Data Source: The official OFLC wage data are wage-year and geographic-area specific. The current OFLC wage files cover July 2026 through June 2027. Use the official FLAG wage search for the exact SOC, worksite location, and applicable wage year: flag.dol.gov .
Preliminary H-1B Wage Review
Official wage lookup required: This tool does not embed the current OFLC 2026–2027 wage database because prevailing wages depend on the worksite geography, SOC occupation, and applicable wage year. Use the official FLAG wage search for the actual Level 1–4 figures.
Compliance Result
Select your SOC code, enter your salary, and click Check Wage Compliance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Under 20 CFR § 655.731, the H-1B required wage is generally the higher of the employer's actual wage for the specific employment or the prevailing wage for the occupation in the geographic area of intended employment, subject to other applicable federal, state, or local wage requirements.
The OFLC wage structure uses four wage tiers derived from the applicable occupational wage distribution. The commonly used reference points are approximately the 17th, 34th, 50th, and 67th percentiles. The current OFLC wage files are published by wage year and include occupational and geographic data; they should be checked directly for the relevant worksite.
If the employer fails to pay the applicable required wage, including the higher of the actual wage and prevailing wage where applicable, DOL may investigate and may order back wages and impose other remedies or penalties authorized by law. A salary comparison against a generic Level 1 number alone is not a complete legal compliance determination.
Compensation credited toward the H-1B wage obligation must satisfy the DOL's specific requirements. Certain bonuses or other forms of compensation can count when they meet the applicable regulatory criteria; not every discretionary bonus, commission, or equity award can automatically be excluded or included. The employer's wage methodology and payment terms must be reviewed.
Prevailing wage data are tied to the geographic area of intended employment. The relevant area may be a metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area, and the exact wage depends on the occupation, geographic area, and applicable wage year. Therefore, the same SOC code can have materially different prevailing wages in different locations.
Official prevailing wage data can be queried directly from the Department of Labor Foreign Labor Certification Data Center Online Wage Library (OWL) on the FLAG portal at flag.dol.gov.
Official U.S. Government References
• U.S. Department of Labor Foreign Labor Certification Data Center: flag.dol.gov