest applicable level.
Always verify your exact wage tiers on FLAG (
flag.dol.gov) prior to the registration window opening in March 2027.
Your H-1B wage level is the highest of four U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) prevailing wage tiers that your offered salary equals or exceeds for your specific occupation and work location.
Under the weighted lottery system, your assigned wage level directly dictates how many entries you receive in the selection pool: 1 entry at Level I, 2 entries at Level II, 3 entries at Level III, and 4 entries at Level IV.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) projections indicate selection odds ranging from approximately 15.29% at Level I up to 61.16% at Level IV.
What Do H-1B Wage Levels I, II, III, and IV Mean?
H-1B wage levels represent four prevailing wage tiers set by the DOL based on Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data. The tiers correspond to the 17th, 34th, 50th, and 67th percentiles of the salary distribution for a given job and location.
Wage Level | OEWS Percentile | DOL Label | Worker Profile & Expectations |
|---|---|---|---|
Level I | 17th Percentile | Entry | Beginning-level employees with basic occupational understanding who perform routine tasks under close supervision. |
Level II | 34th Percentile | Qualified | Employees with good occupational understanding gained through education or experience who perform moderately complex tasks. |
Level III | 50th Percentile | Experienced | Employees with sound understanding, specialized skills, or advanced knowledge who exercise independent judgment. |
Level IV | 67th Percentile | Fully Competent | Senior professionals using advanced skills and diversified knowledge to solve complex problems, often with supervisory duties. |
How Does the H-1B Weighted Lottery Work by Wage Level?
The weighted selection system officially went into effect on February 27, 2026, and was first deployed during the FY 2027 cap season. Under this rule, USCIS assigns entries to each registration based on where the offered wage lands within the OEWS wage distribution for that occupation and metropolitan area.
Single Beneficiary Protection
You are still counted as a single beneficiary. Higher wage levels give your single registration multiple entries inside the lottery pool—it does not mean multiple separate registrations are filed.
Wages Below Level I
If your salary falls below the Level I cutoff (such as positions utilizing approved private wage surveys), your registration remains valid and receives exactly 1 entry in the selection pool.
How Do You Find Your H-1B Wage Level?
You can determine your exact wage level by using the DOL’s official Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) Wage Search tool located on the FLAG platform (flag.dol.gov/wage-data/wage-search).
Obtain your SOC Code & Worksite Locations
Ask your employer or immigration attorney for your job’s 6-digit Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code and the exact zip code/county for all intended work locations.
Open the OFLC Wage Search Tool
Navigate to the FLAG website at flag.dol.gov/wage-data/wage-search.
Input Search Parameters
Select the latest OEWS data series, enter your SOC code, state, and specific geographic area or metropolitan statistical area (MSA).
Review the 4 Wage Figures
The database will return annual and hourly wage thresholds for Levels I, II, III, and IV.
Compare Your Offered Salary
Your wage level is the highest tier that your base annual salary equals or exceeds. For instance, if a mechanical engineer position in Detroit requires $100,000, and Level II is $92,000 while Level III is $105,000, your salary qualifies at Level II.
Registration Level vs. LCA Level:The wage level on your lottery registration is based strictly on your offered salary. In contrast, the wage level on your Labor Condition Application (LCA) is based on the job's minimum requirements (education, experience, and supervision). It is completely normal and legal for a registration to reflect a higher wage level (e.g., Level IV) than the underlying LCA requirement if the offered salary warrants it.
Access 37,000+ open H-1B jobs
Multiple Worksites, Salary Ranges, & Multiple Registrations
USCIS enforces strict rules when job offers involve multiple variables:
Multiple Worksites: If you will perform duties in more than one geographic location, your employer must register you at the lowest wage level your salary achieves across all specified work locations.
Multiple Employers: If multiple legitimate employers submit registrations for you, USCIS applies the lowest wage level tier among all submissions to your profile.
Salary Ranges: If your job offer states a salary range, your wage level is evaluated against the lowest figure in that range.
What Are Your H-1B Lottery Odds at Each Wage Level?
The table below illustrates DHS’s projected selection odds under the weighted lottery system compared to the historical flat random selection method.
Wage Level | Pool Entries | DHS Projected Odds | Change vs. Old Random Lottery (~29.59%) |
|---|---|---|---|
Level I | 1 Entry | ~15.29% | ~48% lower |
Level II | 2 Entries | ~30.58% | ~3% higher |
Level III | 3 Entries | ~45.87% | ~55% higher |
Level IV | 4 Entries | ~61.16% | ~107% higher |
Note: Total pool volume significantly impacts individual selection odds year-over-year. Always check your real-time projections using the Visahire's free tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the FY 2028 H-1B registration period expected?
While USCIS usually announces exact dates closer to the season, registration for FY 2028 is expected to open in March 2027 based on established historical timelines.
How much does the initial H-1B lottery registration cost?
The non-refundable H-1B registration fee is $215 per beneficiary, payable directly by the sponsoring employer via their official USCIS online portal.
Does winning the lottery guarantee H-1B visa approval?
No. Selection in the lottery simply grants your employer the right to submit a full H-1B petition. USCIS will then evaluate the petition's merits, employer credentials, and specialty occupation eligibility before issuing an approval.
Did the weighted selection rule change annual H-1B visa caps?
No. The statutory numerical limits remain unchanged: 65,000 for the regular cap, plus an additional 20,000 master's cap exemption for individuals holding eligible U.S. advanced degrees.
Can I still look up prevailing wages on flcdatacenter.com?
No. The legacy FLC Data Center site was officially discontinued on July 1, 2024. All OEWS wage data must now be searched through the DOL’s FLAG portal at flag.dol.gov.
Try Visahire's H-1B Selection Odds Calculator
Use Visahire’s free selection odds calculator to simulate your selection chances based on your salary, location, and degree qualifications.