H-1B Wage Level I Jobs 2026
DOL Prevailing Wage Level I represents the 17th percentile of wages for a role — entry-level experience, routine tasks, close supervision. Under the 2026 wage-weighted H-1B lottery, Level I petitions have approximately ~8% selection odds. For context: Level IV has ~67%. Full lottery strategy guide →
Why Level I Offers Are Dangerous
The 2026 wage-weighted lottery assigns selection probability based on the prevailing wage level in your LCA. A Level I filing means only ~1 in 12 petitions gets selected. Consulting firms and offshore IT vendors file disproportionately at Level I — which is why their lottery success rates are dramatically lower than direct employers like Google or Amazon, who file mostly at Levels III and IV. If a company offers you a Level I salary for a senior role, that is a structural problem — not just a pay issue.
All Wage Levels — Lottery Odds Comparison
Roles Most Commonly Filed at Level I
| Role | Level I Filings | Median Level I Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 87,400 | $78K |
| Business Analyst | 42,100 | $68K |
| Data Analyst | 31,600 | $71K |
| Network Engineer | 18,200 | $72K |
| UX Designer | 12,800 | $74K |
| Project Manager | 11,400 | $69K |
| Full Stack Dev | 9,700 | $76K |
| Cloud Engineer | 7,200 | $81K |
Top Employers Filing at Level I
These employers file a disproportionate share of Level I petitions — meaning lower lottery odds for their sponsored employees. Compare with top-approval-rate sponsors who file at higher wage levels.
What To Do If You Receive a Level I Offer
Negotiate the wage level explicitly. Ask the recruiter what DOL wage level the LCA will be filed at. If they say Level I, negotiate for Level II or higher — it's a lottery-odds conversation, not just a salary one.
Check the employer's historical filing levels. Use the sponsor database to see what wage levels the company typically files at. A company that always files Level I won't suddenly file Level III for you.
Consider cap-exempt employers. Universities, nonprofits, and government research institutions are exempt from the lottery entirely — wage level doesn't matter for them.
Target Level III+ directly. Browse Level III jobs and Level IV jobs where lottery odds are 44–67%.
Related Pages
H1B Visa Jobs Research Team
Lottery odds estimates derived from DOL LCA disclosure data (FY2022–2026) and USCIS H-1B registration statistics under the wage-weighted selection rule effective March 2025. Level I is the 17th percentile of OES wage data for the relevant SOC code and geographic area.