Machine Learning Engineer H-1B Wage Level Breakdown 2026
Most certified H-1B Machine Learning Engineer petitions are filed at Level II (Qualified)(33.3% of 6,119 filings). Because the proposed 2026 wage-weighted lottery favors higher DOL prevailing wage levels, the level your employer files at directly shapes your selection odds.
Wage Level Distribution & 2026 Lottery Odds
| DOL Wage Level | Share of Filings | Median Wage | 25th–75th | Est. 2026 Lottery Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 8.9% | $120K | $96K–$144K | ~15% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 33.3% | $141K | $120K–$175K | ~28% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 27.5% | $164K | $145K–$188K | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 30.3% | $194K | $172K–$221K | ~61% |
Distribution across 6,119 certified Machine Learning Engineer LCA filings (DOL FY2022–2026). Lottery-odds column reflects the proposed 2026 wage-weighted selection model (Level I ~15%, II ~28%, III ~45%, IV ~61%); share-weighted, a typical Machine Learning Engineer petition lands near ~42%.
Employers Filing Machine Learning Engineers at Level III–IV
These employers most often file Machine Learning Engineer 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 | 304 | $200K |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. | Level IV | 131 | $218K |
| Adobe Inc. | Level IV | 69 | $210K |
| Pinterest, Inc. | Level III | 53 | $163K |
| Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. | Level III | 50 | $150K |
| Cruise LLC | Level IV | 49 | $225K |
| ByteDance Inc. | Level IV | 48 | $250K |
| LinkedIn Corporation | Level IV | 45 | $193K |
Ranked by Level III–IV Machine Learning Engineer filing volume. Linked employers have a full per-company wage breakdown.
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 6,119 certified Machine Learning Engineer filings with a reported DOL prevailing wage level. Lottery-odds figures reflect the proposed 2026 wage-weighted selection model and are illustrative.