Registered Nurse H-1B Wage Level Breakdown 2026
H-1B Registered Nurse petitions are heavily concentrated at Level II (55.8%) across 48,310 certified filings (FY2022–2026). Nursing wages are largely governed by union contracts and OES survey bands, leaving little room for employers to file at higher tiers. Under the 2026 wage-weighted lottery, RN candidates face below-average selection odds, making hospital direct-hire roles and Level III positions strategically important.
Wage Level Distribution & 2026 Lottery Entry Weight
| DOL Wage Level | Share of Filings | Median Wage | 25th–75th | 2026 Lottery Entries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 16.2% | $62K | $55K–$71K | 1× |
| Level II (Qualified) | 55.8% | $73K | $65K–$82K | 2× |
| Level III (Experienced) | 25.7% | $85K | $78K–$94K | 3× |
| Level IV (Expert) | 2.3% | $96K | $89K–$105K | 4× |
Distribution across 48,310 certified Registered Nurse LCA filings (DOL FY2022–2026). Entry-weight column reflects the DHS wage-weighted selection rule effective February 27, 2026 (Level IV = 4 entries, III = 3, II = 2, I = 1 in the registration pool), because RN filings cluster heavily at Level II, most RN petitions get only 2 entries per registration, fewer than roles concentrated at Level III/IV. USCIS has not published official aggregate selection-rate percentages by wage level, so none are stated here.
Employers Filing Registered Nurses at Level III–IV
These health systems most often file RN petitions at Level III, the tiers with better lottery selection odds. Direct-hire hospital systems consistently outperform staffing agencies on wage tier.
| Employer | Level | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente | Level III | 3,241 | $88K |
| HCA Healthcare | Level II | 2,814 | $74K |
| Ascension Health | Level II | 2,107 | $72K |
| CommonSpirit Health | Level III | 1,843 | $86K |
| Mayo Clinic | Level III | 1,562 | $91K |
| DaVita Inc. | Level II | 1,204 | $71K |
| NYU Langone Health | Level III | 987 | $89K |
Ranked by Registered Nurse filing volume (DOL LCA FY2022–2026).
Why RN Lottery Odds Are Lower, and What to Do About It
Nursing wages are largely set by collective bargaining agreements and OES area wage surveys that cluster tightly around Level II. Unlike tech roles where compensation varies widely by employer, most hospital systems pay RNs within a narrow band, making Level III or IV filings less common even at high-paying health systems.
The most effective strategy for RN candidates: target large urban health systems (Kaiser, Mayo, NYU) that file disproportionately at Level III, or consider cap-exempt healthcare employers (nonprofit hospitals, federally qualified health centers, university health systems) that bypass the lottery entirely under USCIS cap-exempt rules.
What DOL Wage Levels Mean
- 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 48,310 certified Registered Nurse filings with a reported DOL prevailing wage level. Lottery entry-weight figures reflect the DHS wage-weighted selection rule effective February 27, 2026; USCIS has not published official aggregate selection-rate percentages by wage level.