Overview
- The Labor Department proposal, published Friday, opens a 60‑day comment window on raising the prevailing wage, the minimum pay employers must offer for these visas.
- The rule would shift the four wage tiers to the 34th, 52nd, 70th and 88th percentiles from roughly the 17th, 34th, 50th and 67th.
- The changes would apply across H‑1B, H‑1B1, E‑3 and PERM green card cases to keep one standard for temporary and permanent hiring.
- If finalized, it would take effect only going forward, cover pending wage determinations and Labor Condition Applications on the effective date, and still allow approved alternative wage surveys.
- The Labor Department estimates about a $14,000 rise in average certified pay per job, a jump analysts say could squeeze entry‑level foreign hires, with a court fight likely after similar 2021 increases were struck down.