- Seven employers reported median H-1B salaries of at least $198,000, led by University of Pittsburgh Physicians at $255,725.
- A February twenty-seven, twenty twenty-six DHS rule shifted H-1B selection to a wage-weighted system favoring higher-skilled workers.
- USCIS recorded a 97.9% petition approval rate in FY twenty twenty-five/twenty twenty-six, even as lottery selection stayed near 35.3%.
An August 2026 analysis of federal Labor Condition Application data identified seven U.S. employers whose median salaries for H-1B workers reached at least $198,000, more than 50% above the program’s $130,707 national median.
University of Pittsburgh Physicians led the group at $255,725, followed by Roblox at $245,690, Citadel Securities Americas Services at $235,000 and Netflix at $226,158. The analysis came from H1BScope and used fiscal year 2026 data.
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The gap extends into the highest-paid part of the program. The national 90th-percentile H-1B salary stood at $212,000, yet the four highest-paying employers in the list each reported median salaries above that mark.
The figures arrived as federal officials moved the selection process toward a wage-weighted system. A Department of Homeland Security rule effective February 27, 2026, replaced the random selection process with one that gives greater weight to higher skills and uses the Department of Labor’s four prevailing-wage levels.
Level IV, the expert category, receives 4x more selection weight than Level I, the entry category. DHS estimates that selections for Level 1 registrations will fall by approximately 48% under the new approach.
Matthew Tragesser, a USCIS spokesman, said December 23, 2025, that employers had used the former process to seek foreign workers at lower wages than American workers.
"The existing random selection process of H-1B registrations was exploited and abused by U.S. employers who were primarily seeking to import foreign workers at lower wages than they would pay American workers. The new weighted selection will better serve Congress' intent. by incentivizing American employers to petition for higher-paid, higher-skilled foreign workers."
The salary distribution now favors employers in fields such as artificial intelligence, quantitative finance and specialized medicine, according to the analysis. Recent graduates and other candidates offered Level I wages face a more difficult route into the cap selection process.
| Employer | Median H-1B salary reported |
|---|---|
| University of Pittsburgh Physicians | $255,725 |
| Roblox | $245,690 |
| Citadel Securities Americas Services | $235,000 |
| Netflix | $226,158 |
| Credit Karma | Median >$198k |
| Two Sigma Investments | Median >$198k |
| TT Commerce & Global Services | Median >$198k |
The four-tier structure relies on prevailing-wage data. On July 1, 2026, the DOL updated wages for the 2026-2027 cycle, with 74% of occupations seeing an increase. Computer and healthcare occupations, both represented among the fields associated with high-paying employers, recorded median increases of +3.4% to +4.0%.
A separate DOL proposal issued March 26, 2026, would raise required minimum salaries by 21% to 33%. The proposed increases could raise costs for small businesses and employers operating in lower-cost regions.
USCIS also has expanded its use of the VIBE, or Validation Instrument for Business Enterprises, tool. The agency uses it to compare employer-submitted wage information with third-party commercial databases and identify possible fraud or wage suppression.
The broader petition process remains highly selective at the registration stage but has a high approval rate after filing. USCIS recorded a 97.9% approval rate for Form I-129 H-1B petitions in FY 2025/2026, while the cap lottery selection rate stood at approximately 35.3%.
That distinction separates selection from adjudication. A candidate must first receive selection before an employer can move forward with the petition, while the later petition still faces agency review.
The administration’s approach has also faced litigation over fees. On July 24, 2026, USCIS said DHS would comply with a First Circuit court order denying a stay after an earlier ruling vacated a proposed $100,000 H-1B fee.
"DHS strongly disagrees with the First Circuit's order denying the stay request but will comply with the court's order while DHS considers next steps. If this order is later lifted, DHS still plans to collect the payment."
The wage data remains tied to the employer’s filing record. USCIS publishes employer information through its H-1B Employer Data Hub, while the DOL maintains Foreign Labor Certification data through flcdatacenter.com.
Employers preparing petitions must account for the wage levels used in selection and the agency’s increased data checks. Employees evaluating offers can compare the offered role and salary with the prevailing-wage framework described by the USCIS specialty occupations guidance.
The selection rule took effect February 27, 2026, and the DOL’s updated prevailing wages began applying to the 2026-2027 cycle on July 1, 2026. Those dates now frame the next round of employer filings and salary decisions.
