United States of America
United States of America visa salary thresholds
US employment-based visas use DOL prevailing wage bands (Level 1, 2, 3, 4) specific to occupation (SOC code) and geography. H-1B petitions must attest to paying at or above the prevailing wage; EB-2/EB-3 require a PERM labor certification at the same.
Last checked 20 April 2026. Every figure is mapped to a primary government source and re-verified over time; recorded changes appear in the changelog.
What salary do you need for a skilled-work visa in United States?
The main skilled-work salary floor in United States of America is US$62,000 / year (H-1B — Level 1 prevailing wage (median across SOC codes)), effective 1 July 2024. Occupation-specific going rates may bind higher.
Verified against DOL — Foreign Labor Certification wage search on 20 April 2026.
Threshold table
| Route | Amount | ~USD | In force since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
H-1B — Level 1 prevailing wage (median across SOC codes) Typical Level 1 prevailing wage across SOC codes for entry-level roles, per DOL's FLC wage library. Actual floor varies by MSA and SOC — check the FLC tool for your specific role and location. | US$62,000 / year | $62,000 | 2024-07-01 | DOL — Foreign Labor Certification wage search |
H-1B — Level 4 prevailing wage (senior roles, typical band) Typical Level 4 prevailing wage for experienced roles. Tech hubs (SF, NYC, Seattle, Boston) frequently exceed $200k at Level 4 for software engineers and ML roles. | US$150,000 / year | $150,000 | 2024-07-01 | DOL — FLC wage search |
L-1B specialised knowledge — indicative floor Indicative; L-1 does not have a statutory salary floor but USCIS scrutinises "specialised knowledge" claims when compensation is below US peer benchmarks. | US$80,000 / year | $80,000 | 2016-01-01 | USCIS — L-1B |
EB-5 Direct investment minimum Minimum qualifying investment for EB-5 Direct investment outside a Targeted Employment Area. | US$1,050,000 / year | $1,050,000 | 2022-03-15 | USCIS — EB-5 |
EB-5 Targeted Employment Area minimum Reduced EB-5 threshold for investments in Targeted Employment Areas (rural or high-unemployment) under the 2022 EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act. | US$800,000 / year | $800,000 | 2022-03-15 | USCIS — EB-5 |
How often this changes
DOL prevailing wages are revised each 1 July from the OES survey. The 2020 Trump-era wage rule that would have raised H-1B prevailing wages was vacated in federal court; watch for regulatory reinstatement attempts under current and future administrations.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary to qualify for a work visa in United States?
US employment-based visas use DOL prevailing wage bands (Level 1, 2, 3, 4) specific to occupation (SOC code) and geography. H-1B petitions must attest to paying at or above the prevailing wage; EB-2/EB-3 require a PERM labor certification at the same.
How often do United States salary thresholds change?
DOL prevailing wages are revised each 1 July from the OES survey. The 2020 Trump-era wage rule that would have raised H-1B prevailing wages was vacated in federal court; watch for regulatory reinstatement attempts under current and future administrations.
Does meeting the headline threshold guarantee approval?
No. Headline floors are one of several criteria. Most jurisdictions also apply an occupation-specific going rate, character and health checks, and — for sponsored routes — employer/sponsor compliance. Failing any one of these can lead to refusal even where salary is above the threshold.
Related
Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.