2026 MyVisaJobs LCA H-1B Software Engineer prevailing wage Level (2026)

2026 H-1B Software Engineer prevailing wage Level 1-4 실제 데이터

H-1B visa 의 핵심 wage rule = employer 가 (1) actual wage (해당 사내 동일 직급) (2) prevailing wage (DOL OFLC Wage Library) 둘 중 higher 를 지급 의무. Prevailing wage 는 4개 Level 로 구분되며 BLS OEWS 데이터 기반. 본 글은 2025-2026 SOC 15-1252 (Software Developers) 와 15-1132 (Software Developers, Applications, legacy) 기준 Level 1-4 prevailing wage 실제 사례를 정리한다.

H-1B Wage Level 4단계 정의 (FACT, DOL)

Level 1 (Entry) — 17th percentile of market. 기본 이해, routine task, 직접 감독. 신입 / OPT 전환
Level 2 (Qualified) — 34th percentile. moderate understanding, moderately complex, 제한된 judgment. 2-3년 경력
Level 3 (Experienced) — 50th percentile (market median). sound understanding, complex task, considerable judgment. 5-7년 경력
Level 4 (Fully Competent) — 67th percentile. expert, unusually complex, extensive judgment. Senior+ 10년+ 경력

Software Developer prevailing wage 실제 사례 (FACT, 주요 지역)

San Francisco Bay Area (Santa Clara County) Level 1 $106,309 / Level 2 $138,756 / Level 3 $171,205 / Level 4 $203,653 [2024-2025 OFLC]
Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma WA Level 1 $97,490 / Level 2 $128,378 / Level 3 $159,267 / Level 4 $190,154
New York-Newark-Jersey City Level 1 $92,602 / Level 2 $120,328 / Level 3 $148,054 / Level 4 $175,781
Austin-Round Rock TX Level 1 $84,635 / Level 2 $107,328 / Level 3 $130,021 / Level 4 $152,714
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell GA Level 1 $83,200 / Level 2 $103,646 / Level 3 $124,093 / Level 4 $144,539
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua MA Level 1 $94,036 / Level 2 $124,738 / Level 3 $155,440 / Level 4 $186,142
※ 실제 OFLC online wage library 에서 SOC 15-1252 + zip code 조회로 정확치 확인 필수

빅테크 H-1B 실제 salary (FACT, h1bdata.info FY2024)

Google — 9,398 records, median $180,000. 21% > $200K, 65% $150-200K, 13% $100-150K. Senior SWE median $215K
Meta — 6,769 records, median $205,101. 55% > $200K, 40% $150-200K
Amazon — base $130K-$200K 대다수, sign-on 별도
Apple — Cupertino 본사 SWE base $160K-$250K
Microsoft — Redmond SWE base $140K-$220K
※ H-1B salary = base only. total comp (RSU + bonus) 는 levels.fyi 참조

한인 SWE H-1B 협상 시 주의 (INFERENCE)

Level 1 / Level 2 trap — body shop ㆍ small consulting 이 Level 1 ($85K) 으로 sponsor → PERM 단계에서 wage 부적합으로 EB green card 실패. Level 3+ 받아야 안전
Level 4 = senior — 빅테크 L5 / E5 부터 Level 4 prevailing wage 적용. base $170K+ Bay Area 기준
Actual wage rule — 회사가 같은 직급 미국인에게 $200K 주면 H-1B 도 $200K 의무. 자체 정책 (peer wage) 활용
FY2026 prevailing wage 인상 — DOL 이 2024 OEWS 데이터로 wage 조정, 평균 5-12% 인상
Compliance — LCA posting 의무 (10일), public access file 유지. 위반 시 DOL fine $1,000-$5,000/위반

지역별 Level 4 trade-off (INFERENCE)

Bay Area Level 4 $203K — 가장 높은 명목 wage. 단 housing $4-6K/월, state tax 9.3%
Seattle Level 4 $190K — WA state income tax 0%, COL 조정 후 실질 최고
Austin Level 4 $152K — TX state tax 0%, COL 낮음. 명목 -25% but 실질 -10% 추정
Atlanta Level 4 $144K — Southeast 한인 거점, COL 낮음. take-home 우위
NYC Level 4 $175K — NY + NYC city tax 합산 11.7%, housing 최고. 실질 take-home 최저권

출처

DOL FLC — Prevailing Wages, MyVisaJobs — Software Developer PW, H1B Grader — SOC 15-1252 PW, h1bdata.info — Google 2024, h1bdata.info — Meta 2024, DOL — Prevailing Wage Resources, EPI — H-1B Prevailing Wage Analysis.

※ 본 글은 2024-2025 OFLC 공시 데이터 + INFERENCE 보정. 정확한 zip code 별 prevailing wage 는 flag.dol.gov/programs/prevailingwages → Online Wage Library 직접 조회. H-1B salary negotiation 시 immigration lawyer + prevailing wage determination (PWD) 확인 권장.