H-1B Wage Level: How to Determine Yours for FY 2027

Knowing how to determine your H-1B wage level is one of the most important skills you can have for the upcoming FY 2027 H-1B lottery. While your employer is the one who will submit your wage level for your lottery registration, you need to be informed enough to ask the right questions, so you can have the best chance for success in the lottery.

Your wage level is determined by finding the correct Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) code for your job category and comparing the wage you were offered to the usual wage for that role. There are a few steps involved, but determining the correct H-1B wage level ensures you go into the lottery with the best chance of winning.

Why wage level matters for the FY 2027 H-1B lottery

In December 2025, the Department of Homeland Security finalized a rule that changes the H-1B visa lottery system from one that is strictly random to one that is weighted based on wage level. Going forward, workers with higher wage levels will receive more entries in the lottery than those with lower wage levels.

What is an H-1B wage level?

An H-1B wage level is the typical pay for workers who have your occupation and live in your area. The government uses multiple databases to determine your wage level.

Wage levels are typically based on data from the BLS, specifically its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Wage data is broken out into four ranges, Level I-IV, based on your work location and your job’s SOC code (occupation code).

Although wage levels are not new to H-1B petitions, they matter more for the FY 2027 cap season because they determine how many entries a worker gets in the lottery.

How the new H-1B weighted selection works

For the FY 2027 H-1B lottery (held in early 2026), your wage level changes your odds of winning. USCIS still makes random selections when registrations exceed the annual cap, but higher wage levels get more entries in the selection pool.

Here’s a quick look at the number of lottery entries each wage level receives.

• Level IV = 4 entries
• Level III = 3 entries
• Level II = 2 entries
• Level I = 1 entry

Wage level if multiple registrations are made

If the same beneficiary has multiple registrations at different wage levels, USCIS uses the lowest wage level for the weighting. So a Level I registration might limit the worker to one lottery entry, even if another employer registers them at Level III or IV. The lowest wage level could be used to prevent employers from inflating wages to “game the system.”

3 data points to know for an H-1B wage level

There are three key points of data you need to know to determine an H-1B wage level.

1. Your job’s SOC code
2. Your work location
3. The proffered wage, or salary, the employer is offering

1. Your SOC code, or job classification

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes are the government’s way of categorizing jobs. Wage levels are tied to occupation and location, so choosing the closest-matching occupational category is the first step.

In practice, employers or legal counsel often make the final call on the SOC selection, but it’s not against policy for an employee to participate in the process.

💡 Manifest tip: Default, or generic job titles might not correctly fit your job duties and wage. Look closely at the SOC code job descriptions to find the right match for your role.

2. Your work location

The lottery is based on your work location, not where a company’s headquarters are located, since H-1B workers earn more in some cities, even for the same job.

Remote, hybrid, or multiple worksites:  Under the new weighted selection approach, working in multiple locations can force you to use the lowest wage level among those locations for selection purposes. If your role is truly remote, then your remote location is the one that controls your wage level.

3. Your proffered wage

The “proffered wage” is the wage the employer is actually offering for the role. It’s your gross salary, without any bonuses or other benefits. This is the number you’ll compare to the Level I-IV wage figures for your occupation and location to determine your wage level for selection purposes.

Step-by-step: How to determine your H-1B wage level

Step 1: Find your job code

You can access OEWS-based wage data through a wage search tool from the Office of Foreign Labor Certification, or OFLC. (OFLC is an official part of FLAG, the Foreign Labor Application Gateway from the Department of Labor.)

Under “Select Data Series,” select the latest date range, which is currently 7/2025-6/2026.

This tool asks for an occupation code and title from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). You can search for a code by keyword, but you can also visit O*NET first to do research and find the best code and job title.

More tips for choosing a job code: O*NET lists educational requirements, which can help you verify jobs that meet the H-1B requirement of at least a bachelor’s degree. You can also use the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook to check 2-3 job titles, research the requirements for those jobs, and find the best options for your wage searches. Remember that H-1B roles must be specialty occupations.

Step 2: Find the Level I-IV wage figures

Once you select an occupation code and location, you’ll typically see four wage figures: Level I, II, III, and IV. Think of them as a rough progression in experience and skills. More entry-level roles are Level I. More experienced, skilled, and independent roles are Level IV.

