H-1B Level III Jobs 2026
Under the 2026 wage-weighted lottery, H-1B petitions filed at DOL Prevailing Wage Level III receive approximately ~44% selection odds — double the ~22% odds at Level II. Level III corresponds roughly to the 50th percentile OES wage for a given role and area, typically $118K–$155K for tech roles. Targeting Level III is the single highest-leverage strategy for most H-1B candidates outside of Level IV.
What Is DOL Prevailing Wage Level III?
The Department of Labor assigns prevailing wage levels I–IV to every H-1B LCA filing based on the OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) survey for that SOC code and geographic area. Level III is the "experienced" tier — roughly the 50th OES percentile — and requires the employer to pay at or above that threshold.
| Level | OES Percentile | Est. 2026 Odds | Typical Tech Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | ~17th | ~8% | $82K–$105K |
| Level II | ~34th | ~22% | $101K–$128K |
| Level III | ~50th | ~44% | $118K–$155K |
| Level IV | ~67th+ | ~67% | $150K–$220K+ |
Top Roles Filing at Level III
These roles have the highest volume of H-1B LCA filings at DOL Prevailing Wage Level III (FY2022–2026, certified cases only).
| Role | Level III Filings | Median Wage | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 412,000 | $138K | LCA data → |
| Data Scientist | 58,400 | $141K | LCA data → |
| Cloud Architect | 36,200 | $163K | LCA data → |
| DevOps Engineer | 29,700 | $133K | LCA data → |
| Machine Learning Engineer | 24,100 | $152K | LCA data → |
| Data Engineer | 21,800 | $128K | LCA data → |
| Full Stack Developer | 19,400 | $122K | LCA data → |
| Business Analyst | 14,200 | $105K | LCA data → |
Top H-1B Sponsors at Level III
| Employer | Level III Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 38,400 | $144K |
| Microsoft | 24,700 | $148K |
| 18,900 | $159K | |
| Apple | 12,400 | $152K |
| Meta | 9,800 | $161K |
| Cognizant | 8,200 | $112K |
| Infosys | 7,700 | $108K |
| Deloitte | 6,900 | $119K |
Ranked by certified Level III LCA filings (DOL FY2022–2026).
How to Get a Level III Offer
Target direct-hire tech companies
FAANG and top-tier tech firms file at Level III or IV by default. Staffing agencies overwhelmingly file at Level I or II even for identical roles.
Negotiate to the 50th percentile
Level III requires the employer to pay at or above the OES 50th percentile for your SOC code and MSA. Use DOL's FLC Data Center to check the exact threshold before negotiating.
Aim for senior-IC or tech-lead titles
"Senior Engineer", "Staff Engineer", and "Tech Lead" roles almost always justify Level III. "Associate" and "Junior" titles typically push employers toward Level I.
Combine with Level IV where possible
If your offer clears the Level IV threshold (67th OES percentile), push for it — ~67% odds vs ~44%. The difference in salary is often smaller than candidates assume.
Related Resources
Find Level III H-1B Jobs
Browse open roles at employers known to file at Level III and above.
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