Does my employer have to pay the prevailing wage?

For H-1B, E-3, and H-1B1 workers the employer's LCA legally commits them to pay at least the prevailing wage for your role and area. The required wage is the higher of the prevailing wage and what the employer pays similar U.S. workers.

prevailing wage · DOL OFLC 2026-27

Physical Scientists, All Other prevailing wage in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY

The official U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage for Physical Scientists, All Other (SOC 19-2099) in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY, by experience level. This is the legal wage floor an H-1B / E-3 / H-1B1 employer commits to on the LCA, and the benchmark behind PERM green-card and OPT offers.

Level I

$67,933

$32.66/hr

Level II

$84,656

$40.70/hr

Level III

$101,379

$48.74/hr

Level IV

$118,102

$56.78/hr

Physical Scientists, All Other prevailing wage levels in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
level	per year	who it applies to
Level I	$67,933	entry-level — routine tasks under close supervision (≈17th percentile)
Level II	$84,656	qualified — moderately complex tasks (≈34th percentile)
Level III	$101,379	experienced — independent judgment (≈50th percentile)
Level IV	$118,102	fully competent — lead/expert (≈67th percentile)

Check your offer against this wage →

How to use this

Find the level that matches the experience required for the role (be honest — it sets your floor), then compare it to the salary you’re offered. If your offer is below the level that fits the job, that’s a negotiating signal — and for H-1B/E-3/H-1B1, paying below the prevailing wage violates the LCA the employer signed.

Source: DOL OFLC prevailing wage data (2026-27). Levels ≈ 17/34/50/67th percentiles of the OEWS distribution. Educational, not legal advice — verify on flag.dol.gov.