H-1B Level IV Jobs 2026
DOL Prevailing Wage Level IV is the top tier of the H-1B wage-weighted lottery — offering approximately ~67% selection odds in 2026, versus ~44% at Level III and ~22% at Level II. Level IV corresponds to the 67th OES percentile and above, typically requiring salaries of $150K–$220K+ for tech roles. It's the most effective single lever available to candidates who can secure it.
Level IV vs All Wage Levels
| 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 IV
Roles with the highest volume of Level IV H-1B LCA filings (FY2022–2026, certified cases only).
| Role | Level IV Filings | Median Wage | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 198,000 | $172K | LCA data → |
| Cloud Architect | 43,200 | $192K | LCA data → |
| Machine Learning Engineer | 38,400 | $195K | LCA data → |
| Data Scientist | 28,700 | $176K | LCA data → |
| DevOps Engineer | 24,900 | $158K | LCA data → |
| Data Engineer | 18,100 | $162K | LCA data → |
| Physician | 12,800 | $218K | LCA data → |
| Financial Analyst | 8,400 | $152K | LCA data → |
Top H-1B Sponsors at Level IV
These employers file the most H-1B LCAs at Level IV. All are direct-hire tech companies — no staffing agencies appear in the Level IV top-10.
| Employer | Level IV Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 22,400 | $201K | |
| Meta | 18,700 | $213K |
| Apple | 16,100 | $198K |
| Microsoft | 14,900 | $186K |
| Amazon | 13,200 | $178K |
| Stripe | 4,800 | $212K |
| Airbnb | 3,700 | $204K |
| Salesforce | 3,200 | $185K |
Ranked by certified Level IV LCA filings (DOL FY2022–2026).
How to Secure a Level IV Offer
Know the exact threshold
Level IV requires payment at or above the 67th OES percentile for your exact SOC code and Metropolitan Statistical Area. Use the DOL FLC Data Center to look up the precise number before negotiating.
Target Staff+ and Principal roles
"Staff Engineer", "Principal Engineer", "Distinguished Engineer", and "Fellow" titles almost always fall into Level IV at top tech companies. Team lead and tech lead roles at FAANG often qualify too.
Leverage competing offers
The fastest path to Level IV is a competing offer that forces the employer to match. A single FAANG competing offer can move a candidate from Level II to Level IV at a mid-tier company.
Consider specialized domains
ML/AI, security, and distributed systems roles command Level IV wages at a higher rate than general software engineering. These domains are undersupplied relative to demand.
Related Resources
Find Level IV H-1B Jobs
Browse open roles at employers known to file at Level IV — the highest lottery odds tier.
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