Wage Levels I–IV for Veterinarians: What H-1B Filings Show
Across 1,019 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Veterinarians nationwide that report a wage level (FY2024–FY2026), the median prevailing wage employers reported ran from $85,144 at Level I to $167,690 at Level IV. See how often each level is filed here and where an offer falls against each.
These are prevailing wages as reported in H-1B filings, not the official OFLC prevailing wage. The wage a job must pay is set by the Department of Labor for its exact occupation and metro area — look it up in the OFLC Wage Search.
Where does an offer fall?
Enter an annual offer to compare it with the prevailing wages employers reported at each level for Veterinarians nationwide, FY2024–FY2026. It is read in your browser.
Gross annual base salary, compared with Veterinarians filings nationwide.
Example — the median offered wage here, $150,000:
At or above the median Level III prevailing wage reported in these filings ($142,823), and below the median Level IV ($167,690).
- Level I: Higher than 95% of the Level I prevailing wages reported here.
- Level II: Higher than 95% of the Level II prevailing wages reported here.
- Level III: Higher than about 57% of the Level III prevailing wages reported here.
- Level IV: Higher than about 26% of the Level IV prevailing wages reported here.
Your actual wage level is set by the job's requirements, and the required wage by DOL for the exact metro area — see the OFLC Wage Search.
How often each level is filed here
Veterinarians nationwide, certified filings, FY2024–FY2026.
- Level I25%254 filings
- Level II50%506 filings
- Level III12%120 filings
- Level IV14%139 filings
Shares of the 1,019 filings that report a level. Another 71 filings (7%) report none.
Prevailing and offered wages by level
Annual wages reported on certified filings, FY2024–FY2026. Prevailing wages are what employers reported from the Department of Labor’s OEWS survey for each worksite’s area, pooled across the area shown.
| Level | Filings | Prevailing wage, median | Prevailing, middle half | Prevailing, 90th | Offered, median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | 254 | $85,144 | $77.1k–$92.7k | $109,117 | $110,168 |
| Level II | 506 | $111,792 | $100.1k–$124.8k | $139,589 | $150,000 |
| Level III | 120 | $142,823 | $129.4k–$160.8k | $173,576 | $160,132 |
| Level IV | 139 | $167,690 | $149.1k–$192.2k | $208,004 | $200,000 |
What these numbers are — and are not
These are prevailing wages as reported in H-1B filings, not the official OFLC prevailing wage.
- Employers must use the wage the Department of Labor publishes for the job’s exact occupation code and metro area, or an approved alternative source. Look it up in the OFLC Wage Search (DOL FLAG).
- The figures pool certified filings from FY2024–FY2026 across every metro area in the area shown and three OFLC wage years. Official wages are updated every July, so pooled figures typically run somewhat below the current year’s.
- The level on a filing reflects the job’s requirements. It is not something an offer earns, and nothing here determines a job’s level.
- Filings without a reported level (7% here) almost all used a prevailing wage from a source other than the OEWS survey, such as a private salary survey.
- Not legal or immigration advice.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this the official prevailing wage?
- No. These are the prevailing wages employers reported on certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications (including ones later withdrawn) in FY2024–FY2026. The wage an employer must pay is set by the Department of Labor for the job’s exact occupation code and metro area, and changes every July; the figures here pool every metro area in the state and three wage years. Look up the official wage: OFLC Wage Search (DOL).
- What is the difference between Level I and Level II pay for Veterinarians nationwide?
- In FY2024–FY2026 filings, the median prevailing wage reported at Level I was $85,144 and at Level II $111,792; the median offered wage was $110,168 and $150,000. These are medians across filings, not the rate for any one worksite.
- Who decides a job’s wage level?
- The level is set by the job’s requirements — education, experience, special skills and supervision — following Department of Labor guidance, not by the salary. A higher offer does not change a job’s level; it can only meet or exceed the wage for it.
- Why do some filings have no wage level?
- A level exists only when the prevailing wage comes from the Department of Labor’s OEWS survey. Nearly all filings without one used another source, such as a private salary survey; here that is 7% of 1,090 filings, and level shares are of the rest.
- How often do prevailing wages change?
- The Department of Labor updates its OEWS-based prevailing wages every July. It has also proposed raising the wage levels (91 FR 15454, published March 27, 2026); as of October 1, 2026 that is still a proposal. If it is finalized, filings after it takes effect will report higher level wages, and figures pooled over past years will lag. The proposed rule (91 FR 15454).
- How does wage level affect the H-1B lottery?
- Since the FY2027 cap season, each registered person is entered in the selection once at Level I, twice at Level II, three times at Level III and four times at Level IV, using the highest level the offered wage meets for the job’s occupation and area (90 FR 60864). Estimate the odds by wage level.
- Why is my occupation or state missing?
- A page is published only where all four levels have at least 100 reported prevailing wages in FY2024–FY2026, so every level comparison rests on a real sample. Smaller combinations still appear in the Salary Calculator’s level table. Salary Calculator.
- Is this legal or immigration advice?
- No. It describes public filing data. For the wage a specific job must pay, use the Department of Labor’s OFLC Wage Search or consult an immigration attorney.