H-1B Wages: The Data Picture
The Department of Labor (DOL) publishes quarterly disclosure data for all Labor Condition Applications (LCAs), which are required for every H-1B petition. This data shows the offered wage, the prevailing wage, the occupation, and the employer ā making it the most comprehensive public window into H-1B compensation.
ā ļø Educational notice: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed immigration attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
Median H-1B Wages by Employer Type (FY2025)
| Employer Category | Median H-1B Wage | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| FAANG / Hyperscalers | $268,000 | +9% |
| AI-focused startups (>200 employees) | $221,000 | +14% |
| Large tech (non-FAANG) | $178,000 | +6% |
| Financial services | $165,000 | +7% |
| Healthcare / pharma | $134,000 | +5% |
| IT consulting firms | $98,000 | +3% |
| Staffing companies | $82,000 | +2% |
Top 10 H-1B Sponsoring Employers by Volume (FY2025)
| Rank | Employer | Approvals | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Infosys | 34,200 | $91,000 |
| 2 | Tata Consultancy Services | 28,700 | $87,000 |
| 3 | Cognizant | 22,100 | $93,000 |
| 4 | Amazon | 19,800 | $221,000 |
| 5 | 14,300 | $274,000 | |
| 6 | Microsoft | 12,600 | $248,000 |
| 7 | Meta | 8,900 | $301,000 |
| 8 | Wipro | 8,400 | $89,000 |
| 9 | Apple | 7,200 | $263,000 |
| 10 | HCL America | 6,800 | $88,000 |
Wage Level Distribution Shift
The share of H-1B petitions at Wage Level III or IV has increased from 28% (FY2022) to 36% (FY2025), reflecting both wage growth and increased USCIS scrutiny of Level I filings.
What This Means for H-1B Workers
- Workers at consulting and staffing firms earn significantly less than their direct-hire counterparts, even for the same SOC code
- High-wage employers have lower RFE and denial rates, as their petitions are harder to challenge on specialty occupation grounds
- The wage gap creates a two-tier H-1B market ā a dynamic that impacts negotiating leverage and long-term green card pathways
Explore the Data
Use the Work Visa Insights platform to search H-1B LCA wage data by employer, SOC code, state, and wage level ā updated quarterly from DOL disclosure data.