Prevailing Wage

<p>For H-1Bs, the <b>prevailing wage</b> is determined for the specific job title, level of experience, and work location, usually based on Department of Labor data.</p><p>The employer must pay the H-1B worker at least this amount (or the actual wage paid to similar employees in-house, if higher). Prevailing wage ensures foreign workers are not paid below market rate, protecting local wage standards.</p><p>The value is obtained via:</p><ul><li>DOL's National Prevailing Wage Center</li><li>Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey data</li><li>Wage levels 1–4 depending on job requirements</li></ul>