💡 Practical tip: Save a PDF or screenshot of the results page with the date, so you can show what SOC code and location details you relied on when you determined your wage level.

Step 3: Identify your wage level

Now compare the employer’s offered wage to the level figures for that job. Your wage level is set to the highest level that your wage matches or exceeds.

Example:

• Offered wage = $120,000
• Level I = $85,000
• Level II = $105,000
• Level III = $118,000
• Level IV = $140,000

Your offered wage ($120,000) is greater than the Level III wage ($118,000) but less than the Level IV wage ($140,000), so your wage level for this job is Level III because that’s the highest level your wage meets or exceeds.

💡 Practical tip: Your wage might qualify for a higher level under another job code. If possible, it’s worthwhile to compare multiple codes that could match your job description.

Step 4: Translate wage level into H-1B lottery entries

Once you have the wage level, translate it into entries:

Wage level	H-1B lottery entries
Level I	1
Level II	2
Level III	3
Level IV	4

Prevailing wage vs. actual wage

Employers do have wage compliance obligations. In general, H-1B employers are required to pay the prevailing wage or the actual wage for a job, whichever is higher.

Prevailing wage is what’s typically paid to workers of similar occupations and responsibilities, while the actual wage is what the employer intends to pay the worker.

The Department of Labor explains prevailing wage resources and options through FLAG. Employers can request a prevailing wage from the National Prevailing Wage Center (NPWC) or pursue other legitimate wage sources depending on the situation.

Documentation for H-1B registration

H-1B petitions that are filed after being selected in the lottery will need to include evidence of the wage level used at registration, so documenting evidence of how a wage level was selected can strengthen a case.

Capture your wage-level support “as of the registration date”

• Print or save a copy of the OFLC Wage Search for SOC and area. Be sure to note the date you did your search.
• Save notes on the work location, or locations, you used and how you determined the area of employment.
• Keep evidence of your offered wage. Avoid broad ranges when possible.

Remember that information submitted in every stage of the visa process needs to match.

Here’s a checklist you can use to be sure you’ve researched all the details needed to determine your H-1B wage level for the FY 2027 cap lottery registration.

• Confirm SOC code
• Confirm work location
• Finalize offered wage
• Capture OEWS and OFLC wage levels
• Map wage level and number of entries
• Save documentation as of the date you found the information

Find your wage level today

The new wage-weighted system for the H-1B lottery requires employers to provide more details about a beneficiary’s role when registering for the lottery. Making the wrong choice can decrease your chances of winning.

At Manifest Law, our immigration attorneys know how to navigate the new H-1B registration requirements. We’ll make sure your lottery registration correctly reflects the wage level for your role.

See how you can maximize your lottery odds. Request a consultation today.

H-1B wage level FAQs

What if I work at multiple worksites or locations?

When a role requires work in multiple locations, guidance around the new process says the registration should use the lowest corresponding wage level among those locations for lottery entry purposes.

Here is an example scenario.

• Location A wage level result: Level III
• Location B wage level result: Level I

For selection weighting, you may be forced to use Level I.

Is there still a master’s cap in the upcoming lottery?

Yes. If you qualify for the master’s cap, you still get two shots at selection. USCIS considers you first in the advanced-degree pool for 20,000 slots, and if you aren’t picked, you roll into the regular cap pool. Under the FY 2027 rules, both rounds are wage-weighted, so your wage level determines how many entries you get in the master’s-cap draw and, if needed, again in the regular draw.

Can an employer just pick a higher wage level?

An employer can choose to offer a higher wage for a role, but the wage still should be supported by evidence from the SOC code and work location.

What if no wage data is listed for the SOC code that matches my role?

If no wage data is listed for an SOC code, you cannot use that code. Go back to a search and find the next best SOC code.

What if my role is less than 40 hours a week?

For any role that is less than full-time, or 40 hours per week, use the hourly rate, not the annual salary, to determine the wage level.

Can the same H-1B salary have different wage levels in different cities?

Yes. H-1B wage levels are based on the SOC code for your job and the area of intended employment. The wage thresholds change by location because pay varies by local labor market. So the same salary might meet Level III in one city but only Level II in another, depending on the local wage data.