What prevailing wage is
Congress mandated that hiring a foreign worker may not depress US wages. The prevailing wage system enforces that mandate. For any given job in any given metro area, DOL publishes a four-level wage scale. Employers must pay at least the applicable level. The actual offered salary cannot be below the prevailing wage.
The four levels
- Level 1 - entry. New graduate or junior in the field. Typically the lowest 25th percentile of wages.
- Level 2 - qualified. Some experience, performs assignments with limited supervision.
- Level 3 - experienced. Mid-career, performs the full range of duties.
- Level 4 - fully competent. Senior-level, supervisory role or expert. Highest 25%.
How to look up your prevailing wage
- Visit flag.dol.gov.
- Click 'OES Wage Library' or 'Prevailing Wage Search'.
- Enter SOC occupation code (e.g., 15-1252 for Software Developers).
- Enter the metro area (MSA) - usually the worksite ZIP code.
- Pick the wage level matching the role's level of responsibility.
- The website returns annual and hourly wages at all four levels.
Why prevailing wage matters
- H-1B LCA - employer files Labor Condition Application at the prevailing wage or higher.
- PERM - labor certification requires showing the employer offered at least the prevailing wage to test the US labor market.
- OBBBA weighted H-1B lottery (2026) - petitions paying at Levels 3 and 4 receive multiple lottery entries; petitions at Level 1 receive fewer chances.
- USCIS RFEs - if the offered wage and level appear mismatched (e.g., 'engineering manager' at Level 1), USCIS issues an RFE.
Determining the correct level
DOL publishes a worksheet that walks employers through a four-factor analysis: education, experience, supervisory duties, and special skills. Most entry-level roles for new graduates are Level 1; most senior engineering manager roles are Level 4. Errors here cause LCA denials and PERM audits.