H-1B Wage Level II Jobs 2026
DOL Prevailing Wage Level II represents the 34th percentile of wages for a role — a qualified worker with some specialized skills, limited supervision. Under the 2026 wage-weighted lottery, Level II petitions have approximately ~22% selection odds — nearly 3x better than Level I, but still only half the odds of Level IV. Full lottery strategy guide →
Level II: Better Than I, But You Can Do More
Level II is the most common filing level among mid-tier consulting firms and many large tech employers for roles that aren't at the top of the pay band. At 22% odds, roughly 1 in 5 petitions is selected — far better than Level I's ~8%, but significantly worse than Level III (~44%) or Level IV (~67%). If your employer is offering a Level II-range salary, it's worth understanding whether the role is genuinely at the 34th percentile — or whether you're being under-leveled.
All Wage Levels — Lottery Odds Comparison
Roles Commonly Filed at Level II
| Role | Level II Filings | Median Level II Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 112,300 | $98K |
| Data Scientist | 38,400 | $102K |
| Business Analyst | 29,700 | $84K |
| Cloud Engineer | 22,100 | $107K |
| Full Stack Developer | 18,900 | $97K |
| Financial Analyst | 14,600 | $86K |
| Project Manager | 13,200 | $91K |
| UX Designer | 9,400 | $93K |
Top Employers Filing at Level II
A mix of product companies and consulting firms. Note that even large tech employers like Amazon and Microsoft file a significant share of petitions at Level II — typically for mid-level roles in lower-cost locations.
From Level II to Level III: The Upgrade Path
Know your SOC code OES percentiles. The BLS Occupational Employment Statistics define what Level II means for your specific role and geography. For a Software Developer in San Jose, Level II might be $120K — still well below Level III. Check the actual numbers before accepting an offer.
Total comp vs. base wage. LCA wage level is based on the base wage only — bonuses, equity, and benefits don't count. A company can file at Level III while paying you $130K base even if total comp is $300K.
Target employers that file Level III+ by default. Check the sponsor database for each employer's typical filing level before applying.
Browse Level III and IV openings directly. Level III jobs (44% odds) and Level IV jobs (67% odds) are available across the same roles — they just require higher-paying employers.
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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 II is the 34th percentile of OES wage data for the relevant SOC code and geographic area.