How we built the H1B salary database
Every number on these pages comes from official U.S. Department of Labor records, not surveys or estimates. This page explains the sources, what the wages mean, and where the data stops. We built it for H1B and OPT job seekers who are making real decisions, so being honest about the data matters.
Sources
Two official datasets from the DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC):
- Certified LCA disclosure data for the wages employers attest to pay. Source: dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/performance.
- Prevailing wage data (Level I to IV floors by occupation and metro), based on BLS OEWS surveys. Source: flag.dol.gov/wage-data/wage-data-downloads.
Coverage
199,155 certified H1B filings across 1,232 companies and 192 occupations (FY2026 (Oct 2025 - Mar 2026)). Prevailing wages cover all 530 DOL wage areas and 3,275 US counties for the 2025-26 wage year. The national median certified wage is $130,000.
What the numbers mean
A certified wage is the legal minimum an employer attests to pay on the petition. It is a floor, not an offer. It excludes equity, bonuses, and sign-on pay, so actual total compensation is often higher, especially at large tech and finance firms. Wage levels (I to IV) reflect experience: Level I is entry, Level IV is senior.
Limits
Filing counts are applications, not people or approved visas. One worker can appear in multiple filings. The data reflects what employers filed, so it leans toward larger sponsors and common occupations. Use it to compare, not as a guarantee of any single offer.
Common questions
Where does the H1B salary data come from?
Two official U.S. Department of Labor sources: certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) from the OFLC disclosure files for the wages employers actually attest to, and the OFLC prevailing wage data (based on BLS OEWS surveys) for the Level I to IV wage floors by occupation and metro.
Is the wage shown the salary I would actually earn?
No. It is the certified wage an employer legally attests to pay, which is the floor. It does not include equity, bonuses, or sign-on pay, so real total compensation, especially at large tech companies, is frequently higher.
How current is the data?
This database covers 199,155 certified filings from FY2026 (Oct 2025 - Mar 2026), with prevailing wages for the 2025-26 wage year. It is government disclosure data, not survey estimates or self-reported numbers.