Getting an American job offer may not be enough to secure a US work visa anymore. Indian professionals planning to work in the United States could face another challenge as the government moves towards increasing minimum salary requirements for foreign workers.
On November 9, 2026, the US Department of Labor (DOL) submitted its final prevailing wage rule to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. The proposed changes could affect employers sponsoring foreign workers through H-1B visas and employment-based Green Cards.
What Is Changing?
The prevailing wage is the minimum salary an employer must offer a foreign worker for a particular occupation and location. Under the proposed changes, the minimum wage benchmarks could increase across all four wage levels.
| Wage level | Current | Proposed |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 – Entry-level | 17th percentile | 34th percentile |
| Level 2 – Qualified | 34th percentile | 52nd percentile |
| Level 3 – Experienced |
