H-1B Wage Threshold Calculator
The offered wage needed to clear each OEWS level (I–IV) and the FY2027 lottery entries each threshold unlocks.
To move up an H-1B wage level, the offered wage must clear that level's OEWS breakpoint for your SOC occupation and metro. Each level you clear unlocks more FY2027 lottery entries: Level I = 1, II = 2, III = 3, IV = 4. Pick an occupation and metro to see the derived wage needed for each level.
Source: DOL OFLC Disclosure Data · Methodology
Rules as of June 3, 2026; effective for FY2027 (DHS weighted selection, eff. Feb 27 2026); subject to ongoing litigation.
Summary
To reach a given H-1B wage level, an employer's offered wage must equal or exceed that level's OEWS prevailing-wage breakpoint for the SOC occupation and area of intended employment. Under the FY2027 DHS weighted selection rule (effective February 27, 2026), each level unlocks lottery pool entries equal to its number — one at Level I up to four at Level IV — drawn in a single weighted random selection. This calculator derives each threshold from the median prevailing wage filed at that level in DOL OFLC data, so the dollar figures are estimates, not the official FLC Wage Library values. Source: U.S. Department of Labor OFLC Disclosure Data, analyzed by VisaSalaries Research. Methodology: https://visasalaries.com/methodology
Frequently Asked Questions
What wage do I need to reach Level III or Level IV?
You need an offered annual wage at or above the OEWS breakpoint for that level in your SOC occupation and metro. This tool shows the derived dollar threshold for each of Level I–IV so you can see, for example, the wage that clears Level III (3 entries).
How is the wage level matched to an offer?
The wage level is the highest OEWS level the offered wage equals or exceeds for that SOC occupation and area of intended employment. Clearing a higher breakpoint moves the registration up a level.
How many FY2027 lottery entries does each level unlock?
Entries equal the wage level: Level I unlocks 1 entry, Level II unlocks 2, Level III unlocks 3, and Level IV unlocks 4. Selection is then a single weighted random draw across all entries — not a tiered fill.
Are these wage thresholds official?
No. Each threshold is a DERIVED estimate — the median prevailing wage filed at that level for the SOC and metro. The official FLC Wage Library is not yet integrated, so the thresholds are approximate.
If I file multiple registrations at different levels, which one counts?
Each unique beneficiary is counted once. When a beneficiary has registrations at different wage levels, USCIS uses the LOWEST level to determine the number of pool entries.