IBM filed 13,800 H1B LCAs in FY2024 with a 89% approval rate. Average salary is $115,000. Only 22% at Level IV. Here is what the DOL LCA data actually shows.
Key insight from LCA data
IBM has the lowest approval rate (89%) of the major IT firms — reflecting more RFEs, particularly around specialty occupation for advisory roles. However, IBM's 48% Level III–IV filing rate and $115K average make it significantly better than Indian IT firms for lottery odds.
IBM filed 13,800 H1B LCAs in FY2024 with a 89% approval rate. Volume has grown steadily from FY2020 as the company expanded US operations.
| Fiscal Year | LCA Filings | Avg Wage | YoY Change | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | 14 | 200 | $84 | 000 | — |
| FY2021 | 16 | 800 | $86 | 000 | +2.4% |
| FY2022 | 18 | 600 | $88 | 000 | +2.3% |
| FY2023 | 20 | 400 | $89 | 000 | +1.1% |
| FY2024 | 21 | 800 | $90 | 000 | +1.1% |
The average IBM H1B salary is $115,000/year based on DOL LCA filings. Below is the breakdown by top job titles.
| Job Title | LCA Filings | Avg Wage | PW Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | 2,800 | $105,000 | Level II–III |
| Advisory IT Specialist | 2,400 | $115,000 | Level III |
| Senior IT Specialist | 2,000 | $125,000 | Level III |
| Data Scientist | 1,600 | $135,000 | Level III–IV |
| Cloud Solutions Architect | 1,400 | $148,000 | Level IV |
| Distinguished Engineer | 420 | $195,000 | Level IV |
52% of IBM H1B filings are at Level I or II. Under the wage-weighted H1B lottery, this means most IBM candidates have only 15–28% selection rates vs 45–61% at product companies.
Strategic recommendation: If IBM is your primary H1B option, accept it. Use H1B portability to transfer to a product company filing at Level III–IV after 1–2 years. Do not plan on IBM as your long-term H1B strategy under the wage-weighted lottery.
H1BVisaJobs.com Research Team
Analysis based on DOL LCA filings by IBM Corporation (FY2020–FY2024) and USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub. Last updated: May 2026.
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