California H-1B Wage Level Breakdown 2026
Most certified H-1B petitions in California are filed at Level II (Qualified)(38.9% of 371,108 filings). Because the 2026 wage-weighted lottery gives higher DOL prevailing wage levels more entries in the selection pool (Level IV = 4, III = 3, II = 2, I = 1), where your employer files directly shapes your selection odds.
Wage Level Distribution & 2026 Lottery Entry Weight
| DOL Wage Level | Share of Filings | Median Wage | 25th–75th | 2026 Lottery Entries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 15.1% | $95K | $75K–$124K | 1× |
| Level II (Qualified) | 38.9% | $132K | $108K–$166K | 2× |
| Level III (Experienced) | 25.1% | $163K | $139K–$190K | 3× |
| Level IV (Expert) | 20.9% | $193K | $165K–$225K | 4× |
Distribution across 371,108 certified LCA filings with a California worksite (DOL FY2022–2026). Entry-weight column reflects the DHS wage-weighted selection rule effective February 27, 2026 (Level IV = 4 entries, III = 3, II = 2, I = 1 in the registration pool). USCIS has not published official aggregate selection-rate percentages by wage level, so none are stated here.
California Employers Filing at Level III–IV
These California employers most often file petitions at the higher prevailing wage levels, the tiers with the strongest selection odds under the 2026 wage-weighted lottery.
| Employer | Level | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Inc. | Level IV | 5,925 | $191K |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. | Level IV | 5,746 | $221K |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | Level III | 3,011 | $187K |
| Cognizant Technology Solutions US Corp | Level III | 2,031 | $125K |
| NVIDIA Corporation | Level IV | 1,535 | $205K |
| Google LLC | Level IV | 1,407 | $239K |
| Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. | Level IV | 1,350 | $176K |
| Netflix, Inc. | Level IV | 959 | $226K |
Ranked by Level III–IV filing volume in California. Linked employers have a full sponsorship profile.
What DOL Wage Levels Mean
Every H-1B Labor Condition Application is filed at one of four DOL prevailing wage levels, set by the role's required experience and the OES survey for the occupation and location:
- Level I (Entry): roughly the 17th percentile wage, new graduates and early-career hires.
- Level II (Qualified): ~34th percentile, some experience, the most common H-1B level.
- Level III (Experienced): ~50th percentile, independent, senior-leaning roles.
- Level IV (Expert): ~67th percentile and up, lead, principal, and managerial roles.
Related H-1B Data
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Wage-level distribution aggregated from DOL LCA disclosure files (FY2022–2026), filtered to certified petitions with wages between $30K and $1M. Based on 371,108 certified filings with a California worksite and a reported DOL prevailing wage level. Lottery entry-weight figures reflect the DHS wage-weighted selection rule effective February 27, 2026; USCIS has not published official aggregate selection-rate percentages by wage level.